Releasing Adam Gotsis shows the Jaguars' D-Line is an embarrassment of riches

Defensive end Adam Gotsis was a key rotational piece for the Jacksonville Jaguars the past four years. However, the team could afford to move on from the veteran ahead of the 2024 NFL season after making several additions to the defensive front over the last few months.

The Jags announced that they released Gotsis, along with third-year cornerback Gregory Junior, to make room for defensive back Adrian Amos and defensive tackle Jonathan Marshall. The latter may be just a camp body but the former will fill in for safety Andrew Wingard if he misses extended playing after suffering a knee injury in training camp.

Going back to Gotsis, he was a second-round pick by the Denver Broncos in 2016. He landed with the Jags in 2020. Originally expected to take on a complementary role, he was pressed into action when injuries hampered the defensive trenches. Mostly a rotational piece the past three seasons, though, the former Georgia Tech Yellowjacket, along with Jeremiah Ledbetter, helped filled the void left by DaVon Hamilton's absence while dealing with a non-football injury.

However, Gotsis became expendable in light of Hamilton's return and the arrival of rookies Maason Smith and Jordan Jefferson. Add the fact that his release only $125,000 left in dead money and it's easy to see why the Jags went ahead and made him walk the plank instead of waiting until roster cutdown day.

The silver lining is that Gotsis should have no trouble latching onto a team in need of defensive line help. Because he was released during the NFL's calendar year, he'll be subject to the waiver wire. If he goes unclaimed, he'll then become a free agent.

Why the Jaguars could afford to move on from Adam Gotsis

At this stage of his career, Adam Gotsis has most likely reached his ceiling. And while it's important to always have rotational players around, keeping him around would've prevented the Jacksonville Jaguars from giving more playing time to their younger players.

For instance, sophomore Tyler Lacy was a non-factor last year but he's made strides in training camp. Had Gotsis stayed, he would've taken away reps from Lacy and rookies Maason Smith, and Jordan Jefferson.

This isn't to say that Gotsis isn't a valuable contributor. It's just that he was a victim of a numbers game on the Jacksonville defensive line. Besides signing Arik Armstead in free agency, they also brought back Jeremiah Ledbetter and used draft picks on Smith or Jefferson. They'll join the likes of Roy Robertson-Harris, and a healthy DaVon Hamilton.

It's also worth noting that Armstead was on the Physically Unable to Perform List to start training camp. Gotsis' release may indicate that he's getting closer to joining the team, as head coach Doug Pederson alluded not long ago.

However you look at it, defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen has ample talent to work with, even after moving on from Adam Gotsis. That's a strong sign the Jaguars have put together a formidable defensive front ahead of the 2024 season.

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