Last year, safety was a question mark for the Jaguars, mostly because they let Andre Cisco walk and signed Eric Murray to replace him. Compounding the issue was that Antonio Johnson was coming off an underwhelming season. However, the position turned out to be a strength.
Murray brougth stability, and Johnson had a banner season. On the other hand, Andrew Wingard also held his own. Fast forward to 2026, and Dewey is now with the Arizona Cardinals, but both Murray and Johnson are back. Similarly, sophomore Caleb Ransaw is joining his fellow safeties after sitting out his rookie campaign with a leg injury. On top of that, the Jags added Jalen Huskey to the mix with a third-round pick.
Heading into training camp, the Jaguars have a crowded safety room, and they'll allow everyone to compete for a role and playing time. That may not be great news for Murray, who'll have to fend off the youngsters.
Eric Murray is a mainstay of the Jaguars defense (for now)
Eric Murray signed a three-year deal worth $19.5 million with the Jags in 2025. At the time, the move raised eyebrows because he had registered a combined three interceptions in nine seasons. However, the former Minnesota Golden Gopher turned out to be a stud, registering one pick, one fumble, and six passes defensed.
For his part, Liam Coen heaped praise on Murray, noting that his consistency allowed the team to get creative. This makes you believe that barring something unexpected, the veteran safety is trending toward being the starter once again come Week 1. However, he'll need to look over his shoulder, with Caleb Ransaw and Jalen Huskey lurking behind.
Why Eric Murray could lose his job in training camp
Eric Murray was virtually named the starter from the moment he landed in Jacksonville. This year, though, he'll need to outperform Caleb Ransaw, who's turned heads in the offseason program with his athleticism.
While Murray is the more experienced of the two, Ransaw has more upside at this stage of his career. Rayuan Lane and Jalen Huskey will also be in the mix, but it's hard to see either one making a legitimate push for a starting job.
Murray could ultimately fend Ransaw off. But even if he loses his job, he could still get substantial playing time. Moreover, he would provide valuable depth in case Ransaw missed time due to injuries. The same would hold true if Murray won the job and suffered injuries.
It's also worth noting that the Jaguars would only free up a bit over $400,000 (with more than $3 million in dead money) if they released Murray, so cutting ties with him in 2026 isn't a realistic scenario. The team's brass may give it a thought next year, but it's better off keeping him around for now.
The truth is that Eric Murray is a dependable starter, but Caleb Ransaw is waiting under the wing. Nevertheless, the Jaguars will find a way to get him involved, whether he's the starter or not.
Add us as a preferred source on Google