The Jacksonville Jaguars may be presently over the cap by just over $3.4 million per Over the Cap, but one thing fans shouldn’t sweat is them getting back in the positive. Just as they did in early March of last year, the Jags will part ways with the players they view as cap casualties, and there are four players in particular who could give the Jags some much-needed wiggle room if released.
Of course, the most discussed name when it comes to cap casualties is defensive tackle Marcell Dareus. By cutting him this offseason the Jags could clear $20 million while eating the remaining $2.5 million in prorated money, which is a small price to pay.
Dareus has stated that he likes Jacksonville and coach Doug Marrone so he could come back at a significantly cheaper price, but the bottom line is it won’t be for $20 million or even close. As the team’s top run defender, it would be nice to retain him but the Jags could look for a younger and cheaper option in free agency or the draft to replace him or sit behind him for a season.
Receiver Marqise Lee is another player many expect the Jags to say goodbye to as releasing him would free up $5.25 million while eating $3.5 million in dead cap. Unfortunately, he’s dealt with a lot of injuries throughout his career and that especially was the case in 2019, where a mix of ankle and shoulder injuries hampered him. The shoulder injury (sustained Week 8 vs. Jets) was the injury that eventually sent him to injured reserve and possibly marked his last game as a Jaguar. It also won’t help his case that the upcoming receivers class is ridiculously strong for the 2020 draft.
The last two players who will almost certainly be released are two free agent signings from 2019 in tight end Geoff Swaim and linebacker Jake Ryan, both of whom ended up on injured reserve.
Swaim took the field for six games but was ineffective for the team as a receiver. He was placed on injured reserve after the Jags’ Week 7 win against the Cincinnati Bengals (concussion/ankle) and only had accumulated 13 catches for 65 yards at the time. With James O’Shaughnessy and Josh Oliver set to return healthy and the option to add one more tight end this offseason, parting ways with Swaim to free over four million in cap space is a no-brainer as the dead cap hit would only be $250K.
The Jags got even less out of Ryan in 2019, who was previously recovering from an ACL tear he sustained with the Green Bay Packers. He had a setback in the offseason that prevented him from playing until late November and was only active for two regular season games before goin on IR with a hamstring injury. With a very little body of work to impress the Jags and his former defensive coordinator Dom Capers no longer on the staff, a release feels probable for Ryan, who would free up six million. His dead cap hit would be the same as Swaim’s, making the decision even easier for general manager Dave Caldwell.
Releasing these four players alone would free up $35.5 million for the Jags, who are coming up on a crucial season where they need to add pieces around Gardner Minshew II and Nick Foles, get better players within their front seven on defense, and retain Yannick Ngakoue. The Jags could even reach the $45 million mark if the release veteran corner A.J. Bouye as well, who could have a 50-50 shot to return. With a number like that the Jags could knock out a lot of needs and rely on their solid draft capital to take care of their other needs.