2020 NFL offseason: Important dates for the Jags leading up to NFL Draft

It’s going to be busy offseason for the Jags and here are the key dates for them and the rest of the league within the next few months.

While the NFL 2020 season has been over for two weeks, it won’t be long before business starts to pick up again. In just a few days the 2020 NFL Combine will start and the Jacksonville Jaguars are one of the teams who have a lot of work to do.

With a lot of needs left to be addressed and a cap situation that needs to get sorted out, here are the key dates for Jags fans to know leading up to the 2020 NFL Draft.

Date Info
February 24 – March 2 The NFL Scouting Combine will be ongoing during these dates at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana. Fans will get to here from Jags general manager Dave Caldwell in the process as well as coach Doug Marrone.
February 25
  • This marks the first date that clubs can designate franchise or transition tag.
  • This also marks the deadline in which the Jaguars have to exercise Marcell Dareus’ contract. If picked up, his $9.5 million base salary on the year becomes fully guaranteed. A $10 million fifth-day of the 2020 season roster bonus (due on March 22) will be guaranteed for Dareus in case of an injury. The Jags would gain $20 million by declining the option, which is what they will probably do.
March 10 By 4:00 p.m., New York time, all clubs must have their franchise/transition tags issued (if they choose to use them) on this date. The key name to watch here will be Jags DE Yannick Ngakoue.
March 16-18 The “tampering period” begins here. The players who were unrestricted free agents to this point will be free of their respective contracts on March 18 at 4:00 p.m. EST.Here is a list of the Jags’ free agents.
March 18
  • All NFL organizations must be under the 2020 salary cap prior to 4:00 p.m. ET.

Note: Per Over the Cap, the Jags are currently $3.4 million over the cap. However, releasing Dareus solely would put the under the cap. 

  • All 2019 contracts will expire 4:00 p.m. ET.
  • The 2020 league year and free agency period starts at 4:00 p.m. ET.
March 17 Quarterback Blake Bortles’ $1 million roster bonus will be due on this date. Earlier in the 2018 season, NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Jags will be moving on from him despite $6.5 million of his $14 million 2019 base salary being guaranteed. Releasing him on this date would result in a dead cap $16.5 million cap charge, but to decrease the blow, they could opt for a post-June designation instead. Ultimately, time will tell what they decide.Linebacker Telvin Smith will also have $5 million of his $9.75 million base salary guaranteed on this date.
March 20 Nick Foles’ $5 million fifth-day of the league year roster bonus for next season will be fully guaranteed. This was agreed upon for injury when he signed the contract in 2019.
March 22  $7 million of Myles Jack’s $9.5 million base salary for next season becomes fully guaranteed on this date. This amount was already guaranteed for injury upon signing his contract extension last year.
March 29 to April 1 The league will have their annual meeting on this date in Palm Beach, Florida.
April 6 Teams with a new head coach can begin their offseason workouts.
April 17 This date marks the deadline for restricted free agents to sign their offer sheets.
April 20 Teams with returning head coaches like the Jags may begin offseason workout programs.
April 23-25 2020 NFL Draft takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada.