On Friday evening, the NFLPA and NFL agreed to make adjustments to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement because of the coronavirus pandemic. With all of the key issues out of the way, training camp will start on time, and for the Jacksonville Jaguars, that date will be on Tuesday, July 28.
One of the key issues that were resolved Friday was the projected salary cap figures for this year and others in the future. For the upcoming season, the salary cap will remain at $198.2 million and will decrease to a minimum of $175 million in 2021, with the possibility to be a little higher depending on revenue. That marks a decrease of roughly $25 million, which has concerned fans about their team’s respective cap situations in 2021. Fortunately, for the Jags, they will be in good shape still.
In a preview estimating what each team’s salary cap situation could look like in 2021 by Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap, the Jags came in with the fourth amount of cap space. If they were able to carryover what’s available now (approximately $14,794,764), they are currently projected to end up with roughly $63,695,889. While that’s not the estimated $96.9 million that was projected back in May before the CBA adjustment, that’s still plenty of wiggle room for a team.
The only other teams projected to have more cap space were the Indianapolis Colts (over $91 million), Los Angeles Chargers ($72.7 million), and Washington Football Team ($66.6 million), respectively.
For the Jags, all of their big signings are likely out of the way this year so their current cap number might not move much. However, they do have a few candidates for new extensions in Cam Robinson, D.J. Chark (who will be on Year 4 of his deal), and whoever the Jags decide to keep between pending free-agents receivers Dede Westbrook, Chris Conley, and Keelan Cole. With the projected amount the Jags have for 2021, they should be able to keep three of those names if they earn extensions. They also might have room for at least one or two big-time free-agent, but again, that’s if they would like and they don’t make a big signing this season.
Regardless, the salary cap is something Jags fans shouldn’t worry about next season. That’s especially the case when considering the Jags have a great deal of draft compensation in 2020, too, which could allow them to focus on acquiring good talent through the draft over free-agency.
Listen to the latest from Jags Wire’s own James Johnson and Phil Smith on their podcast “Bleav in the Jags.” Subscribe via Apple Podcasts and check out our archived episodes via Bleav Podcasts.
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