Free agency is less than a week away, but the news and moves are already going on. The NFL‘s new league year officially starts March 13 with the legal tampering period starting two days earlier on March 11. Here’s a tracker of everything Jacksonville Jaguars when it comes to signings, rumors, news, or anything else.
Jacksonville Jaguars Free Agency News and Rumors
While the Jaguars entered the 2024 offseason under the $255.4 million salary cap limit already, they still decided to make a handful of moves to free up space ahead of the free agency period. According to Over the Cap, the Jaguars have $21 million in available cap space. Here’s a look at all the cuts they’ve made:
- S Rayshawn Jenkins
- CB Darious Williams
- DT Folorunso Fatukasi
Franchise Tag Josh Allen
One of the Jaguars’ priorities coming into the offseason was extending a defensive cornerstone in pass rusher Josh Allen. Despite a career year, the Jaguars and Allen were unable to come to terms on a long-term deal before the franchise tag deadline on March 5.
As a result, the Jaguars placed the franchise tag on Allen, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. If signed by Allen and a long-term deal isn’t reached, it will cost the Jaguars $24 million fully guaranteed. The two sides have until July 15 to work out a deal.
Re-Signing Guard Ezra Cleveland
Despite needing to bring back Calvin Ridley and Allen, the first major re-signing the Jaguars made was with guard Ezra Cleveland, whom the Jaguars traded a sixth-round pick for ahead of the 2023 trade deadline.
The deal is a three-year deal worth up to $28.5 million with $14.5 million guaranteed. However, the deal is practically a two-year, $16.25 million deal thanks to an out that was embedded into the deal after the 2025 season. His cap hits are $3.6 million, $5.2 million, and $9.9 million in 2024, 2025, and 2026, respectively.
Restructure With Guard Brandon Scherff
In addition to the cuts the Jaguars made, former All-Pro guard Brandon Scherff has restructured his contract to free up more space, according to Rapoport. Going into the offseason, Scherff had a $24 million cap hit in 2024.
Now, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Jaguars will save $5 million by restructuring him.
At 32 years old, Scherff was a potential cut candidate for the Jaguars due to his cap hit. However, instead of a cut, it ends up being a restructure that keeps him around.
Jaguars Make Depth Signings
The next move the Jaguars made was to solidify their depth. Defensive end Jeremiah Ledbetter and safety Daniel Thomas both were re-signed. The details of Ledbetter’s deal are unknown, but Thomas’, a key special teamer, details are.
Thomas’ signing was first reported by Rapoport, but the details were reported by to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. The deal is for two years and worth $4 million, with the potential to make up to $6 million.
Visiting With Center Mitch Morse
One of the biggest Jaguars needs going into the offseason is on the offensive line, specifically the interior offensive line. With their commitment to their guards, that leaves the center as a position of target. With Mitch Morse recently being released by the Buffalo Bills, he is on the way to visit with the Jaguars, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
Morse recently visited with the Pittsburgh Steelers before the Jaguars. In nine years, Morse has played in 126 games, starting all of them. He spent five years with the Bills after four with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Jaguars Have Called About L’Jarius Sneed
After cutting Williams, the Jaguars have a hole at the cornerback position. With new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen running a heavy man coverage scheme, L’Jarius Sneed makes sense as someone who would fit. Sneed, who was an impending free agent, was franchise-tagged by the Chiefs but allowed to seek a trade.
According to USA Today, the Jaguars are one of a handful of teams that have expressed interest in Sneed. Sneed could potentially require a second-round pick in a trade and a contract north of $20 million per year, according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.
Trade For Mac Jones
Trades won’t be official until the new league year, but the Jaguars and the New England Patriots came to terms on a deal involving former first-round quarterback Mac Jones. According to Schefter, the Jaguars will send a sixth round pick (#192) to the Patriots in return for Jones.
Jones was raised in Jacksonville, Florida, and grew up a Jaguars fan. Since being taken in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the same draft the Jaguars took Trevor Lawrence first overall, Jones has passed for 8,918 yards, 46 touchdowns and 36 interceptions. He projects as Lawrence’s backup.
According to Spotrac, the Jaguars can save $1.8 million in cap space now by releasing CJ Beathard, the Jaguars backup in 2023. As a former first-round pick, Jones will have a fifth-year option that the Jaguars can pick up or decline ahead by May 2. The Jaguars will likely decline the option, as it will cost $25.6 million guaranteed.
Letting Caleb Johnson Walk
While there are big-name free agents the Jaguars look to re-sign, there’s also depth. With linebacker and special teams ace Caleb Johnson set to hit free agency, the two sides engaged in contract negotiations.
However, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the two sides couldn’t come to terms, leaving Johnson as a free agent. Johnson would have been a restricted free agent, but will instead hit the open market.
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