Jaguars linebacker Josh Allen celebrates a turnover during the first quarter of an Aug. 12, 2022 preseason game against the Cleveland Browns. The Jaguars led 13-0 when both teams removed their starters. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
Published on February 18, 2024 at 11:50 am
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The NFL offseason has officially begun, and the Jaguars face several key decisions as they try to get back to the playoffs after a disastrous second-half collapse.
The first decision the Jaguars will have to make is how to handle Josh Allen. The Pro Bowl outside linebacker set a team record with 17.5 sacks. Allen is due to become a free agent next month, and the Jaguars can place the franchise tag on him if they have not re-signed him before February 20. If the Jaguars decide to tag Allen, they must pay him around $22.8 million for the 2024 season. That is the estimated average of the top five highest-paid linebackers.
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The Jaguars will know if they must tag Allen before free agency begins. The last day to place a tag on a player is March 5, six days before negotiations with free agents can begin under NFL rules. Free agents can sign with new teams beginning March 13.
The Jaguars aren’t likely to be big spenders in free agency this year. According to Spotrac, the Jaguars have roughly $17.2 million of salary cap space with around $4 million needing to be allocated to the draft class. With a need to upgrade the offensive line and defensive interior, the team will have some tough decisions to make.
Want to clear more cap space? Cutting starting left tackle Cam Robinson would save the Jaguars around $16 million in 2024. Then again, on a line that struggles to be physical, unloading one of the more physical players on the team doesn’t make much sense. Reworking a contract with Robinson seems to be the best way forward.
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The Jaguars also must decide what to do with right guard Brandon Scherff. The former All-Pro with Washington hasn’t played up to his previous form as he has battled injuries and age since signing with Jacksonville. Cutting Scherff would save around $9 million of cap space.
Defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi’s release would save the Jaguars around $3 million on the salary cap. He plays in a position the Jaguars need to improve so the question is whether the Jaguars can get a better interior defensive lineman than Fatukasi for the money they would save. It’s a coin flip at best.
All of the free agent decisions will precede the NFL Draft, which begins on April 25. The Jaguars hold the 17th pick in the first round and will give up a second- or third-round pick depending on the decision they make regarding Calvin Ridley. If Ridley is re-signed, the Jaguars will send a second-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons. If not, it’s a third. Either way, the Jaguars will surrender a top-100 draft selection.
The next three months will be key in determining the Jaguars’ direction for 2024.
Cole Pepper has covered sports in Jacksonville since 1996, most recently for News4Jax. He is currently broadcast director for Sporting Club Jacksonville and has called play-by-play for a number of teams, including the Suns, Tomcats, Jacksonville University, Sharks and The Bolles School football. He also served as the studio host for the Jaguars Radio Network.
