Jacksonville Jaguars
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The Jaguars made a pair of moves to help their salary cap
The 2025 Jacksonville Jaguars season came with unexpected results. Under head coach Liam Coen, Jacksonville managed a remarkable turnaround as they went 13-4 and won a division title. They finished the regular season with eight consecutive wins, before a heartbreaking loss to Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills ended their season in the playoffs.
Aside from a change in coaching staff, the Jaguars’ turnaround would not have been possible had the team’s roster not shown drastic signs of improvement. Particularly, two players who had impressive seasons were linebacker Devin Lloyd and running back Travis Etienne. Unfortunately for the Jaguars, both players are now set to be free agents and retaining them will prove difficult.
One of the reasons re-signing them will be complicated is the Jaguars’ current salary cap situation. However, the Jaguars recently announced a pair of moves that will help them with their salary cap situation.
Jacksonville Jaguars Announce Contract Decisions
Spotrac co-founder Michael Ginnitti announced that the Jaguars converted $4.2 million of Eric Murray’s 2026 salary into a signing bonus, adding 3 void years, clearing $3.36 million of space. Additionally, Ginnitti also announced that Jacksonville converted $9.2 million of offensive lineman Patrick Mekari’s salary into a signing bonus, adding 3 void years, clearing $7.36 million of space.
Regarding the moves,Sports Illustrated’s John Shipley wrote,“The Jaguars entered the month needing to make up over $15 million to just get cap compliant for the start of the league year in five days. With these moves, the Jaguars are likely just one or two more restructures away from being able to do just that. With that in mind, the Jaguars will likely go beyond even that scope to ensure they are still able to be aggressive when needed during the free agency and offseason process.”
Shipley also noted that the Jaguars will likely have a different approach to this year’s free agency than they did last season. He said, “Jacksonville was active in last year’s free agency market, signing double-digit players in the opening days of the market opening. It seems unlikely the Jaguars will aim to do so this season, especially after the Jaguars made clear that last year’s offseason was about raising the floor of the roster. After a 13-4 season, consider the floor raised.”
Jaguars Upcoming Free Agents
Despite the contributions that Lloyd and Etienne had for the Jaguars last season, John Shipley believed neither of them was among the two most important players that Jacksonville should retain.
Instead, he believed the top two priorities for the Jaguars are Montaric Brown and Dennis Gardeck.Regarding Brown, he wrote,“Jaguars cornerback Montaric Brown is, hands down, the most important player the Jaguars have to retain this offseason. He turned into a solid starter over the last two seasons and is the perfect No. 2 cornerback to accompany Travis Hunter in the secondary. If the Jaguars don’t re-sign him, they will likely need to spend an early draft pick on a cornerback.”
Regarding why Lloyd is not among the most important. Shipley said, “Devin Lloyd, like Etienne, is ranked this high because of what he did last year and what he could do again if retained. With that in mind, the Jaguars are better off letting another team pay him a top of the market deal.”