With general manager James Gladstone calling the shots, the Jacksonville Jaguars had an influx of youth the past few months. Sure, there were a handful of building blocks on the roster but not nearly enough to compete week in and week out. Heck, the Jags' dearth of top talent and depth was one of the many reasons they failed to make the playoffs each of the past two years.
Having revamped nearly every position group, the Jaguars will have several tough decisions to make on cutdown day. They'll probably cut ties with a handful of recent draft picks, while a few veterans will be on their way out.
With that in mind, here are five Jaguars veterans that appeared to be headed to the chopping block.
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Ricky Lee, Jaguars linebacker
It's always great to see teams to see bring in hometown talent, which is why the Jags turned heads when they signed Ricky Lee. At the time, the move made sense because they were dealing with injuries on the offensive line, and their depth was stretching a bit thin.
That said, Lee was always going to be a long shot to make the team, and his odds haven't increased. In two preseason games, he's given up four sacks on 57 offensive snaps. At this point, it looks like the Jacksonville native will be a victim of the numbers game, but nobody will bat an eye if he lands in the practice squad.
Chad Muma, Jaguars linebacker
Just recently, Bleacher Report suggested that the Jags release veteran Dennis Gardeck after the preseason. At first sight, the pitch makes sense because the Sioux Falls product has been recovering from an ACL surgery he suffered in 2025. However, he's trending toward being 100 percent. Once he is, he can contribute on both defense and special teams. Meanwhile, fellow Chad Muma has left a bit to be desired and is more deserving of getting kicked to the curb.
Muma, a third-round pick in the 2022 draft, flashed a bit as a rookie but has otherwise been underwhelming. He was phased out in favor of Ventrell Miller last year, and it seems like rookie Jack Kiser could get ahead of the depth chart in the finale.
At this point, it wouldn't be a shock to see Jacksonville cut its losses and move on from the former Wyoming Cowboy.
Daniel Thomas, Jaguars safety
With all the attention the three-way battle for the starting job next to Eric Murray, it's easy to forget that Jacksonville has a surplus at safety. Aside from the aforementioned Murray, Antonio Johnson, Darnell Savage, Andrew Wingard, and Caleb Ransaw, the Jags have rookie Rayuan Lane and veteran Daniel Thomas in the fold.
Both Lane and Thomas make their money on special teams. Given that the new regime brought in the latter, the latter could get the axe when you consider that the team's brass could free up $1.8 million in space if they release him.
Quintin Morris, Jaguars tight end
When the Jags signed Quintin Morris, they showed their commitment to bringing in tight ends who could block. And while that's an area where the Bowling Green product excels, he had his work cut out to earn a roster spot, given that he was behind Brenton Strange, Johnny Mundt, and Hunter Long on the depth chart.
So far, Morris hasn't done enough to make you think that he'll make the team. Sure, he's caught five passes for 62 yards in two preseason games, but he hasn't precisely made a strong impression. Simply put, it's hard to see him getting the nod over Mundt or Long.
Austin Johnson, Jaguars defensive tackle
The Jaguars showed that they were getting worried about their depth at defensive tackle when they locked up Austin Johnson. A ten-year veteran, the former Penn State Nittany Lion provided insurance during Arik Armstead's and Maason Smith's absence. However, both of them are back.
Couple that with the trade for Khalen Saunders, and there probably won't be room for either Johnson or sophomore Jordan Jefferson.
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