The 2020 NFL Combine will begin in a few days (February 23), which means business is about to pickup for the NFL media. Of course, a lot of rumors will surface about the Jacksonville Jaguars’ plans in terms of free agency as the team is coming up on a key offseason.
The coming days will also likely involve sum roster cuts as the deadline dates to pick up the contracts of defensive tackle Marcell Dareus and linebacker Jake Ryan are coming up.
In the case of Dareus, the Jags could especially help themselves free up some cap space as declining his option would free up $20 million and move the Jags from the negative to the positive in terms of cap space. His contract states that the Jags have between February 3 – February 25 to make a decision on the option, so that means they have until next Tuesday to make what will be a probable release. A return on a new deal shouldn’t be ruled out for Dareus, however, as he’s stated he likes Jacksonville.
In the case of Ryan, they have until February 24, so the decision on him will likely be made alongside Dareus’. After tearing his ACL in 2018 and missing the full regular season with Green Bay, Ryan signed with the Jags last spring. Unfortunately, due to a setback in recovery, Ryan didn’t see the field to late November. After returning, however, he was only available for two weeks before being place on injured reserve.
With a very little body of work to impress the Jags, I could see them moving on from Ryan, which would free up six million. However, per Spotrac, the option guarantees one million if picked up.
Per Over the Cap, releasing both would put the Jags at about $21.4 million. That relief would put them well under the cap before the league’s salary cap deadline on March 18. They would also have wiggle room to extend defensive end Yannick Ngakoue if they desired.
