In addition to declining the contract option of Marcell Dareus Monday, it was announced that the team would be doing the same for linebacker Jake Ryan. Just like the decision with Dareus, the move is one that further puts the Jags under the cap as they rolled into this week over the cap by roughly $3.4 million.
The option was one that would’ve guaranteed $1 million of his $5.5M base salary.
Ryan, 27, joined the Jags last season via free agency from the Green Bay Packers. With his former coordinator Dom Capers on the staff, the Jags decided to take a swing on the young linebacker, who had previously missed the 2018 regular season with an ACL tear.
Unfortunately, his injury issues would continue as he suffered a setback before the preseason and wasn’t able to play until late November. Even upon returning, however, he was only available two weeks before having to be placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.
With most accounting for the potential release of Ryan, linebacker was a big need for the Jags to begin with. Heading forward they will need to find the right players to pair with Myles Jack, so it wouldn’t be shocking if they added help through both the draft and free agency.
Per Over the Cap, releasing both Ryan and Dareus will put the Jags at about $21.4 million in available cap space, but they could end up with around $35 million or $46 million (if they release A.J. Bouye) in the coming weeks with a few other moves.
