The Jacksonville Jaguars are cutting some of the veteran fat from their young roster. The team released both guard Zane Beadles and pass rusher Chris Clemons on Thursday, saving a combined $9.5 million against the cap.
.@Jaguars General Manager Dave Caldwell on the team's release of guard Zane Beadles and defensive end Chris Clemons: pic.twitter.com/lP8sQ1WnLi
— Tad Dickman (@TDickman89) March 3, 2016
Already flush with $73 million in cap space prior to these moves, the Jaguars have now put themselves in position to be major players in the free agent market.
Interestingly enough, general manager David Caldwell did indicate earlier this month that this surplus of cap room doesn’t necessarily mean the team will be big spenders in free agency (via Pro Football Talk).
Jacksonville has relied a great deal in building through the draft. Its core players were all acquired through the draft itself, including quarterback Blake Bortles and wide receiver Allen Robinson.
Beadles, one of the team’s biggest free agent signings under Caldwell, lasted just two seasons with the team.
While he did start 32 games in those two seasons, the five-year, $30 million contract Jacksonville gave him back in 2014 wasn’t worth it for the production we saw from the guard.
On the other hand, Clemons was brought to Jacksonville from Seattle where he starred under then Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.
He recorded a total of 11 sacks on two seasons and acted as one of Jacksonville’s most-consistent pass rushers.
With the return of 2015 first-round pick Dante Fowler Jr., who missed all of last season, Jacksonville figured Clemons was expendable. Though, the team will have to find upgrades from a pass-rush standpoint in the coming months.