NFL insider points to the 'last' decision Jaguars must make before season
The NFL season is officially in its dead period as we await the start of training camps around the league. At this point, there are not a lot of roster moves to be made by the Jacksonville Jaguars or other franchises. Perhaps one team will make a splash by adding DeAndre Hopkins or Dalvin Cook […]
The NFL season is officially in its dead period as we await the start of training camps around the league. At this point, there are not a lot of roster moves to be made by the Jacksonville Jaguars or other franchises.
Perhaps one team will make a splash by adding DeAndre Hopkins or Dalvin Cook in the next few weeks. As for the Jaguars, however, don't expect anything beyond maybe a couple of minor moves involving training camp bodies.
And yet, there's one decision NFL insider Jeremy Fowler points toward in a recent ESPN article: What exactly should the Jags do with Cam Robinson's situation?
According to Fowler, the Jaguars should be at least considering the release of Robinson. Although the offensive tackle's deal includes guaranteed money, it will void when the suspension becomes official.
The Jaguars left tackle is facing a suspension for a violation of the league's PED policy, a penalty that will not only include time missed but also void the remaining guaranteed money in his contract. Given the team invested a first-round pick in left tackle Anton Harrison, it seems plausible the Jaguars are prepared to move on from Robinson.
Due to the salary cap implications tied to the guarantees being voided, a move prior to an official suspension won't happen. But releasing Robinson after a suspension would create close to $16 million in cap space. If the team feels Robinson is too valuable to move on from, Jacksonville would then have some options at left tackle once he returns from suspension.
– Jeremy Fowler, ESPN.
A couple of notes are in order: The Jaguars are reportedly expected to play Anton Harrison at right tackle, which would mean the projected starting left tackle in Robinson's absence is Walker Little.
Some would argue Little's play toward the end of last season was good enough to not only be comfortable with that situation but even for him to potentially remain the starter upon Robinson's return.
If the Jaguars were to release Robinson, it would be a purely financial decision. After all, even if he was relegated to a swing tackle role, he'd be one of the best ones available in the NFL. If we're talking football only, it makes too much sense to keep him on the roster.
And still, football is more than just a game. It's a business with a bottom line and creating close to $16M in cap space could be just enough to nudge the team's front office into a surprising cap casualty later in the year. The decision will likely be impacted by how many games Robinson gets, which reportedly can range between two, six, or eight games.
If they do decide to go down that road, the decision has to be made soon as it will dictate how the coaching staff distributes snaps in camp throughout the summer.
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Featured image via Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK
