The Jacksonville Jaguars have significantly improved their financial standing ahead of the NFL trade deadline. Through a series of strategic contract adjustments, the team has transformed its salary cap situation, moving from last in the league to a position of flexibility with $12.3 million in available space for the 2025 season.
This financial maneuvering, centered around the contracts of Greg Newsome, Walker Little, and Dyami Brown, provides General Manager James Gladstone with the necessary resources to potentially acquire new talent and strengthen the roster in the coming weeks.
Key Takeaways
- The Jaguars now have approximately $12.3 million in 2025 salary cap space, according to Over the Cap.
- This marks a dramatic shift from about a week ago when the team was nearly $1 million over the cap.
- The team's rank for available cap space jumped from 32nd (last) to 15th in the NFL.
- Key moves included restructuring the contracts of Greg Newsome, Walker Little, and Dyami Brown.
From Last to Middle of the Pack
Just over a week ago, the Jacksonville Jaguars faced a restrictive financial situation. The team was ranked 32nd in the NFL for available salary cap space, effectively last in the league. According to reports, they were operating with a deficit of nearly $1 million, limiting their ability to make significant roster moves.
However, through calculated adjustments to player contracts, the front office has engineered a remarkable turnaround. The team now possesses $12.3 million in cap space, placing them 15th in the league. This newfound financial breathing room is critical as the NFL's trade deadline approaches, allowing for greater flexibility in player acquisitions.
What is Salary Cap Space?
The NFL salary cap is a set amount of money that each of the 32 teams is allowed to spend on player contracts for a given season. Cap space is the amount of money a team has remaining under that limit. Having more cap space allows a team to sign new players, extend current players' contracts, or absorb the salaries of players acquired via trade.
The Mechanics of Creating Cap Room
The Jaguars' front office utilized common but effective accounting mechanisms to create this space. The primary strategy involved converting base salary into a signing bonus, a move that provides immediate cap relief by spreading the financial hit over several years.
Restructuring Greg Newsome's Contract
The most significant move was the adjustment of Greg Newsome's contract. The Jaguars recently acquired Newsome, who carried a $13.38 million deal for the 2025 season. His initial contract reduced Jacksonville's 2025 cap space by $8.3 million.
To mitigate this, the team converted $8.8 million of Newsome's 2025 salary into a signing bonus. According to Spotrac, this single move created an immediate $7 million in cap space for the upcoming season. To facilitate this, the team added four void years to his contract. Void years are placeholder years that allow the signing bonus to be spread out for cap purposes, even though the player is not under contract for those seasons.
Understanding Void Years
Void years are a tool used by NFL teams to create short-term salary cap space. By adding these dummy years to a contract, a team can prorate a signing bonus over a longer period (up to five years). While this lowers the current year's cap hit, the remaining prorated money accelerates onto the cap as dead money once the contract voids.
Adjustments for Little and Brown
In addition to the Newsome restructure, the Jaguars made similar adjustments to the contracts of offensive lineman Walker Little and wide receiver Dyami Brown. While the specific details of their restructures were not fully disclosed, these moves collectively freed up an additional $5 million in 2025 salary cap space.
These smaller, supporting moves were crucial in complementing the larger Newsome adjustment, contributing to the team's overall financial health.
A New Outlook for the Trade Deadline
The result of these financial strategies is a complete reversal of the Jaguars' position. The team has gone from being financially constrained to having a healthy amount of capital to work with. This flexibility is invaluable for General Manager James Gladstone as he evaluates the roster ahead of the trade deadline.
With $12.3 million in available space, the Jaguars can now more easily:
- Absorb the salary of a player acquired in a trade.
- Sign free agents to fill any immediate needs due to injury or performance.
- Have a buffer for in-season roster management and potential performance bonuses.
This aggressive approach to cap management signals that the Jaguars' front office is actively seeking opportunities to improve the team. By clearing this significant cap space, they have positioned themselves as potential players in the trade market, capable of making a move that could impact their performance for the remainder of the season and beyond.