Jaguars’ Zay Jones Listed as a Potential Cut Candidate

Most talk about any receiver currently on the Jacksonville Jaguars roster revolves around veteran wideout Calvin Ridley. But should we be talking about another?

In a PFF piece detailing one potential cut candidate for each team before free agency begins on March 13, PFF opted to list Jaguars wide receiver Zay Jones. Releasing Jones would give the Jaguars $4,183,294 cap savings but also account for $6,569,334 in dead money.

"Jones missed multiple stretches of the 2023 season, and Jacksonville is preparing to bring fellow wideout Calvin Ridley back on a much bigger veteran contract. The emergence of rookie Parker Washington could help fill the void here in 2024 and beyond," PFF said. 

Jones sustained an injury in Week 2 of 2023 that hampered him for most of the season, with Jones dealing with two different stretches of missed time. In nine games for the Jaguars last season, Jones caught 34 passes for 321 yards and two touchdowns. 

Over the last two seasons combined, Jones ranks third on the team in targets (185) and receiving yards (1,144), while ranking third in catches (113) and being tied for fourth in touchdown catches (7). He also ranks fourth in receiving yards per game 45.8. 

Jones signed a three-year, $24 million deal with $14 million in guarantees for the Jaguars in 2022. 

The one issue with PFF's logic in moving on from Jones is that Parker Washington played most of his snaps in the slot last season (173 compared to 63 snaps outside), while Jones has been primarily an outside receiver during his Jaguars' career.