After releasing guard Zane Beadles earlier this afternoon, the Jaguars have also confirmed the release of a veteran player on the other side of the ball. According to a team release, Jacksonville has parted ways with defensive end Chris Clemons.
[RELATED: Jaguars release Zane Beadles]
Clemons will turn 35 in October and wasn’t productive in 2015, making him a logical candidate to be released this offseason. His three sacks were his lowest total since he became a starter in 2010, and a major step down from the eight he recorded in his first year in Jacksonville. Pro Football Focus ranked Clemons dead last among 110 qualified edge defenders.
Like Beadles, Clemons had no dead money left on his contract, so the Jaguars will clear his entire $4MM cap number for 2016 from their books. Between the two players, Jacksonville creates another $9.5MM in cap savings, adding to the team’s league-high cap room. The Jags now have a staggering $85MM or so in projected cap space, with the new league year around the corner.
While the Jaguars have maintained that they don’t expected to go wild in free agency, the team certainly has the flexibility to be serious contenders for virtually any player on the market. Bruce Irvin, Alex Mack, and Olivier Vernon are a few of the top-tier free agents who would be nice fits in Jacksonville.
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