Myles Jack Reportedly Released from Jaguars Contract; Led Team in Tackles Last Season | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
Andrew Mccoy The Jacksonville Jaguars are releasing veteran linebacker Myles Jack, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Jack was the team leader in tackles (108) in 2021. His departure will open up almost $8.4 million in salary-cap space and put $4.8 million in dead money on Jacksonville's payroll.
The timing of Jack's release isn't a coincidence.
On Monday, Schefter reported the Jaguars agreed to a four-year deal worth up to $84 million with Christian Kirk. Guard Brandon Scherff got $49.5 million over three years, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. And those are just the two most notable moves of a busy free-agency period in Jacksonville:
Tom Pelissero @TomPelisseroThe <a href="">#Jaguars</a> negotiated $229.5 million of contracts today:<br><br>WR Christian Kirk 4 yrs, $72M<br>G Brandon Scherff 3 yrs, $49.5M<br>LB Foye Oluokun 3 yrs, $45M<br>DT Foley Fatukasi 3 yrs, $30M<br>WR Zay Jones 3 yrs, $24M<br>TE Evan Engram 1 yr, $9M<br><br>And free agency is just starting ...
After that kind of outlay, some bloodletting was to be expected by general manager Trent Baalke.
Losing Jack carries an added level of symbolism for the Jaguars because of his connection to their biggest success in recent years:
Demetrius Harvey @Demetrius82Myles Jack was the last bastion of the 2017 <a href="">#Jaguars</a> defense that was the best in the league for a time. Now they’re all gone. <br><br>2016 draft:<br><br>Jalen Ramsey<br>Myles Jack <br>Yannick Ngakoue <br><br>All gone. Perhaps the best draft the team had had in years. And remains that way for now.
J.P. Shadrick @jpshadrickJags a mistaken whistle away from Myles Jack fum ret TD in AFC Championship Game-would have secured trip to face PHI in Super Bowl (vs Pederson/Foles). <br><br>Jack was last starter left from that outstanding defense, now five years ago <a href="">#Jaguars</a>
Sentiment aside, this move makes sense.
Jack's overall tackle numbers—he hit the century mark in 2020 as well—somewhat obscure his overall contributions. He only had 1.5 sacks over the previous three seasons, and he not only failed to intercept a pass in 2021 but also didn't register a single pass deflection.
Chris Trapasso @ChrisTrapassoMyles Jack is not as good as his reputation -- struggles in coverage -- but my word he's not even 27 yet. Feels like he's been in the NFL forever. <br><br>The athleticism is there for him to have a little career resurgence outside of Jacksonville.
Jacksonville isn't losing an irreplaceable member of its defense.
Having said that, Jack is still young enough—he'll turn 27 on Sept. 3—to where he could make the Jaguars look like fools at his next stop. Leaving a team that won four games over the last two years is bound to put a spring in anybody's step too.
The 2016 second-round pick figures to have plenty of options now that he's on the open market. And taking a short-term team to build up his value for next spring would be a shrewd move.
