5 Veterans the Jacksonville Jaguars Must Part with Before the 2015 Season
Parting with veterans is never easy, and the Jacksonville Jaguars know this. However, with the active offseason the Jaguars are currently having and the draft still to come, cuts will have to be made, and that includes some of the team's veterans.
The Jaguars have been building from the ground up since 2012, and this offseason is the final offseason that the team has to really complete that process. The Jaguars focused on the draft in 2012 and 2013, but this year's free agency activity shows that the team is trying to finish the structure of the team.
Some of the players that have been brought in over the past few years have become starters and important players for the Jaguars. However, just because a player has been a starter doesn't make him the best man for the job.
Jacksonville officially announced the free-agent signings of Julius Thomas, Dan Skuta, Davon House, Sergio Brown, Jermey Parnell and Jared Odrick, and they are all upgrades to the roster. These additions alone will cause serious changes to the team's depth chart in 2015.
With the ambitions of the Jaguars, sentimental attachment to players who have been part of the building process is an inhibiting feeling. No one wants to cut players who have been the so-called "building blocks" of the team. However, if the Jaguars want to compete and win, the bar has to be raised.
That seems to be happening. These signings (plus any future signings and draft selections) are all part of the process to revamp the Jaguars, even if that means getting rid of the players fans have come to know and love.
With the intro out of the way, let's get to the players the Jaguars must part with before the 2015 season begins.
Jeremy Harris
1 of 5
Jaguars corner Jeremy Harris really failed to make an impact in his second year in the NFL.
Harris, who went to New Mexico State University, got chances throughout this past season and never really showed he was a worthy start over other options like Dwayne Gratz and Demetrius McCray.
Harris was selected in the 2013 draft as a seventh-round pick. Harris missed his rookie season with a back injury and only played in six games in 2014.
Another unfortunate occurrence for Harris was the rise of Aaron Colvin. When Colvin was able to return to the Jacksonville roster after his ACL tear last season, he immediately put himself on the map with a fumble recovery in Week 14 against the Giants. Colvin remained a consistent player throughout the rest of the season.
Harris, however, did not. Nothing about Harris' time with the Jags stands out, as he only has five tackles in his six games played.
The Jaguars could keep Harris for depth, but the signings of Sergio Brown and Davon House make that seem unlikely.
The Jaguars would lose $17,225 should they cut Harris after June 1.
Ace Sanders
2 of 5
Sadly, wide receiver Ace Sanders may be one of the most disappointing players the Jaguars have drafted over the past few years. Sanders was picked in the fourth round of the 2013 draft, and, despite the Jaguars' best efforts, never really clicked in the offense.
Sanders was electric at South Carolina, and the Jaguars had hoped that he would bring his quickness both on offense and as a returner.
In 2013, it seemed as if Sanders would be the right man for the job—at least a receiver. He brought down 51 receptions for 484 yards and a touchdown. Sanders seemed to be a solid third or fourth option for the Jaguars, but that didn't last.
Sanders was suspended for the first four games of the 2014 season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. On top of that, the additions of Allen Robinson and Marquis Lee really shoved Sanders to the back of the depth chart.
Sanders had six receptions for 55 yards and no touchdowns in 2014. Whether he was forgotten or just didn't perform, Sanders became depth instead of the playmaker many expected him to be.
He hasn't performed well on special teams either. Sanders averaged 5.6 yards a punt return in 2013, and 7.1 a return in 2014. His longest return for either season was 23 yards.
Sanders hasn't been the player that many expected him to be. While he may be able to stick around for returning duty, he may not deserve to be on this team in 2015.
The Jaguars would lose $120,362 if they cut Sanders after June 1.
Ziggy Hood
3 of 5
The defensive line has been the Jaguars strongest group, and while Ziggy Hood has been a solid option for depth, the signing of Odrick and probable selection of a DE/DT in the draft means that it may be time for Hood to depart.
Hood was signed by the Jaguars last season after five years with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hood had solid performances throughout his time with the Steelers. However, he didn't perform at the level expected last season for the Jaguars.
Hood recorded 24 combined tackles, one sack, and a fumble recovery for the Jags last season. While not terrible numbers, it wasn't exactly what the Jaguars had in mind for a guy making just under $4 million.
Hood also was outplayed by undrafted signing Abry Jones. Jones recorded 39 combined tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble in 2014.
Jones' quality of play had Hood watching from the bench. The signing of Jared Odrick means that Hood's place on the team may be in jeopardy.
It would cost the Jaguars nothing if they cut Hood after June 1. The team would save exactly $3,975,000. That's a sizable chunk of space for later use.
Hood's future with the team will mostly depend on whether the Jaguars take another defensive lineman in the draft, which is most likely. Hood hasn't been a complete failure for the Jaguars, but it's time to open up to other, younger options.
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Sam Young
4 of 5
Tackle Sam Young was in the Jacksonville starting lineup after right tackle Austin Pasztor suffered multiple injuries last season. Young and fellow lineman Luke Joeckel were mediocre at best for the Jags and most definitely the weak links on the offensive line.
Coming in for Pasztor, Young struggled in almost every game for the Jaguars. Young could've proven that he deserved to be the starter at right tackle, but instead disappointed.
Young's future with Jacksonville is in serious jeopardy at the moment. The signing of tackles Jermey Parnell and Brennan Williams along with the re-signing of Pasztor means that Young is most likely the fifth tackle in rotation.
At the moment, I see him as the third-string tackle for both tackle spots. Considering he's being paid $795,000, the numbers don't add up.
If the Jaguars cut Young post-June 1, they'd be off the hook of the entirety of Young's contract.
Young should be another casualty of Jacksonville's great ambitions.
Marcedes Lewis
5 of 5
There may not be a player on the Jacksonville roster who has fallen out of favor more than Marcedes Lewis. Lewis has been a staple of the Jaguars since being selected in the first round in 2006. However, Lewis seems to be missing his initial quality in more recent seasons.
For all intents and purposes, Lewis peaked in 2010 when he recorded an insane 58 catches for 700 yards and 10 touchdowns.
His 2014 numbers included a meager 18 receptions for 204 yards and two touchdowns.
Those 2014 numbers are understandable considering the quarterback struggles of the past few seasons. However, Lewis seems to lack the motivation to play for the Jaguars. He's either lost his step or he's lost his motivation.
Lewis still has value with the Jaguars as both a leader and a player. However, if he has lost his passion and drive, that's not the type of veteran the Jaguars need.
The signing of star tight end Julius Thomas has put the starting tight end spot up for grabs at the very least. Thomas is expected to and should be the starter in 2015.
Lewis is a sentimental player for most Jaguars fans, but he's not the player he used to be. It's time to let him go somewhere else rather than disappoint for the Jaguars any longer.
The Jaguars would lose $1.4 million if they cut Lewis past June 1, but they would make up for it in cap space. Cutting Lewis opens up $6.8 million in cap space, which is another smart investment for the future.
The Jaguars have a lot to gain from cutting these five players, as hard as it may be.
For a franchise that hasn't reached the playoffs since 2007, improving upon each position is a vital priority right now. Whether it's a franchise star like Lewis, or a relatively new player like Harris or Sanders, the Jaguars have to look to improve.
Whether the Jaguars will actually cut any of these players is yet to be seen. However, cutting these players would help make way for improvements in the future.
Jacksonville's ambitions and the quality of these players don't match at the current moment. It's never easy to admit that—especially for guys like Lewis—but it's simply the case.
If general manager Dave Caldwell and head coach Gus Bradley truly want to take this team to the next level, these cuts are a necessary task. We'll see if they agree in the coming months.
All stats were found at ESPN.com unless otherwise stated. All salary-cap info courtesy of Over the Cap.
Evan Reier is a first-year journalism major at the University of Alabama and a member of Bleacher Report's APSM program. Follow Evan on Twitter at @evanreier for Jaguars related content.
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