"Around the League" is taking a look at each team's salary-cap situation heading into training camp. Next up: The Jacksonville Jaguars.
Adjusted cap number: $148.541 million
Cap room remaining: $25.116 million
Best bargain: Given all the injuries the Jaguars dealt with last year, a case could be made for giving the medical staff this honor. However, Maurice Jones-Drew would have you believe that he's the Jags' best bargain, and given that he's set to make $4.55 million in base salary and incentives, the NFL's reigning rushing champ has a point. Fifteen running backs will earn more than MJD, including both of the Bushes (Michael and Reggie) and Jacksons (Fred and Steven).
Potential camp casualty: The Jaguars have the most salary cap space left in the NFL and are not under any pressure to free up space this summer. To pick one player on the bubble, however, we'll look to the backfield. Fullback Greg Jones played in fewer than 40 percent of the Jaguars' offensive snaps last season and gained a total of just 26 yards from scrimmage; he also scored a touchdown and added a pair of tackles on special teams. Will first-year head coach Mike Mularkey's offense incorporate the fullback enough that the team can justify keeping the 31-year-old Jones around on a $3.4 million base salary?
Wide receiver Mike Thomas (who averaged 9.4 yards per catch and scored one touchdown in 2011) would have been the obvious choice, but the Jaguars already paid him a $3.5 million roster bonus in March, and he has $1.45 million fully guaranteed. So he's not going anywhere.
Contract issue looming In 2013: The Jaguars have until 4 p.m. ET on Monday to agree to a multi-year extension with franchised kicker Josh Scobee. The veteran kicker has not signed his tender, but does plan on arriving in time for the season. The Jaguars could apply the franchise tag to Scobee again next offseason (at a cost of $3.456 million), but might have more important positions to address first. Defensive tackle Terrance Knighton is a run-stuffing force in the middle and veteran outside linebacker Daryl Smith turned in another solid season in 2011, despite changing positions to accommodate the signing of Paul Posluszny.
