Jaguars DL Malik Jackson Doesn’t Expect To Be Back In Jacksonville Next Year

Jaguars DL Malik Jackson has seen his role has diminished this season and understands this could be in his final year in Jacksonville.

“In my mind, if I’m third or fourth on the depth chart making $14.5 million to $15 million, I don’t see too much future for me in Jacksonville,” Jackson said, via the Florida Times-Union. “I’m not trying to be a journeyman by any means. But it’s a business and soon as you try to forget that then it’s a rude awakening for sure.”

Jackson added that he’s “playing for 31 other teams potentially” over these next three weeks.

“With my situation, I’m playing for 31 other teams potentially,” Jackson said. “I have to show these teams that I’m playing at a high level. I’m a pass rusher with one sack. So I have to show this team that I’m consistently still getting to the quarterback, but I’m just not finishing. So for me, I have to show a lot of people a lot of things about who I am and what I am and what I’m continuing trying to build for myself.”

The Jaguars are projected to be over the cap next year, so it won’t be surprising to see them cut ties with some notable players like Jackson.

Jackson, 28, is a former fifth-round pick of the Broncos back in 2012. He played out his four-year, $2,313,612 rookie contract before agreeing to a six-year, $85.5 million deal that included $42 million guaranteed with the Jaguars.

Jackson stands to make a base salary of $13 million in 2019.

According to OverTheCap.com, releasing Jackson will free up $11 million of available cap space while creating $4 million in dead money.

In 2018, Jackson has appeared in 13 games for the Jaguars and recorded 27 tackles, one sack and a pass defense.