Darnell Savage

Jaguars Cut Darnell Savage: Another In A Long List Of Failed Free Agency Gambles

Nicholas Mullick

The Jacksonville Jaguars just delivered another masterclass in how to light money on fire and call it roster management. On Tuesday, they released safety Darnell Savage after just one season, effectively flushing $4.05 million down the drain faster than you can say “what were they thinking?” Let’s be honest here – this move was about as surprising as finding out water is wet.

The Writing Was Already on the Wall

Anyone who’s been paying attention could see this train wreck coming from miles away. The moment Jacksonville signed Eric Murray in free agency and watched Andrew Wingard outplay Savage for the starting safety spot, you had to wonder what the front office was thinking when they handed out that $4 million option bonus back in March.

Savage started 13 games last season and put up respectable numbers – one interception, six pass breakups, and 51 tackles. Nothing spectacular, mind you, but decent enough for a safety. This year? He was relegated to a rotational role. That’s quite the fall from grace for someone who was supposed to anchor the secondary next to Tashaun Gipson.

The real kicker? Savage doesn’t even play special teams. So the Jaguars were essentially paying premium money for a part-time defensive back who couldn’t contribute on Sundays beyond his 48 defensive snaps. That’s some next-level roster construction right there.

New Regime, Same Old Problems?

Here’s where things get really interesting. Since March, Savage becomes the eighth notable player brought in by former general manager Trent Baalke who’s been shown the door by the new regime led by executive vice president Tony Boselli, GM James Gladstone, and head coach Liam Coen.

The carnage includes the following receivers

  • WR Christian Kirk (traded)
  • WR Gabe Davis (cut),
  • Tight End Evan Engram (cut)
  • C Luke Fortner (traded)
  • DL Jordan Jefferson and Tyler Lacy (both cut)
  • RB Tank Bigsby (traded).

That’s quite the housecleaning, and those are some of the obvious ones. It’s clear the Jaguars are just cleaning up Baalke’s mess.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Let’s talk about the financial carnage here. According to OverTheCap.com, the Jaguars are eating $4.05 million in dead money for this move. That’s on top of the $4 million option bonus they already paid him in March. So they’re essentially paying Savage $8.05 million to not play for them anymore.

But wait, there’s more! Savage’s deal included $12.5 million fully guaranteed, so Jacksonville has already committed significant resources to a player who couldn’t even beat out Andrew Wingard for a starting spot. Wingard, for context, has been a journeyman safety his entire career.

The brutal reality is that the Jaguars paid top-dollar for a Green Bay castoff who had five decent seasons but was clearly on the decline. It’s the kind of free agency mistake that rebuilding franchises make when they’re desperate to add veteran presence.

What’s Next for Jacksonville’s Secondary?

With Darnell Savage gone, the Jaguars are left with four safeties on their roster: starters Wingard and Murray, plus backups Johnson and rookie Lane. Third-round draft pick Caleb Ransaw is on season-ending injured reserve with a foot injury, which doesn’t help matters.

The good news? This secondary couldn’t have been much worse with Savage rotating in and out anyway. Murray brings veteran experience, Wingard has proven he can hold down a starting spot, and Johnson showed flashes as a third-year player. Lane, meanwhile, is a rookie with upside who can develop without the pressure of a veteran’s hefty contract hanging over his head.

The bad news? The Jaguars just demonstrated once again that they’re willing to throw good money after bad, then cut bait when things don’t work out immediately. That’s not exactly the kind of patience and long-term thinking you want from your front office.

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