Is It Time for the Jaguars to Part Ways with a Seven-Year Veteran Safety?
The Jaguars are notorious for their defensive identity, such as the 2017 Sacksonville defense that terrorized the league. The defensive mindset is no different for these Jaguars, including having a frontrunner for one of the best defensive players in the league in linebacker Devin Lloyd. However, Jacksonville also has some tenured defensive players from the Trent Baalke era that have lasted into this new and younger defense. These include stars like Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, but also some lackluster names. One player that somehow keeps getting a roster spot in Jacksonville despite past history with disappointing fans and coaches alike is safety Andrew Wingard. While Wingard isn’t the worst player on this Jaguars team, he is far from the best.
In 2025, Wingard has played in all six games with 19 tackles, an interception, and two pass deflections. At age 28, Wingard is in the last year of his contract with Jacksonville. According to Pro Football Focus, Wingard is ranked as the 110th safety in the NFL out of 141, putting him in the lower quality of safeties. The Jaguars’ safety room is also filled, with players including Antonio Johnson and rookie Rayuan Lane III looking for playing time. Johnson is the most intriguing safety of the bunch and could easily overtake Wingard in the depth chart, already having an interception and a pass deflection in limited snaps. With the Jaguars looking to win now under general manager James Gladstone, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the team ship Wingard in order to open up the space for other players to flourish.
The Jaguars can capitalize on letting go of Wingard. A playoff-caliber team could easily give up a draft pick or two for Wingard, and Jacksonville can use it to free up current cap space and get draft capital to acquire a position that is more in need. With veteran Eric Murray leading the safety room in Jacksonville, Wingard’s time in Duval County seems to be running out. Whether it happens before the trade deadline or after the season, that will be up to head coach Liam Coen and Gladstone to decide.
