Why the Jaguars Should Move on from Their 32-Year-Old Veteran Defensive Tackle
The Jacksonville Jaguars had one of the best defensive units in 2025. The team ranked as the best rushing defense in the entire league, averaging only 85 rushing yards allowed per game. In order to maintain such a strong performance, the team had one of the strongest defensive lines, led by former first overall pick Travon Walker and former Pro Bowler Josh Hines-Allen. However, the Jaguars spent $51 million in 2024 to sign veteran Arik Armstead from the San Francisco 49ers, expecting him to have a major impact. Entering 2026, Armstead has been nothing like what Duval County anticipated him to be. Although his number of sacks went up in 2025 compared to 2024, with 5.5 compared to two, his impact has been limited. He’s only started 12 of his 33 games of the regular season in Jacksonville.
It only makes sense for the team to consider moving Armstead’s contract to make room for a younger and cheaper lineman to get a chance. The Jaguars find themselves at less than six million in spending power, and Armstead carries a cap charge of over $19 million in 2026. If Jacksonville waits until June to release the aging lineman, it would save the team almost $14.5 million in cap space. Fixing the Jags salary cap problem in one move. To replace Armstead, the front office will likely be looking into drafting a replacement with their second-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
For the Jaguars, the move makes sense. It would save them some cap space and open a spot for a new role player to make a difference. The team is already spending more money at the position, with DaVon Hamilton having a cap hit of almost $12.5 million in 2026. Moving on from Armstead would be a money-first decision for Jacksonville, but at the end of the day, his impact has not been what it could have. He was signed to go toe-to-toe with Allen and Walker to make one of the greatest defensive lines in the league. However, his limited pressure on quarterbacks has made him almost unnoticed on the field. 2026 is the time for a fresh start for Armstead, and that means a new home outside of Jacksonville.
