Five Jaguars face contract crossroads. Their seasons will dictate new deals, career paths, and whether they remain in Jacksonville.
Five Jacksonville Jaguars players are in the final year of their contracts and could benefit from strong seasons to earn an extension in Jacksonville or a new contract elsewhere.
Each case is different -- some players must step up in a new role, while others will look to bounce back from injuries or down seasons.
Ventrell Miller, Linebacker
Miller makes an appearance on the list because of the departure of Devin Lloyd to the Carolina Panthers. He is set to take over as the lead linebacker, which is a big responsibility for the third-year player.
The fourth-round draft pick from Florida saw some tackling regression last season, going from 80 in his rookie year to 38. He upped his turnover generation with two forced fumbles and one interception.
Miller's former teammate excelled at stopping the run, with an 83.2 run-defense Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade and picking off quarterbacks, finishing in a six-way tie for second in interceptions with five.
The 6-foot linebacker has big shoes to fill, and consistency is the key to a potential rookie extension with the Jaguars.
DaVon Hamilton, Defensive Tackle
Hamilton enters the list as the lone player from Jacksonville's 2020 draft class, and he signed a three-year, $34.5 million rookie extension in 2023.
He's played eight games in 2023 due to a non-football-related back injury, recorded no sacks in 2024 and only recorded one sack last season.
Hamilton has shown the ability to stop the run, with a 61.1 run-defense grade (42nd out of 134 qualified defensive tackles), but his pass-rushing ability ranks in the bottom 25.
Jacksonville struggled to pressure opposing quarterbacks last season and totaled 32 sacks for a league ranking of 27th. Since defensive tackle is a positional need in next week's draft, Hamilton could get some competition this summer and as the 2026 season kicks off.
Arik Armstead, Defensive Tackle
Armstead makes an appearance because his contract played a significant role in handicapping the Jaguars' cap space this offseason. His $19.3 million cap hit makes him a possible post-June 1 release, freeing up $14.4 million while only adding $4.9 million in dead cap.
However, Armstead finished second on the team in sacks with 5.5 and recorded 48 pressures (13th out of 134 defensive tackles).
The 32-year-old showcased productivity at a positional need for Jacksonville, highlighting that it could be better to keep Armstead rather than release him.
Ezra Cleveland, Guard
The Jaguars traded for Cleveland in October 2023, acquiring him from the Minnesota Vikings when Ben Bartch dealt with knee injuries. Cleveland signed a three-year, $24 million contract extension in March 2024.
He's dealt with minor nagging injuries throughout his time in Jacksonville, and a healthy 2025 season for Cleveland showed promise for his future. Cleveland had a 71.4 pass-blocking grade (18th out of 81 guards) and 64.6 run-blocking grade (37th out of 81).
Another healthy season for Cleveland could extend his time with the Jaguars as a key part of their offensive line.
Walker Little, Offensive Tackle
Little's situation is slightly different than the teammates he appears with here. He's entering a pseudo-final year of his contract.
Jacksonville's 45th pick in 2022 is in the second year of his three-year, $40.5 million contract extension. However, Little's contract has a potential out next offseason, allowing the Jaguars to release him with minimal dead-cap penalties.
He represents a $14.49 million cap hit for Jacksonville, and his PFF grades range in the 60s, placing him as 59th for pass-blocking and 49th for run-blocking.
A strong performance in 2026 could push Little through to the true final year of his contract with the Jaguars.
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