I would like the see the team go big and get one of the big TE's in Free agency and let lewis walk.  That 8 million cap figure could be much better spent.

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We need a TE who is a big asset to our young QB and unfortunately, ML is just not that TE.

 

He's definitely not performing up to his big contract, somethings got to give.

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I survived the Gus Bradley Error.

Just to make sure that my thought is properly presented, I favor signing either Jordan Cameron or Julius Thomas or even Rob Housler if the other two sign elsewhere and then sign Lee Smith, a blocking TE from the Bills. The Jags need a blocking TE, just not at 6.65 Mil. The Jags have lots of holes on this roster and if Dave and Gus can sign another player that fills one of those holes then it would be worth letting Marcedes Lewis go. I still think he could fetch a Rd 5 or Rd 6 draft pick after Free Agency.

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The Florida Times seems to think JT would be a perfect fit. 

 

Per Roto:

 

The Florida Times Union believes free agent Julius Thomas would be a "perfect fit" for the Jaguars.

The Jags have a ton of cap space and a need for a mismatch-creating "move" tight end. Thomas would help Blake Bortles -- particularly in the red zone -- but his fantasy stock would plummet in Jacksonville. Dynasty owners of Orange Julius should be hoping Denver locks up Demaryius Thomas long term and slaps Julius with the franchise tag, though that seems unlikely.

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Ehhh.  Lewis is either gone this offseason or the next.  

 

I don't really care when it happens as long as they have someone on the roster that can exceed his contribution when he leaves.  I feel certain the Jags will add players to the TE group this offseason to prepare for one of the two eventualities.  Not much of a concern to me as the position will likely be upgraded soon. 

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The front office isn't going to cut Lewis because he makes $6.65 million. The only way they might cut him is if they find a better player for the position. This team has $65 million in cap space, how much money a player makes is almost completely irrelevant to the football decisions the is going to make.

you say that because it's not your money

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The fact that the team can afford him due to its cap room shouldn't influence the decision to keep him or move on. If you have people who are not playing up to their salary, you need to correct it ASAP. Otherwise, it has the potential to create friction on the team from those people who are outplaying their pay checks.

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I say cut him, and then resign him to a much smaller contract if possible. Then sign a FA and draft one. 

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It's only time to move on if we get a younger, better player to play TE.


It's not my money - and it doesn't affect our flexibility in free agency, so I say we should keep him.


If we get a young TE that's just flat out better, THEN you get rid of Lewis.

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If the team moves on, it won't be a cap move. If they can upgrade the position, they will. His roster spot is certainly no lock this year.

This. We're not in a position to worry about the cap only release Mercedes if there is an upgrade otherwise cap space be damned we have plenty of it let him hold the position until an upgrade is available. We need talent not cap space

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This is the saddest story in football. That big, those hands and he never owned the ten yards of the line of scrimmage on third down or the red zone. Major disappointment and symptomatic of horrible caveman coaching.

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I say cut him, and then resign him to a much smaller contract if possible. Then sign a FA and draft one.

Why, is it your money?

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Lee Smith would be nice pickup over Lewis for a savings of $4m.

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Lewis is overpaid and underproduces.  He should have been cut before last season...

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I soo wish this team had a stud TE to rely on.

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The fact that the team can afford him due to its cap room shouldn't influence the decision to keep him or move on. If you have people who are not playing up to their salary, you need to correct it ASAP. Otherwise, it has the potential to create friction on the team from those people who are outplaying their pay checks.

Agreed.  How would you feel if you were playing great and making a 3rd of what some under performer is getting.  His blocking wasn't even good this year.

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I worry Julian is a peyton manning project.

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Already been thoroughly covered in this thread, but it seems like with Lewis it is one of two things: Either cut him and let him leave, or cut him and then resign him to a much cheaper contract. IMO, it is that obvious. We may not be hurting for cap space, but why pay a guy 8.2 million to be an average blocker and below average receiving option? If we were able to get him to a contract much more fitting to his contribution and we were to get a top class receiving TE, I would not mind having him back next year as a semi-effective blocker and o.k. 2nd-string TE. Also, thanks to Oesher I have to do it, #DTWD.

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We may not be hurting for cap space, but why pay a guy 8.2 million to be an average blocker and below average receiving option? 

 

Firstly, he's probably an average receiving TE and at least an above average blocking TE, when healthy.

 

And you answered your own question.  We're not hurting for cap space - you don't just cut a player and effectively make that position group weaker simply because you don't think he deserves to be that highly paid.

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It aint about his pay. It's about his play.

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