Jaguars to decline fifth-year option for DT Taven Bryan

The Jaguars will be declining defensive tackle Taven Bryan’s fifth-year option, according to a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

This was an expected outcome after Bryan’s first three seasons with the team were less than inspiring. Bryan was drafted 29th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Bryan has yet to live up to his draft status, starting 17 games for Jacksonville, playing in 48. Over the course of his career, Bryan has accumulated 71 tackles (41 solos), 3.5 sacks and 17 quarterback hits.

On the final day of the 2021 NFL Draft this weekend, Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke was asked about the team picking up or declining Bryan’s fifth-year option, at the time, however, Baalke wanted to keep his focus on the draft, declining to say either way.

“Right now, our whole focus was on getting through the draft,” Baalke said on Saturday. “So, once we get done with this, we’ll take a day to breathe and then we’ll put our heads back together and start working on future decisions.”

Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer was also asked on Saturday about the impending decision on Bryan, and declined to say either way, thought did say, “we want him here.”

The team had until today to make the deicsion, and it apparently has. Jacksonvilled drafted former USC defensive tackle Jay Tufele to begin the fourth round over the weekend, and he is expected to compete with Bryan at the position. It would not be surprising to see Bryan stay with the team through training camp.

According to OverTheCap.com, the Jaguars will owe Bryan $1,864,767 in base salary this year. If the team elects to cut him, they will save $1,159,882, while collecting $2,071,240 in dead cap space. He currently counts $3,231,122 against the cap this season.