Jaguars decline 5th year option on Joeckel

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – According to multiple reports, the Jaguars have declined to exercise their fifth year option on left tackle Luke Joeckel. The deadline to extend the option is on Tuesday and doing so would’ve cost the Jaguars in the ballpark of $12 million dollars.

Joeckel was the first draft pick (No. 2 overall in the 2013 NFL Draft) by General Manager Dave Caldwell. Earlier this offseason the Jaguars signed former Steelers left tackle Kelvin Beachum and Caldwell said that he will compete with Joeckel for the starting job.

The Jaguars have several options from here regarding Joeckel. They may explore moving him inside to guard or if he has a good season they can try to re-sign him next summer. They also have the option of letting him walk at the conclusion of the 2016 season.