Per a league source, the Jaguars have declined to pick up left tackle Luke Joeckel’s fifth-year contract option, meaning he will be an unrestricted free agent in March 2017.
Today is the deadline for teams to decide on the fifth-year options for 2013 first-round draft picks.
The Jaguars’ call on Joeckel isn’t surprising after the team signed Pittsburgh Steelers left tackle Kelvin Beachum last month. Although Beachum is recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament and won’t be available until early August, he is favored to replace Joeckel.
Had the Jaguars picked up Joeckel’s option, his 2017 salary ($11.