Barring rapid developments, Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Parker Washington will enter the team’s Labor Day Weekend break without a contract extension despite several months of dialogue between team and player.
Surprising? Yes.
Cause for concern? Not really.
Frustrating for the Jaguars and Washington? It should be if they have been talking for a good while.
I thought this deal would be done before the first training camp practice on July 29. Start with the good vibes produced by locking up a player who is popular with the fan base and especially his quarterback.
“There’s been a lot of solid progress, a lot of good back and forth,” Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said during his Sept. 1 press conference when I asked him to describe the tone of talks.
Let’s unpack that sentence.
What do we think “solid progress” means?
Maybe the Jaguars and Washington have reached a common ground on the length of the contract (like three years?). That would allow Washington another kick at the free-agent can entering his age-28 season and provide the Jaguars protection in case he doesn’t ascend like they hope. Tight end Brenton Strange’s extension on June 24 was three years, $36 million with $25 million guaranteed.
How about, “a lot of good back and forth” between the sides?
I don’t make much of that. Back and forth is basically negotiating. The Jaguars raise their price and Washington’s camp digs in. The Washington camp lowers their ask, but the Jaguars don’t counter. And then both re-group.
Does the lack of a Washington contract place a cloud over the Jaguars entering their Sept. 13 opener against the Cleveland Browns, a rare non-kumbaya moment (at least publicly) for this administration? Not yet.
Room for two $20 million receivers on Jaguars?
Gladstone said the Jaguars are fine continuing talks into the start of the regular season and it would be smart for Washington’s camp to feel the same way. Washington should have a greater sense of urgency to get a deal done because he is a sixth-round pick — he’s made good money, but not the kind of money to set up himself and his family for a generation. His price could go down if he is injured or his production declines.
For now, though, Washington must compartentalize the football and business stuff. Chances are, he won’t let it become a distraction.
“There’s a ton that he showcases on a daily basis about who he is, how he oparates and (his) focus, determination and consistency,” Gladstone said. “All that is rooted in his actions more than any words he speaks.”
If the sides have reached an impasse, it might boil down to the deal given to Jaguars receiver Jakobi Meyers last December (three years-$60 million, $40 million guaranteed).
Only four NFL teams have two receivers with an average salary of $20 million: The Cincinnati Bengals (Ja’Marr Chase $40.25 million and Tee Higgins $28.75 million), Dallas Cowboys (Ceedee Lamb $34 million and George Pickens on the $27.3 million franchise tag), Detroit Lions (Amon-Ra St. Brown $30 million and Jameson Williams $26.7 million) and Denver Broncos (Jaylon Waddle $28.3 million and Courtland Sutton $23 million). I won’t get into the weeds of guaranteed money and other parts of those contracts.
Is a $20 million average too rich for the Jaguars right now? They would be justified in wanting to see a bit more from Washington because the reality is this …
Washington’s first 32 games — 65 catches for 829 yards and six touchdowns.
Washington’s last 10 games (including playoffs) — 48 catches for 747 yards and five touchdowns.
Pro-rate those 10 games over a 17-game season the totals are 81.6 catches for 1,269.9 yards and 8 1/2 touchdowns. That’s a $20 million receiver. For now, though, the sample size is sub-optimal.
I wouldn’t fault the Jaguars if they offered Washington something in the range of Green Bay receiver Jayden Reed’s $16.8 million average, but are willing to move that number up — maybe signficatly up — if Washington is lights out in September-October. And I don’t fault Washington for seeking an average higher than Meyers’ rate; Washington is 4 1/2 years younger.
Creating cap space for next moves
The Jaguars re-worked defensive end Josh Hines-Allen’s contract to create salary cap flexibilty and a league source told the Times-Union they did the same with defensive end Travon Walker. The Jaguars could start the regular season, per the source, with about $9-10 million in space.
Creating space for Washington’s new contract or possibly another player like safety Antonio Johnson?
Creating space for Gladstone to use at the trade deadline to acquire a veteran reinfocement?
Possibly both.
“We want to make sure we have the flexbility we need to keep things on the table as the season progresses,” Gladstone said. “We’re always going to do our part to consider all options and through that lens, not all of those are going to (happen) or (become) public.”
Last year, the Jaguars made trades for two players — Meyers and cornerback Greg Newsome — who were on expiring contracts. Newsome became a rental and signed with the New York Giants, but Meyers signed an extension.
Gladstone accurately pointed out the Jaguars did in-season business last year, extending Meyers and current right tackle Cole Van Lanen. And they are definitely fine doing an extension ahead of time for players they view as part of their current and future core. Cornerback Buster Brown signed his deal (also three years) before he hit the open market in March and Walker and Strange signed their new deals this offseason a full year before their rookie deals expired.
“(We) certainly love where he’s at heading into the season (and) look forward to seeing that show itself once we get into the games and for so many other people to see it,” Gladstone said.
Eventually, the guess is, the Jaguars and Washington will find a common ground they are both comfortable with … just not on our envisioned timetable.
Contact O’Halloran at rohalloran@gannett.com or on X at @ryanohalloran. Listen to Ryan on 1010AM on Tuesdays (6:35 p.m. on “Into The Night"), Thursdays (1:15 on "XL Primetime") and Fridays (4-7 p.m.).
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Can quick start speed up contract talks between Parker Washington, Jaguars?
