The Jaguars are facing decisions on cornerback Aaron Beasley and guard/tackle Zach Wiegert, both of whom will be owed roster bonuses if they are on the Jaguars roster on March 1.
Today is the first day teams may cut players, and the Jaguars will have to make decisions on Beasley and Wiegert within the next week. Beasley is due a $750,000 roster bonus and Wiegert is due $500,000.
The $750,000 roster bonus wide receiver Keenan McCardell was due on March 1 was extinguished when McCardell reached a $750,000 performance bonus last season. That means the Jaguars may delay any decision they make on McCardell's future with the team until after March 1.
If Beasley and Wiegert are on the Jaguars' roster a week from tomorrow, they must be paid their roster bonuses. If the Jaguars decide to cut Beasley and Wiegert and not pay the bonuses, they will realize an $800,000 salary cap savings on the team's 2002 salary cap for Beasley and a $425,000 cap savings for Wiegert.
Wide receiver Jimmy Smith is owed a $450,000 roster bonus on March 1, cornerback Fernando Bryant is owed a $349,500 roster bonus on June 1, and Donovin Darius will receive a $527,000 roster bonus on Aug. 1.
Defensive tackle Marcus Stroud will be paid $3.128 million on March 1. It is the deferred portion of his $5.128 million signing bonus.
