Blackmon Released, Idzik Joins Jaguars Staff

The Jacksonville Jaguars have begun making roster moves to free cap space for the upcoming free agency period. ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco has announced it has parted ways with defensive back Will Blackmon after three seasons with the franchise.

The move clears up $920,000 in cap space, which widens the Jaguars' gap over the rest of the NFL. The Jaguars have approximately $66 million in cap space heading into the 2015 league year, which begins March 10.

The move isn't a surprise because of the development of 2014 fourth-round draft pick Aaron Colvin. He sat out the first 11 weeks of the 2014 season while recovering from a torn ACL he suffered during Senior Bowl practices, but played in the final six games. Colvin and 2013 seventh-round pick Demetrius McCray, who showed marked improvement last season and started 12 games, are expected to be the starting cornerbacks in 2015. Dwayne Gratz, a third-round pick in 2013, is expected to fill the nickelback role.

Blackmon came to the team late in the 2013 preseason after he was released by the Seattle Seahawks.

The Jaguars will look to potentially sign free agent defensive backs once they are able to announce roster moves. The team may have a desire to find a veteran free safety and could look to the NFL Draft, where team general manager Dave Caldwell has been successful in drafting players to bring along a young secondary, much like Seattle has done the past few seasons.

Green Bay drafted Blackmon in the fourth round in 2006 and he spent four years with the Packers. He spent two seasons with the New York Giants but did not play in the NFL in 2012. He went to training camp with Seattle in 2013 but was waived in final cuts and signed with the Jaguars the following day.

IDZIK JOINS STAFF

League sources and ESPN.com have reported that the Jaguars have added former New York Jets general manager John Idzik to its staff as a consultant to general manager Dave Caldwell. Idzik was with the Jets for the past two seasons and was fired, along with Rex Ryan as the Jets cleaned house after its 2014 season.

Idzik, who was fired by the Jets in late December, will not have a role in player evaluation but will work with the team's salary-cap department, the source said. Idzik will work alongside Tim Walsh, the team's director of football administration and the person responsible for managing the salary cap.

The Jaguars have the most cap space of any team in the league (approximately $65 million) heading into the 2015 league year.