Here is a look at the contract details for Jacksonville Jaguars’ sixth-round pick Jalen McLeod.
Prior to rookie minicamp, the Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to contract terms with sixth-round draft pick, Auburn linebacker and defensive end Jalen McLeod. Over the Cap now has those contract details.
When it comes to rookie deals, the rookie wage scale sets the parameters, based on where the player was drafted, that puts in place a ceiling and a floor for how much each draft pick can earn over their standard four-year contract.
For a more detailed look at the rookie wage scale, click here.
For McLeod, who was the 194th overall pick, his total contract value over the four-year deal is $4.43 million and includes $230,528 guaranteed as a signing bonus.
From a cap perspective, that signing bonus amount will be prorated over the four years of the contract, in the form of a $57,632 cap hit each year.
In Year 1, McLeod will earn a base salary of $840,000. In Year 2, it increases to $1.005 million, followed by $1.120 million in Year 3, and $1.235 million in Year 4.
Jalen McLeod’s salary cap hits each year with Jacksonville Jaguars2025: $897,6322026: $1.062 million2027: $1.177 million2028: $1.292 million
McLeod will add a unique skill set to the Jaguars’ front seven. During his time at Auburn, most of his snaps would come at defensive end, but he has some off-ball linebacker experience as well, and is listed at that position on team site.
From a pass rush perspective, at 236 pounds, McLeod can provide a change of pace with his speed at that position and also contribute to different alignments up front. One example could be having Travon Walker inside on passing downs.
If I were to guess, the long-term vision for McLeod could be having him on the field at linebacker during early or more run-obvious downs, and then transition to defensive end or be utilized as a blitzer on passing plays.
However, in the more immediate future, we will likely see a lot of McLeod on special teams.
“His competitiveness, his play demeanor, his urgency is phenomenal, and you take him, another who was deployed across the defensive front at Auburn, stood up off the ball,” Gladstone said via Jaguars on SI. “When he went to the Senior Bowl, all he did was stand up off the ball when one of the best elements of who he is being moved from one spot to the next and providing a spark, being able to gain an edge, a change of pace, rushing off the edge.”