Salary cap impact of Jaguars trading Maason Smith for Ruke Orhorhoro

What are the salary cap ramifications of the Jacksonville Jaguars trading Maason Smith to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for Ruke Orhorhoro?

With Smith and Orhorhoro both being second-round picks in the 2024 NFL draft -- Orhorhoro was taken 35th overall and Smith 45th overall -- the contract swap for the Jaguars and Falcons is relatively equal, and the impact is relatively small.

Salary cap impact of Jaguars trading Maason Smith to Falcons for Ruke Orhorhoro

Like Smith, Orhorhoro still has two years remaining on his rookie deal, which the Jaguars will inherit. According to Spotrac, the Jaguars take on $1.7 million in guaranteed money for the 2026 season and $2.1 million for the 2027 season, $966,000 of which is guaranteed.

For comparison's sake, the Falcons owe Smith $1.5 million for this season, with $1.1 million of that being guaranteed. Next year, he is owed $1.8 million, none of which is guaranteed. Since Orhorhoro was the earlier draft pick of the two, his contract is worth a bit more.

By trading Smith, the Jaguars take on $1.3 million in dead salary cap, forfeiting $835,000 in salary cap space.

With the salary cap impact of this trade -- although it's a small one -- not yet accounted for by Over the Cap, the Jaguars are listed as having $5.98 million in available cap space. Only four teams have less space at the moment than Jacksonville; however, Travon Walker's extension hasn't been accounted for either and, depending on how it's structured, could create cap space for the 2026 season.