JACKSONVILLE, Fla.  — The Jacksonville Jaguars released veteran receiver Zay Jones on Tuesday, dumping him five days after drafting LSU's Brian Thomas Jr. with the 23rd overall pick and a day after agreeing to bring five-time Pro Bowler Jarvis Landry in for rookie minicamp.

Jones was scheduled to count nearly $10.8 million against the salary cap in 2024, a significant payout for someone expected to be the team's fourth receiver at best. Jacksonville will eat $6.6 million in dead money to save $4.2 million this season.

Jones, who has 3,028 career receiving yards and 18 touchdowns in seven years with the Buffalo Bills, Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville, missed eight games last season with knee and hamstring injuries. He also was arrested on a domestic violence charge that was ultimately dropped.

He was entering the final year of a three-year, $24 million contract that included $14 million guaranteed.

The Jaguars could use the cap savings to sign Landry, who is looking to get back into the league after sitting out 2023.

Landry has played nine NFL seasons, including four for the Miami Dolphins and four with the Cleveland Browns. He signed a one-year, $3 million deal with his hometown New Orleans Saints in 2022 but finished with 25 receptions for 272 yards and a touchdown — all career lows. He missed eight games and landed on injured reserve that December.

He insists he's fully healthy now and ready to prove he belongs on an NFL roster. 

The Jaguars have been working to upgrade quarterback Trevor Lawrence's receiving corps, which came up short when Christian Kirk was injured down the stretch last season. General Manager Trent Baalke added Buffalo's Gabe Davis in free agency, drafted Thomas and now will get an up-close look at Landry.

On Monday. the Jaguars exercised fifth-year contract options on Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne, who were first-round draft picks out of Clemson in 2021.

Lawrence is 20-30 as a starter since being selected first overall that year. He has thrown for 11,770 yards, with 58 touchdowns and 39 interceptions. He also has run for 11 scores. The Jaguars are hoping to sign him to a long-term contract before training camp begins in July.

Etienne missed his rookie season following a foot injury but ranks seventh in the NFL in yards from scrimmage since then. He's the first Jacksonville player since Maurice Jones-Drew in 2011 to have consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons.

The Jaguars also cut kicker Joey Slye, moving on three days after drafting Arkansas' Cam Little in the sixth round, and agreed to terms with 13 undrafted free agents. The undrafted rookie class includes five receivers: Joshua Cephus from UT-San Antonio, Albany's Brevin Easton, Mount Union's Wayne Ruby, Memphis' Joseph Scates and Western Carolina's David White Jr.