Maurice Jones-Drew’s Future After 2013, Will He Be Back In Jacksonville?
By Luke Sims
Sep 30, 2012; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew (32) before a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Everbank Field. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Maurice Jones-Drew isn’t going to be traded and that’s a good thing. The Jaguars will be redoing his contract after the season which means that the Jags will have a full year to evaluate whether MJD is worth another monster contract like the one he is playing out this season. So, what is in store for the future of MJD’s career?
Some speculate that this will be his last season in black and teal. Despite his long tenure with the team, running back is becoming an increasingly undervalued position and the rebuilding Jaguars just shouldn’t hand him tons of cash when they could get a much cheaper option.
Others think that Jones-Drew will be back no matter what but that this season will set his pay. The Jags will want him back but if he can no longer put up 1,600 yards then why should they pay him like that? Head coach Gus Bradley is going to pound away with the running back but that doesn’t mean that Jones-Drew should be making a ridiculous sum of money as a result.
Personally I think that Jones-Drew will end up testing free agency in 2014. I’m optimistic he’ll be back with the Jaguars, and for the right price, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t going to see what his value is with other franchises. It is what I would do.
Jones-Drew’s future is tied to the Jaguars at least for one more season and he likes the franchise. He wants to come back. Will he do it for cheap? I doubt it. Will it be so expensive that the Jaguars will overpay him? I hope not. Gregg Rosenthal of NFL News disagrees with me though. He says, “He’ll need a monster comeback season in 2013 to get a matching monster contract. No matter how he performs, we’d be surprised if he remained in Jacksonville after this season.”
What do you guys think? Will MJD be back in Jacksonville in 2014? Is it too early to tell?
– Luke N. Sims
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