Jacksonville Jaguars free agency 2017: Tyler Shatley retained

The Jacksonville Jaguars made a splash move already this offseason with a trade, but they continue making minor moves as well, including retaining Tyler Shatley.

The Jacksonville Jaguars made a big trade this week, but the acquisition of Branden Albert took a backseat on Tuesday when the team announced another signing:

This move is almost a follow-up to the team also re-signing Josh Wells, ensuring the Jaguars will have some level of continuity in the back half of the offensive line depth chart.

In a statement, general manager David Caldwell noted Shatley’s ability to step into a starting role when asked and his approach to the game:

"“In addition to showing impressive flexibility along the line, he performed admirably when he started four games in 2016. He embodies the ‘next man up’ approach and we will continue to benefit from his selfless approach on and off the field for years to come.”"

Shatley joins Josh Wells and Luke Bowanko as the backup offensive lineman under contract, likely ensuring the Jaguars will spend some capital on another starter along the line.

For now, it appears the Jaguars will lock in Albert as the starting left tackle and Brandon Linder as the starting center. Outside of that, there’s a good chance both Jermey Parnell and A.J. Cann also start, but they certainly aren’t guaranteed the jobs given their performance last year. Left guard is a complete question mark, and there’s a chance Shatley could force himself into the conversation there if the team doesn’t invest heavily (either monetarily or via a high draft pick) into that spot.

This is a minor move, but these add up and help the Jaguars build depth along the line. Continuity is extremely important for offensive lineman, even the second-string guys who occasionally have to step in and perform.