Why the Jaguars must sign A.J. Bouye
By Max Baker
With 2017 NFL Free agency starting in seven days, the Jaguars have many positions that either have a hole or need an upgrade.
Offensive line and pass rushers are two very important positions that need a makeover, but cornerback is a big position that needs to be addressed. The Jaguars currently have only five cornerbacks under contract, including Davon House, who is bound to get released or traded sooner then later.
"The #Jaguars are shopping CB Davon House, a former big-money FA signing due $6M in 2017, source says. Expected to release him if no takers. – Ian Rapoport"
This leaves only four Jaguars corners, Jalen Ramsey, Aaron Colvin, Doran Grant, and Josh Johnson under contract for the 2017-18 season. Doran Grant has played in 3 NFL games throughout his NFL career and never has recorded a statistic, while Josh Johnson played nine games for the Jaguars last year, pretty much all on special teams. Aaron Colvin is a good nickel corner, but struggled when playing outside. Then of course, there is Jalen Ramsey who is a future pro bowler and leader of the defense. With all that said, the Jaguars don’t have enough depth and need a true number two corner. That’s why the Jaguars must sign A.J. Bouye
Tom Coughlin loves going after free agents from within the division and taking a potential elite corner away from the Houston Texans would be huge.
A.J. Bouye played second fiddle to Jonathan Joseph this past season, but ended the season as a potential shut down cornerback on the rise. Through the first seven weeks, Bouye was the highest graded cornerback in the league, per Pro Football Focus. He couldn’t have chosen to have a breakout year at a better time because this man is going to get paid. A defining moment for him was In the AFC Divisional round, Bouye made a big play, intercepting Tom Brady early in the second quarter. Bouye has big play ability, good speed, and instincts….everything you want in a lock down corner.
The Jaguars need corners and it happens to be that one of the best young corners in the game is available. The Jaguars should be the team that breaks the bank for this guy, not matter what the price is. They should aim for something around Janoris Jenkins‘ deal last year (five year, 62 million). Having Jalen Ramsey lockdown one side of the field and Bouye lock down the other, doesn’t seem too bad to me. Make the move Dave!