Barry Church signing gets solid grades for the Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars have made several upgrades in free agency so far, and the Barry Church signing has been receiving positive reviews.

While fans waited to hear about the bigger names on the market, the Jacksonville Jaguars started free agency officially by signing former Dallas Cowboys safety Barry Church to a deal.

The Jaguars made it clear they wanted to move on from 2013 second round pick Jonathan Cyprien by letting him test free agency, but Church was a bit of a surprise move considering some of the names we’ve heard over the last few weeks. Despite the unexpectedness, the addition is a welcome one that should upgrade the strong safety position in a big way.

Pro Football Focus has been analyzing the signings based off their own pre-calculated market valuations. They believe the Jaguars got a good deal in Barry Church.

"S Barry Church to Jacksonville JaguarsActual: Four years, $26 millionPFF play-earned contract: Four years, $27.3 million, $8.9 million guaranteedGrade: BBarry Church had an excellent year in 2016, but it was the first season that he has posted strong coverage grades at PFF to go along with his typically-impressive run defense. Church has played all over the Dallas defense, but was better this season when employed deeper off the line."

Bill Barnwell over at ESPN has been critical of the Jaguars’ signings in recent years, but he’s relatively high on the acquisition of Church:

"S Barry Church, JaguarsGrade: B-After spending years frustrated by the unfulfilled promise of Johnathan Cyprien, the Jaguars made a move to upgrade at strong safety by taking themselves to Church (sorry). A former undrafted free agent, Church gives the Jags a versatile safety who is capable of playing center field and plugging up against the run, though Tashaun Gipson already fills the deep center role for Jacksonville. His average — reportedly about $6 million per year — leaves him among the higher-paid strong safeties in football, but the Jags might very well be better off paying that rate than going after one of the free-agent cornerbacks in the $10 million to $12 million per year range."

The key to the Church signing is that it should now give the Jaguars more flexibility on defense in terms of allowing both their safeties to cover the back end. Cyprien received praise last season for his play, but the chasm between his level of play against the run versus his play against the pass was monstrous. While Cyprien was fine in run support, he has been arguably the worst coverage safety in the NFL since being drafted in 2013.

Church is an upgrade that should allow Gipson to be more aggressive and be the playmaker we all expected when he signed last season.

Overall, my grade for the signing is a B as well.