Should the Jaguars sign Eric Berry?
Would the Jacksonville Jaguars consider signing free agent safety Eric Berry to help boost the secondary?
From 2018 to 2019 the Jacksonville Jaguars will have a completely different safety core. Ronnie Harrison and Jarrod Wilson will be the last line of defense this year, but could they benefit from a veteran presence and potential starter in Eric Berry if an injury occurs?
The two Jaguars starters from last year in Week 1, Tashaun Gipson and Barry Church, are no longer on the team’s roster.
A five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro, Berry is continuing to recover from injuries. Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2014, torn Achilles in 2017, and Haglund’s deformity in 2018 ultimately led to Berry’s release from the Chiefs. He is considered one of the greatest to ever put on a uniform in Kansas City.
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But Berry had signed a six-year, $78M contract before the Achilles injury, showing that when healthy, he is worthy of being the highest paid safety in the NFL. But Berry remains unsigned. Would the Jaguars, a team with concerns about depth in the secondary, take a chance on the veteran?
The biggest question revolving around the Jaguars and Eric Berry is whether or not Berry would be willing to take a backup role.
If anything, Bringing in Berry would add depth to the Jaguars safety group and create some competition for Harrison and Wilson. And for a unit that was one of the best in the NFL in 2017, their performance last season wasn’t on the same level.
While Berry is a big name that is still on the market, signing him wouldn’t bring about a big change for the Jaguars, serving just as a player who the team will be confident in if Harrison or Wilson go down. With Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye at cornerback, this could be one of those signings that helps the Jaguars secure the back line as they play against some of the best offenses in the NFL this season.
With Harrison at 22 years old and Wilson at 23 years old, mistakes are learning periods and are bound to happen, but having Berry doesn’t put the team in a corner if these mistakes turn into a bigger problem. Berry also would serve as a teacher for the young Jaguars safeties. Another veteran leader in the locker room is always a good thing.
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There is a reason Eric Berry was signed to a huge contract in 2017 and named Comeback Player of the Year in 2015. He plays with grit and a determination. As much of a signing for depth this could be, it will benefit the Jaguars.