Jacksonville Jaguars: Darqueze Dennard is still a free agent
By David Levin
Cornerback Darqueze Dennard and the Jacksonville Jaguars could not agree to terms, which makes him a free agent once again.
After announcing the team had come to an agreement with defensive back Darqueze Dennard in free agency, the Jacksonville Jaguars have announced the former Cincinnati Bengals player will not be joining the franchise.
"“… The two sides could not come to an agreement on the final contract terms,” the Jaguars said in a statement Thursday. “He remains an unrestricted free agent,” Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com wrote."
Dennard was the second free agent signing the team announced after it reached a deal with linebacker Joe Schobert. Jacksonville has come to an agreement with five other players since free agency became official last week.
Dennard was expected to come in and compete for one of the open cornerback slots available since Jacksonville traded A.J. Bouye to the Denver Broncos for a 2020 fourth-round draft pick.
"Per Jaguars.com senior writer John Oehser, “Rashaan Melvin, who has been with seven NFL teams in seven seasons, has agreed to terms to sign with the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent. The Jaguars announced the move Tuesday afternoon in accordance with NFL rules.”"
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Melvin gives the team a veteran who should also compete for a starting job and adds experience and depth at a position of need.
As of now, D.J. Hayden and Tre Herndon are considered the team’s most experienced cornerbacks in defensive coordinator Todd Wash’s system. Now, it might be Melvin who has the inside track to a starting job opposite Herndon why Hayden remains as the team’s nickel cornerback.
"“We’re really excited to add Rashaan to our secondary as he’ll compete at the outside cornerback position,” Head Coach Doug Marrone said via Oehser.“He’s an experienced player and has produced at a high level in this league. He has good size and speed and does a great job of competing play-in and play-out and challenging the receiver at the catch. We’re excited to add him to our roster.”"
It was announced by several sources the agreement between the Jaguars and Dennard was for three-year and $13.5 million deal that included $6 million in guaranteed money.
In other Jaguars news:
The Jacksonville Jaguars have announced they have signed wide receiver Terry Godwin to a free-agent deal.
If Godwin’s name sounds familiar to fans, it’s because he spent 13 weeks on the team’s practice squad in 2019. He is also a former Georgia Bulldogs star and was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the seventh round in 2019.