The Jacksonville Jaguars need reinforcements in their defensive end group.
This has been a particularly rough season for the Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end group. Earlier this year, the team’s brass decided to part ways with defensive ends Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue.
The ‘Jags’ bet 2020 first-round pick defensive end K’Lavon Chaisson and Rodney Gunter, whom the team signed in free agency, would help fill the void Campbell and Ngakoue left in the offseason. Nevertheless, Chaisson has been a non-factor in 2020, and Gunter decided to step away from football before the season started after being told he was at risk of rupturing or tearing his aorta if he continued playing football.
So far, the Jaguars’ defensive ends have registered five of the team’s nine sacks they have in 2020. Josh Allen, who is responsible for 2.5 of those, was recently placed on the Injured Reserve list so the unit’s production won’t likely see a surge in the remainder of the season.
While this Jacksonville team can not currently do much to upgrade their defensive end room, they should use free agency as a means to improve in 2021. They are set to have $83.99 million in cap space next year and they could make one impact signing at the position.
Here are four players who are set to hit the free-agent market that the ‘Jags’ need to pursue in 2021.
This pair of veterans would upgrade the Jacksonville Jaguars’ DE room.
Everson Griffen spent the first ten years of his football career with the Minnesota Vikings but he opted out of his contract with the team after the 2019 season and become a free agent. He ended up signing with the Dallas Cowboys but was later traded to the Detriot Lions after seven games this season.
The veteran defensive end was a key cog in the ‘Vikes’ defensive line and even though he has had more of a complementary role with ‘Big D’ and the Lions, he’s still an efficient player. This year, he’s registered 3.5 sacks and has 78 in his career.
Not too long ago, Justin Houston was among the best edge defenders in the NFL. In fact, he led the league in sacks with 22 in 2014 and earned a First-Team All-Pro designation the same year. He’s been named to the Pro Bowl four times and has registered double-digit sacks four times in his career.
Houston spent the first eight years of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs but was released in 2019. He then signed with the Indianapolis Colts and has been productive during his tenure with the ‘Horseshoe’. In the last 26 games, he’s registered 58 total tackles, 15.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.
These are two of the best DEs the Jacksonville Jaguars could add in 2021.
Denico Autry doesn’t get as much recognition as fellow defensive end Justin Huston. Nevertheless, the Mississippi State standout has been a key cog in the Indianapolis Colts defensive line and accounts for six of the 22 sacks the unit has registered in 2020.
Before he joined the Colts, his career-high in sacks was five, but then had nine in his first year in Indianapolis. This year, he’s on pace to have his career-best, something that could prompt his stock to rise in free agency.
Ryan Kerrigan has been a staple of the Washington Football Team’s front seven for the last ten years. In his tenure in Washinton, the veteran defensive end has missed just four games and has registered 95.5 sacks, 449 tackles, 26 forced fumbles, and three interceptions in 150 games.
The arrival of defensive end Chase Young in 2020 and Montez Sweat the season before has pushed Kerrigan into more of a complementary role in the team’s defensive line. However, the veteran has thrived whenever he’s been on the field and has still plenty of gas left in the tank. Based on his body of work, he will have plenty of suitors in this upcoming free agency.