Analysis: What will Jacksonville Jaguars do with their top 10 free agents?
52. . . . Dawuane Smoot, defensive end. . player
Will the Jacksonville Jaguars part ways with their best pass rusher?
It’s hard to believe Dawuane Smoot’s rookie contract is already up. It was unclear what he was going to be early on but the past two seasons, he has really stepped up and been arguably the best interior defensive lineman on the team in the last few games. After not recording a single sack in his first two years, the Illinois product has racked up 10.5 in the last 29 games.
His emergence, combined with an overall so-so defensive line, makes this a no-brainer. Smoot is not a top-notch defensive end, but he provides depth at a position group that is in dire need of it. He’s in a spot where he may want more than he’s necessarily showed on the field up to this point, but that’s okay, as the team needs to hoard as much talent as it can.
The Jaguars will have the best cap situation in the league this offseason, and that’s not to say they should just spend money for the sake of it, but Smoot is well worth a solid contract and is playing a position that still needs some help—you have to re-sign him.