Things have slowed down for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
After a flurry of activity early in the offseason, things are starting to slow down for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Heading into the offseason, it was uncertain who the head coach and general manager were going to be and what kind of direction the team would take in order to right the ship.
After an extensive search, the ‘Jags’ settled on Urban Meyer as the new head coach and Trent Baalke as the general manager. Now that their coaching staff and front office are taking shape, the team can turn their attention to a roster that is in need of a makeover.
The Jaguars are projected to have $73 million in cap space and could get even more if they released a few players. They will have the ability to target whatever player they want and make a couple of big-name additions in free agency.
The Denver Broncos currently have $14 million in cap space and but most of their key contributors are signed through next year, so they may not be active in the open market. Nevertheless, Jacksonville should look at Broncos players that are set to become free agents. Here are the best three.
Shelby Harris can help the Jacksonville Jaguars build a stout front four.
When it comes to needs on the defensive side of the ball, the Jaguars would welcome an infusion of talent in all their defensive units. Their defensive tackle group isn’t different, and the team will likely fortify the unit this offseason.
While this Jacksonville team could target Alabama defensive tackle Christian Barmore with the 25th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, free agency will offer a few enticing options and Shelby Harris may be one of the best of the bunch.
Originally a seventh-round pick in 2014, it took Harris a while before landing on his feet. After two uneventful years with the Las Vegas Raiders, the Illinois State product signed with the Broncos, where he steadily worked his way up to the starting lineup and became a key cog on their defense the last two years.
In that span, Harris logged 48 total tackles (12 for a loss), 8.5 sacks, 16 passes defensed and eight forced fumbles. Moreover, he’s earned an 88.3 Pro Football Focus grade in 2020, the eighth-best for an interior defender in 2020. The defensive tackle could contribute right out of the gate and solidify the Jaguars’ front four.
The Jacksonville Jaguars need to have a good backup behind James Robinson.
Running back James Robinson had a historic season in his rookie year, so it’s easy to forget how inefficient the Jaguars’ offense as a whole was in 2020. Even though the Illinois Standout played at a high level, the team’s running game ranked 28th in yards and 31st in touchdowns.
The ‘Jags’ abandoned the run in favor of throwing the ball after falling behind many times last season. However, Robinson kept running hard up until he suffered an ankle injury in Week 15 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Then their depth was put to test and running back Dare Ogunbowale had 28 carries for 121 yards in the last two games of the season.
While Ogunbowale wasn’t bad, this Jacksonville team could upgrade its running back room by adding Melvin Gordon, who made the most out of his 215 carries in 2020 and ran for 986 yards and nine touchdowns.
Gordon will likely garner plenty of attention in the open market, but his price tag may not be that steep. If the running back’s salary demands fall within the Jaguars’ free-agency budget, they shouldn’t hesitate to bring him in.
Justin Simmons quickly bolster the Jacksonville Jaguars’ secondary.
Have you even need to clean your room but things are so messy that you don’t know how to start? That could describe the current state of the Jaguars’ defense. The unit has so many holes that you could start anywhere and most approaches would work.
On the bright side, Jacksonville has the means to fix most of their roster needs this offseason, and it can’t neglect their safety group. Justin Simmons will be one of the best safeties to hit the open market. He will likely command a top-market contract, but his play on the field warrants it.
Simmons has been one of the best Broncos defenders in the last two years, logging 142 total tackles (five for a loss), 24 passes defensed, and nine interceptions. Also, he earned a 77.4 PFF grade, the eighth highest for a safety last season.
Jarrod Wilson will likely take over one safety spot, but it’s uncertain who will lineup next to him. Daniel Thomas showed promise in his rookie year before an arm injury sidelined him and although he will likely get another chance to prove himself, the Jaguars should not place all their chips on the Auburn product. Instead, they should bring in Simmons, who could help them stabilize their secondary.