The Jacksonville Jaguars have to address many roster needs this offseason. However, they will be able to fill most if not all of them because of the amount of cap room and draft picks they have. Although the 2021 NFL Draft is still a couple of months away, free agency is around the corner and the team will need to decide how it will spend a league-high $82 million in cap space.
The Jaguars’ biggest need is quarterback, but they will take care of that with the first overall pick in the draft, which they will most likely use to take Trevor Lawrence. Next on their list is left tackle, defensive end, defensive tackle, cornerback, and safety. While Jacksonville won’t be able to sign every big-name free agent in the open market, they could certainly add a couple.
The Jags’ offense certainly needs work but they have the resources to target left tackle Trent Williams and wide receivers Allen Robinson and Kelly Golladay. On the other hand, their defense ranked 31st in both points allowed and totals yards and needs help in all three levels. Benjamin Solak of the Draft Network recently wrote about three mid-level defensive players the Jaguars should target this offseason. Let’s take a look at all of them.
Will the Jaguars have a chance to land Marcus Williams this offseason?
New Orleans safety Marcus Williams is known as the player that was on the wrong end of the Minneapolis Miracle. Nevertheless, the Utah product hasn’t let a bad play define him and has gone on to have a successful NFL career.
In fact, Williams has been one of the top safeties in the league in the last two years and could end up becoming a better addition than Anthony Harris or Justin Simmons. The problem with Williams is that just like Simmons, he may not hit the open market.
James Palmer of NFL Media says that the Broncos will likely apply the franchise tag on Simmons if they can’t reach a long-term agreement. Meanwhile, the Saints are expected to make a strong push to keep Williams, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. It’s important to point out New Orleans is currently $69 million in the red but if there’s is one team that has no trouble getting under the cap year in and year out, it’s them, and if they want to retain the safety, they will probably find a way to it.
If Williams does hit the open market, the Jaguars shouldn’t hesitate to take their wallet out and make a play for it. Nevertheless, if he stays with the Saints, this Jacksonville team may be better off pursuing John Johnson III, another mid-level free agent that could have the same kind of impact Williams would with the Jags.
This one will give the Jacksonville Jaguars something to think about.
There’s no doubt the Jaguars need to beef up their defensive line and Benjamin Solak believes they should take a flyer on defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, who has dealt with injuries in the last two seasons but is still talented.
Solak acknowledges that Rankins’ last good season came in 2018, when he logged 40 total tackles (12 for a loss), eight sacks, one forced fumble, and one interception. However, he still thinks the Louisville standout can be a productive player.
If the Jaguars want to sign Rankins, they should give him a one-year, prove-it deal. Anything longer than that would be risky, as he’s missed eight contests with injury and has just one start in the last two seasons after starting 32 consecutive games from 2017 to 2018. Also, if Jacksonville ends up signing Rankins, they would still have enough money to add another defensive tackle in the open market such as Shelby Harris or Larry Ogunjobi.
Adding Rankins only makes sense if the Jags bring in another defensive tackle but if they really want to bolster the position, they should use the 25th overall selection in this year’s draft on Alabama’s Christian Barmore instead. Rankins could be a cheap acquisition in free agency, but that may not matter if he can’t stay on the field. The Jaguars need to think this one through.
The Jacksonville Jaguars need to find a slot cornerback too.
Out of all the Jaguars’ position groups on defense, the cornerback group may be the one that will go through the most turnover this offseason. C.J. Henderson should hold one spot, but Sidney Jones, D.J. Hayden, and Greg Mabin are scheduled to hit the open market. As Solak pointed out, none of them have been consistent and healthy enough to be guaranteed a second contract in Jacksonville.
If the Jaguars move on from Hayden, they will have to find someone else to handle slot duties and Solak believes Brian Pool could fill that role. He points out that there will be many slot cornerbacks available in the open market and believes Pool is the best of them.
Solak suggests that Pool’s previous relationship with Jaguars’ Player Personnel Coordinator Drew Hughes could help facilitate the signing. However, the Jaguars could also target Mike Hilton, Cameron Sutton, and Troy Hill. All of them have are solid players and it may come down to which one fits Jaguars defensive coordinator Joe Cullen’s system better and which one fits the Jaguars’ budget in 2021. Signing Pool would be good for the Jaguars secondary, but it won’t be the only choice they will have this offseason.