Jacksonville Jaguars can still sign these 3 veterans in free agency

Justin Houston can bolster the Jacksonville Jaguars’ pass rush.

All the big-name EDGE defenders are off the market. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett to a four-year $72 million contract while defensive ends Trey Hendrickson joined the Bengals and Romeo Okwara stayed with the Detroit Lions. Even Yannick Nagakoue — does that name ring a bell? — signed a two-year $26 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Jaguars haven’t stayed put and have brought back Dawuane Smoot, and signed Roy Robertson-Harris and Jahid Ward. However, they should keep loading on pass rusher in free agency, as there are plenty of veterans still available in the open market. Among them are Ryan Kerrigan, Jadeveon Clowney, Carlos Dunlap and Justin Houston.

All of them can still contribute but Houston has been the most productive of the bunch. A 2011 third-round pick, he spent the last two years of his ten-year career with the Indianapolis Colts. In that span, he started all 32 games and logged 69 total tackles (21 for a loss) 19 sacks and three forced fumbles.

Houston isn’t the player he was in 2014, when he registered 22 sacks and earned a First-Team All-Pro designation. Nevertheless, he should still have gas left in the tank. He’s just one season removed from posting a 87.1 Pro Football Focus overall grade and could be effective on a complementary role. Although the Jaguars may want avoid veterans and start developing players, Houston would be a solid addition to their defensive line.