Jaguars could sign these 4 free agents if they hire Byron Leftwich as HC

After originally declining the opportunity to interview for the Jacksonville Jaguars’ head coaching opening, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich met with them Friday, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.

In retrospect, the Jags should have hired him in the past hiring cycle but they zeroed in on Urban Meyer early in the process. Based on how things played out, you could make the case Leftwich would have done significantly better and the franchise wouldn’t need to start from scratch once again.

If Leftwich gets the job, he could bring in some of the players he’s coached in Tampa. In particular, these four Buccaneers could follow him to Jacksonville.

No. 1 Buccaneer who could follow Leftwich to the Jaguars – Ryan Jensen.

The Jaguars have one of the top centers in the NFL in center Brandon Linder. He’s one of their best players and a respected leader in the locker room. However, he’s missed 21 games in the last four years and has played a full season in his career once. He’s set to become a free agent until 2023 but he doesn’t have any guaranteed money left in his contract. Releasing him this upcoming offseason would free up $10 million in cap space with no dead money.

Ryan Jensen is also poised to hit the open market in 2022. A sixth-round selection in the 2013 draft, he signed a four-year, $42 million contract with the Bucs in 2018, and just like Linder, he’s 30 years old. So why should the Jaguars make a lateral move at center? Availability, Jensen hasn’t missed a start since he became a full-time starter for the Baltimore Ravens in 2017. There will be no shortage of potential suitors for his services in 2022.