Jacksonville Jaguars will have options at WR in 2022 free agency

Even though Michael Gallup and Chris Godwin will be recovering from season-ending injuries, the Jacksonville Jaguars will have plenty of options at wide receiver in the free-agent market. Marquez Valdes-Scantling isn’t likely at the top of their wish list and is someone they shouldn’t consider unless they run out of choices.

Alex Kay of Bleacher Report recently drew up a list of one free agent each NFL team should avoid this offseason and Valdes-Scantling was the pick for the Jags. Kay argues that Jacksonville needs to prioritize getting Trevor Lawrence in 2022 but believes they should consider passing on Green Bay Packers wide receiver because he “hasn’t consistently put it all together on the field”:

Kay notes that Valdes-Scantling has logged 123 receptions for 2,153 yards and 13 touchdowns over the last four years but thinks that those numbers are disappointing when you take into account that he’s been catching passes from Aaron Rodgers. Here’s more of Kay on the 2018 fifth-round draft pick:

"If Rodgers wasn’t able to turn Valdes-Scantling into a consistent deep threat, it’s unlikely he will become one with a dearth of talent surrounding him in Jacksonville. A team will likely overpay for MVS’s ability to stretch defenses, but the Jags need to find a more complete playmaker this offseason."

The Jaguars will have better options than Marques Valdez-Scantling in FA.

Both DJ Chark Jr. and Laquon Treadwell are set to become free agents. The Jaguars need to re-sign the two. The former can stretch the field like no other Jaguar receiver can right now and the latter developed a solid connection with Trevor Lawrence. Having said that, the team’s brass needs to sign another wide receiver in free agency and there will be better options than Valdes-Scantling.  Cedrick Wilson of the Dallas Cowboys is one, Mike Williams of the Los Angeles Chargers is another. The Jags could also try to lure back Allen Robinson back to Duval.

The Jaguars won’t be hurting for cap space in 2022, as they’re slated to have around $63 million, which is more than enough to pursue a couple of big names in the open market and even make a run for Davante Adams if he’s available.

If the Jags wanted to make a bargain addition at wide receiver, they would be better off re-signing Treadwell or pursuing someone like Jamison Crowder. Even going with the devil you know and targeting Keelan Cole makes more sense. The one thing the Jaguars can’t do once again is overpaying for good-not-great players, which is something they did last offseason.

Valdes-Scantling is a fine player that can help a few NFL teams and be a solid complementary receiver: He certainly deserves to cash in and get a contract in free agency. However, the Jaguars shouldn’t be the ones that give it to him.