The Jacksonville Jaguars officially introduced Doug Pederson as their head coach Saturday. As general manager Trent Baalke told the media, the organization will now hit the ground running, “we’ve lost some time, but there was nothing more important than getting this hiring right”. While Jags’ scouting department will turn their focus on potential draft targets, the front office will also need to draw up a list of players they would like to sign in free agency.
In order to implement his system in Jacksonville, Pederson could bring some of his former players with him. In particular, the Jaguars could sign these pending free agents with ties to their head coach.
No. 1 free agent with ties to Jaguars HC Doug Pederson – Greg Ward.
The Jaguars need to bring back DJ Chark Jr. and add another number one wide receiver. On the other hand, it wouldn’t hurt them to bolster their depth at the position and if they want to, they can sign Greg Ward this offseason.
After going undrafted in 2017, Ward signed with the Philadelphia Eagles and spent his rookie season in the practice squad. He was released the following year and had a stint in the now-defunct Alliance of American Football league. He returned to Philly in 2019 and was given a shot late in the season, hauling in 28 receptions for 254 yards with one touchdown.
The former Houston Cougar went to catch 53 passes for 419 yards and six touchdowns in 2020 but saw a decreased role last season due to the presence of fellow wide receiver DeVonta Smith. With Nick Sirianni now calling the shots in Philadelphia, Ward might be tempted to join his old head coach in Jacksonville.
No. 2 free agent with ties to Jaguars HC Doug Pederson – Boston Scott.
When healthy, James Robinson can go toe-to-toe with the best running backs in the NFL. However, he’s currently rehabbing from a torn Achilles he suffered late in the 2021 season. In fact, there’s a video of Jaguars players meeting with Doug Pederson and you can see the former Illinois State Redbirds is in crutches. Travis Etienne is also coming off a Lisfranc injury and while he will probably be available for training camp, Jacksonville could add Boston Scott this offseason.
A sixth-round selection by the New Orleans Saints in 2018, Scott was waived before the start of the season and was signed to their practice squad not long after. He joined the Eagles later that year and returned a combined four kicks in the last two games.
Scott had a bigger role in Philly’s offense the following season and has toted the rock 228 times for 992 yards with 13 touchdowns over the last three years. While those numbers aren’t eye-popping, he’s been reliable when called upon and that’s something the Jaguars would surely welcome in their backfield.
Known as the ‘Giant Killer’ due to his success in games against the New York Giants, Scott was arguably more productive than starting running back Miles Sanders in 2021. Sanders had the better average per carry (5.5 to 4.3) but didn’t find the end zone once in the season while Scott scored seven times. The Eagles will most likely try to keep Scott but if he hits the open market, the Jaguars need to consider kicking the tires on him.
No. 3 free agent with ties to Jaguars HC Doug Pederson – Derek Barnett.
The Jaguars will have a shot at taking one of the top two edge rushers of the 2022 NFL Draft, Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson and Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux with the first overall pick. Either one would be a fine addition to their front seven that could form an outstanding pass-rush duo opposite outside linebacker Josh Allen.
Regardless of whom the Jags chose — they could also draft Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal — they could target Derek Barnett in free agency to bolster their depth. The former Tennessee Volunteer never lived up to his first-round billing in Philadelphia but has been a key cog of their defensive line rotation over the last five years, posting 21.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and 147 total tackles. His best year came in 2019, when he logged 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
The brightest moment in Barnett’s NFL career came in Super Bowl 52, when he scooped a fumble that sealed the Eagles’ victory over the New England Patriots. Fellow defensive Brandon Graham was the one that forced it but Barnett came through when his team needed him the most. In Jacksonville, the 14th overall pick in the 2017 draft wouldn’t have to play a feature role, and would instead be part of their rotation, which could increase his productivity.
Pro Football Focus projects Barnett will ink a three-year, $37.5 million this offseason. That may be too much for the Jaguars but if his asking price comes down, they need to consider making a run for him.
No. 4 free agent with ties to Jaguars HC Doug Pederson – Rasul Douglas.
Cornerback Rasul Douglas wasn’t on the Eagles roster last season. In fact, his three-year stint in Philly was rather forgettable and nobody would have thought last offseason that he would play at a high level with the Green Bay Packers during the 2021 season. After all, the 2017 third-round pick signed with the Las Vegas Raiders only to be released before the start of the regular season.
Douglas then spent time with the Houston Texans and the Arizona Cardinals before latching on the Packers and went to log 13 passes defensed and five interceptions, two returned for touchdowns. Moreover, the allowed a completion rate of 50 percent.
It’s been definitely a wild ride for Douglas. Think about it, the Eagles gave up on him after three seasons. He participated in 14 games with 11 starts for the Carolina Panthers in 2020 but was given the boot the following season. Then, he spent time on three different rosters before having a breakout season. Either none of the clubs he suited up for knew what they had in him or it took him a while to find his stride.
Regardless of how things played out, Douglas is ready to cash in this offseason. While he doesn’t rule out a return to Green Bay, he might look for greener pastures in free agency. Cornerback isn’t a need for the Jaguars since they have Shaquill Griffin and Tyson Campbell but players of Douglas’ caliber aren’t often available.
No. 5 free agent with ties to Jaguars HC Doug Pederson – Zach Ertz.
Zach Ertz’s last season in Philadelphia (2020) was an unceremonious one. He was entering the fourth year of a five-year contract worth $42.5 million but thought he was underpaid and wanted a raise. The Eagles didn’t cave in and traded him to the Arizona Cardinals during the 2021 regular season.
While Ertz was one of the top tight ends in the NFL during his prime, he mustered 36 catches for a career-low 335 yards and just one touchdown. After a relatively slow start in 2021, it was fair to wonder how much gas he had left in the tank. However, he benefited from a chance of scenery in the desert and went on to haul in 56 receptions for 574 yards with three touchdowns.
From 2015 to 2019, Ertz caught 74 or more passes and averaged 10.5 yards per grab. There’s a chance he could put similar numbers in 2021 if he manages to stay healthy. The 2013 second-round pick proved last season that he still has plenty of football left on him and the prospect of joining a young quarterback in Trevor Lawrence and his former head coach in Doug Pederson could lure him to Jacksonville this offseason.
Spotrac projects that Ertz will sign a two-year, $15.2 million deal this offseason. That’s an amount the Jags can easily afford.