The Jacksonville Jaguars surely want to catch their breath after such a busy and fruitful Wednesday in which they made several additions to their coaching staff. Special teams coordinator Heath Farwell, defensive line coach Brentson Buckner, passing game coordinator Jim Bob Cooter, offensive line coach Phil Rauscher, and offensive assistant Andrew Breiner all will reportedly join head coach Doug Pederson’s staff in Jacksonville.
Some of these coaches could vouch for some of their former players. In particular, Brentson Buckner, who has spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders, the Arizona Cardinals, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the last nine years, could try to bring these three players to Jacksonville.
No. 1 player with ties to Jaguars coach Brentson Buckner – Clelin Ferrell.
Not many expected the Las Vegas Raiders to take Clemson defensive lineman Clelin Ferrel fourth overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. In fact, a fan of the Silver and Black went viral and became a meme because of his disbelief. Looking back, his reaction might’ve been warranted, as the former Tiger hasn’t lived up to expectations and has been surpassed by fellow pass rusher Max Crosby, a fourth-round pick in the same year, as the top pass rusher in Sin City.
Over the last three years, the Cle Missile has racked up eight sacks, 79 total tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, and two forced fumbles. Even though he suited up for 16 games last season, he didn’t make a single start. That’s not the kind of production you want from a former first-round pick. So why would the Jaguars want him?
Buckner was Ferrell’s position coach in his rookie campaign and the defensive end would surely welcome a change of scenery. Just keep in mind that he’s currently on the Raiders roster, so he would either have to be released or Jacksonville would have to trade for him. Fortunately, the Jags have several late-round selections and could offer one in exchange for the defensive lineman.
No. 2 player with ties to Jaguars coach Brentson Buckner – Arden Key.
Edge rusher Arden Key is the living proof players can benefit from changing teams. Drafted one year before Clelin Ferell, the former LSU Tiger was supposed to become the Raiders’ primary pass rusher with Khalil Mack being traded to the Chicago Bears. In the end, it proved too big a task for Key and he ended up being a non-factor.
Heading into the 2020 season, Key became somewhat infamous after saying he would do things “the Arden Key way“. In the end, his approach proved not to be effective and finished the year with no starts, no sacks, and a measly 15 total tackles. He was waived last offseason and was quickly snagged by the San Francisco 49ers, where he enjoyed a career revival.
Although Key didn’t start a single game in 2021, he went on to log 6.5 sacks, 22 total tackles, and five total tackles as a part of the Niners’ defensive line rotation. While those numbers aren’t eye-popping, they surely show growth. The 2018 third-round pick is now set to become a free agent for the first time in his NFL career and should have plenty of suitors in the open market.
It’s uncertain if Key has reached his ceiling as a player yet, but he may be worth a shot. Of course, the Jags should overpay for his services but rather give him a contract that reflects his status as a role player, which it’s what he is at this stage of his young career.
No. 3 player with ties to Jaguars coach Brentson Buckner – Chandler Jones.
During his tenure as the head coach of the New England Patriots, Bill “the Hoodie” Belichick has had a penchant for moving on from players before they start to see a dip in their production. However, outside linebacker Chandler Jones was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in 2016 — after just four years in Foxborough — and has gone on to enjoy a productive stint in the desert.
Since joining the Cards, Jones has amassed 71.5 sacks, 262 total tackles, 80 solo tackles, and 23 forced fumbles. Moreover, he’s earned two All-Pro designations and made three Pro Bowls. But all good things must come to an end, and his run in Arizona might not be any different since he’s set to become a free agent this offseason.
Chandler is 31 but is still productive, logging 10.5 sacks, and a jaw-dropping six forced fumbles in 2021. If he leaves Arizona, he could follow Brentson Buckner, who pulled a Grover Cleveland and served two non-consecutive terms as the defensive line coach for the Cardinals. Spotrac expects him to sign a three-year, $43.7 million contract this offseason. The Jags will enter the offseason with around $60 million in cap space, so they can easily meet his salary demands.
If the Jaguars aren’t interested in drafting Aidan Hutchinson or Kayvon Thibodeaux, they should definitely give Jones a call and have him join outside linebacker Jonathan Allen in terrorizing opposing quarterbacks.