It’s official, Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebacker Mike Caldwell will be the Jacksonville Jaguars’ next defensive coordinator, per Field Yates of ESPN and Mike Garafolo of NFL Media. This didn’t come as a surprise. Not long after Doug Pederson named the head coach, it was announced that Caldwell would join him in Jacksonville and it’s easy to see why.
The duo played for the Philadelphia Eagles in the late 1990s and was in Andy Reid’s coaching staff in the early 2010s, so it’s not shocking to see Pederson bring someone he knows well to run the Jags’ defense. Having said that, Caldwell will need to pick up where his predecessor, Joe Cullen, left off.
Last year, the Jaguars’ defense ranked 28th in points allowed and 20th in total yards. While those aren’t numbers to brag about, Cullen’s unit displayed flashes of dominant play and played a key role in the team’s three wins of the 2021 season. Moreover, players such as linebacker Damien Wilson, and cornerback Tyson Campbell improve under his tutelage. If that wasn’t enough, the Jags logged 32 sacks, 14 more than they did in 2020.
If the Jaguars went to keep getting better on defense, they will need to take care of these four things this offseason.
No. 1 roster decision the Jaguars must make – Commit to OLB Josh Allen.
Outside linebacker was one of the most dominant edge defenders in the league at the midpoint of the 2021 season. However, he couldn’t keep up that pace for the remainder of the year and saw a dip in production. All in all, the 2019 first-round pick logged 71 total tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, one forced fumble, one interception, and 7.5 sacks. While those are solid numbers, that’s not the kind of production you expect from a franchise building block. Nevertheless, the Jags need to commit to him.
The Jaguars have until May 2 to pick Allen’s 5th-year option on his rookie year. While they must exercise it, they shouldn’t stop there. They should then start negotiations and try to sign the Kentucky product to a long-term deal. He already showed he can play at t high level and you could make the case that the dysfunction that surrounded the team last year affected his performance down the stretch.
With more stability in Jacksonville, there’s a good chance Allen can have a breakout season in 2021.
No. 2 roster decision the Jaguars must make – Bolster the pass rush.
Allen should be more consistent next season but he shouldn’t be the Jaguars’ only source of pressure up front. Dawuane Smoot logged 6.0 sacks in 2021 and should have similar production in 2021. However, the Jags need to add another pass rusher this offseason.
As recently as 2019, Allen, Yannick Ngakoue, and Calais Campbell combined for 25 sacks and if you go back to 2017, Campbell, Ngakoue, Dante Fowler, and Malik Jacksonville registered 44.5 sacks as a group. Simply, the Jaguars need another edge rusher besides Smoot and Allen if they want to pressure opposing quarterbacks more often in 2022. Fortunately, they will have options this offseason.
The Jags’ front office could take either Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson or Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux with the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Another option is to trade down a few spots to nab Purdue defensive end George Karlaftis and acquire a few extra selections in the process. But if the Jags want to take someone like Evan Neal or Charlie Cross to fortify their offensive line, Jacksonville can then look for a pass rusher in free agency.
The top pass rushers in free agency will most likely be Chandler Jones of the Arizona Cardinals or Harold Landry of the Tennesee Titans — unless they re-sign with their respective teams. The Jaguars could ink either one and land an edge rusher who can line up opposite Allen. Of course, they would then have to invest a good chunk of the $60 million in cap space they will have this offseason and use their draft picks to address other roster needs.
Regardless of the route, the Jags must bolster their pass rush.
No. 3 roster decision the Jaguars must make – Add depth to cornerback unit.
Cornerback Shaquill Griffin was a solid acquisition in free agency and rookie Tyson Campbell was a revelation last year. After struggling early in the 2021 season, Campbell became one of Jaguars’ best and most consistent defenders. Both of them should keep their starting roles in 2022 but the Jaguars need to add depth to their cornerback room even though they have other more pressing needs.
Slot cornerback Tre Herndon was hampered by an MCL sprain last season and is scheduled to become a free agent. And although Rudy Ford was solid at nickel, the Jags would benefit from using a third- or fourth-round selection on a developmental prospect. After all, you can never have enough corners and despite the fact that both Griffin and Campbell will be under contract beyond 2022, it wouldn’t hurt to begin to plan for the future.
The Jags can target someone like Coby Bryant of Cincinnati or Mario Goodrich of Clemson in the middle rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. Both players have the potential to eventually turn into starting-caliber starters and it would be a good thing to target one (or both) of them in the selection meeting.
No. 4 roster decision the Jaguars must make – Make Andre Cisco the starter.
Safety Andre Cisco probably slid in the 2021 NFL Draft due to health red flags but the Jags believed the positives outweighed the negatives and took a flyer on him in the third round. Looking back, the decision has the potential to pay off big dividends.
Before the season started Andrew Wingard was named the starter opposite Rayshawn Jenkins. Even though defensive coordinator Joe Cullen said Cisco would get plenty of snaps, he didn’t. In fact, he progressively got less playing time as the season went on and was at one point relegated to special teams. In one of the biggest blunders of his short stint in Jacksonville, then-head coach Urban Meyer said the former Syracuse Orangeman got some snaps against the Tennesse Titans in Week 14 even though he had gotten none.
Once Meyer was fired and Wingard landed on the COVID-19/Reserve, Cisco was given a chance to show what he could do on the football field. Although he didn’t play at an All-Pro level, he showed flashes of the speed and range that made him a ballhawk at Syracuse. While it looks like forever, it’s worth noting that the safety logged 13 interceptions and 14 passes defensed in 24 games for the Orangemen back in college.
Moving forward, the Jaguars can’t keep Cisco and the bench and need to find to give him a realistic shot to earn a starting job in 2021. He’s managed to stay healthy and showed potential in three starts last season. He deserves a chance to make his mark in Jacksonville’s secondary.