5 Jaguars free agents who are giving GM Trent Baalke tough decisions

No. 2 Jaguars tough decision in free agency – Damien Wilson, LB.

Coming off a Super Bowl win as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, linebacker Damien Wilson signed a one-year deal with the Jaguars last offseason. A fourth-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2015, the Minnesota product had appeared in 65 games with 41 starts before landing in Jacksonville.

While Wilson has never played at an All-Pro level, he arguably had his best season as a pro in 2021. Before joining the Jags, he had never snagged an interception and he got his very first one in Jacksonville’s Week 18 matchup against the Colts. Moreover, he logged five passes defensed after never posting more than one in a season. While many things didn’t work for the Jags last season, the veteran linebacker became a key cog in their defense.

The front office should make an effort to re-sign Wilson but finding common ground might be complicated. Last year, he signed a one-year deal worth $2 million and he could be looking for a raise in 2022. He deserves it but how much is he going to ask for and how much are the Jaguars willing to offer? A three-year, $10 million seems reasonable but nobody should blame the linebacker if he wants to taste free agency and look for the best possible deal.