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

No. 5 Jaguars tough decision in free agency – Cam Robinson, LT.

While negotiations with DJ Chark could end up being more complicated, left tackle Cam Robinson could dictate the moves the Jaguars will make in free agency and the draft. Last offseason, the team used the franchise tag on him and they could use that mechanism for the second year in a row, which would pay him $16.5 million, to keep him around.

Robinson would like to earn that amount in 2022 but he would probably prefer more long-term security. Signing him to a one-year deal doesn’t seem like a realistic possibility knowing he could get more money if he gets slapped with the tag. The Jaguars could offer him a long-term deal but it’s uncertain what kind of money the Alabama product is looking for. Pro Football Focus expects him to sign a three-year contract worth $40.5 million with $20.5 guaranteed this offseason.

That seems like a fair deal for a player that isn’t in the upper echelon of his position but is a capable starter. Nevertheless, Robinson may want to look for a better deal in order to maximize his value in free agency. The window of opportunity for NFL players to cash in is pretty limited and nobody should blame them for trying to secure as much money as possible.

On the other hand, the Jaguars can’t afford to overpay for the left tackle and if they can’t meet his salary demands, they should let him test the open market. After all, they will have the chance to take Alabama offensive lineman Evan Neal in the 2022 NFL Draft and Walker Little is on the roster, so the team will have choices in case they can’t secure Robinson.