LT Terron Armstead could give Jaguars’ O-Line immense boost

The Jacksonville Jaguars must build around Trevor Lawrence this offseason and making sure he has good protection up front should be one of their top priorities. If they want him to have an elite player to watch his blind side, they should target New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead. Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports recently wrote a 2022 free-agency mock draft and discussed potential fits for all 32 teams. He believes the Jags should make a run for Armstead, who would give them an elite upgrade at left tackle.

"A long-term playmaker would be really nice for Trevor Lawrence, but protecting the QB is paramount. With left tackle Cam Robinson hitting the market, Armstead could step in and give them an elite upgrade."

Armstead has been one of the top left tackles in the NFL since the Saints made him a third-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. Throughout this nine-year career, he’s made three Pro Bowls and posted a Pro Football Focus overall grade of 80.0 or higher five times. Moreover, he’s only earned a grade below 75.0 once and that was back in his rookie campaign.

The PFF staff believes there “aren’t many weaknesses to Armstead’s game” and have him ranked as the number two player on their top 200 list of free agents. They expect him to sign a massive three-year deal worth $60 million ($20 million annually) with $43.75 million guaranteed. While that seems like a hefty price to pay for a left tackle, he would give the Jaguars’ offensive line a big boost. However, signing him comes with a caveat.

The Jaguars should expect Terron Armstead to miss a few games.

Armstead should be in high demand in free agency but the Jaguars have more than enough cap space to outbid pretty much every other NFL team. Paying top money for a top left tackle shouldn’t be an issue as long as Trevor Lawrence is protected. Having said that, Armstead has never played a full season and has missed 48 games, nine last season, throughout his career.

If the Jaguars sign Armstead, they should expect him to sit out a few games and make sure they have good depth at offensive tackle. On the other hand, they would have a clear path to take one of the top two pass rushers with the top overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson.

The Jaguars have plenty of needs and there are different ways they can address them this offseason. While securing the services of Terron Armstead won’t come cheap, they would get one of the top left tackles in the game. If they feel comfortable with him missing a few games, they should then pull the trigger.