4 free agents the Jaguars could sign before the 2022 NFL Draft

No. 4 free agent the Jaguars can still sign – Jadeveon Clowney, DE.

The Jaguars currently have the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Even though general manager Trent Baalke said at the NFL Scouting Combine that the team was willing to listen to offers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media recently said that there hasn’t been much interest from other clubs, meaning that the Jags will most likely keep the selection.

Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson is the favorite to go No. 1 overall but if (and it’s a big if) the Jaguars end up throwing a curveball at everyone and take either Alabama’s Evan Neal or North Carolina State’s Ikem Ekwou, they would be in need of a pass rusher. That’s where former Cleveland Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney comes in.

Clowney signed a one-year deal with the Brows last season and went on to make 14 starts and log nine sacks. While the Jags would be better off taking Hutchinson with the top pick in the draft, Clowney would give their pass rush a boost and would allow them to take either Neal or Ekwonu. His deal with Cleveland was worth $8 million, so he could be looking for that or a better amount this time around. While Jacksonville currently has a budget crunch, they could restructure a few contracts in order to make space for Clowney.

Again, this would only be feasible if the Jaguars opt not to draft Hutchinson. Otherwise, Clowney would be an unnecessary luxury.