3 winners and 3 losers from the Jaguars offseason so far

No. 1 winner from the Jaguars offseason so far – Cam Robinson, LT.

Before free agency, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said he wanted left tackle Cam Robinson back in 2022 and he got his wish granted when they applied the franchise tag on him for the second consecutive year. This was a bit surprising when you take into account that the team’s brass was going to need to invest a significant amount of money to retain him.

Also, there was the possibility of selecting Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal with the first overall pick and plug him at left tackle. However, that no longer looks like a feasible scenario.

Make no mistake though. The Jags could still select Neal or even North Carolina State’s Ikem Ekwonu at No. 1 but they would have to move either one to guard at least for a year. And that’s because Jacksonville is committed to keeping Robinson. He already signed his franchise tender, which ensures he will play for the Black and Teal in 2022 but the team wants to get a long-term deal done with him.

Last offseason, the Jaguars might have tagged Robinson because they were no better options on the open market. This year, they could have pursued Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead in free agency but chose to bring back Robinson instead, showing they are pleased with how he played in 2021. The Alabama product had been inconsistent throughout most of his career but he gave up just one sack last season and posted a Pro Football Focus overall grade of 67.4, which isn’t particularly great but certainly a step in the right direction.

Robinson will be protecting Trevor Lawrence’s blindside in 2022 and that’s because the Jaguars see him as the best option available. They could have moved on from him last year but they see him as part of their future.