NFL teams that finish a season with a losing record can do two things: Either stick to what they’re doing and expect to improve or make the necessary changes and upgrades. After finishing 3-14 in 2021, the Jacksonville Jaguars took a latter route.
Heading into training camp, this Jaguars team looks significantly different from their 2021 counterpart after a busy offseason. However, some of the moves the organization made raised a few eyebrows. With that in mind, here are the four strangest decisions Jacksonville made in 2022.
No. 4 Jaguars strangest decision – Pay a premium for Zay Jones
The Jaguars needed to revamp their wide receiver corps after finishing 32nd in receiving touchdowns last year. Sure, Trevor Lawrence was just a rookie finding a way in the pros but he didn’t really have a solid supporting cast. He deserves some of the blame for the team’s inability to reach the end zone but so does the front office for not giving him enough weapons last season.
Lawrence should improve under the direction of head coach Doug Pederson. Also, the front office got him a pair of wide receivers in Christian Kirk and Zay Jones. However, they paid a premium to do so, which would be fine if both of them were proven commodities but that wasn’t the case.
In particular, Jones has only amassed more than 600 receiving yards once in his five-year NFL career and has only had more than two touchdowns in a season once. That’s not the kind of production that warrants a three-year, $24 million deal but that’s precisely what the former East Carolina Pirate got from the Jaguars’ brass this offseason.
The Jaguars expect Jones to play a key role on offense in 2022 and there’s a chance he will precisely that. But it’s a gamble, one the front office decides to take in free agency.
No. 3 Jaguars strangest decision – Extend their head-coaching search
The Jaguars moved on from Urban Meyer less than a year after hiring him to oversee their rebulid. They started the search for his replacement not long after but it took them more than a month to fill the opening. Jacksonville chose Doug Pederson after a lengthy process but they were reportedly close to hiring Byron Leftwich, so what happened?
A wide nest was cast for the search and the Jags went on to set interviews with several candidates for the position, including but not limited to former Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, former Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and former Detroit Lions head coach Jim Cadwell. Leftwich quickly became a front runner to get the job but ultimately dropped out of the process because he wasn’t reportedly thrilled about the possibility of working with Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke and wanted to bring Arizona Cardinals vice president of pro personnel Adrian Wilson with him.
After Leftwich removed himself from consideration, the Jaguars hired Pederson. This was a good decision but when you take into account that he was the first person to interview for the opening, it’s fair to wonder why the search lasted more than a month ? It’s true that the Jaguars needed to do due dilligence and they ultimately got the right man for the job. Nevertheless, it feels like the organization could have run a more efficient process.
No. 2 Jaguars strangest decision – Signing CB Darious Williams
Cornerback Darious Willliams grew up in Jacksonville, so he wasted no time in free agency and signed with Jaguars even though other teams would have paid him more. He got a three-year, $30 million deal, which is a fair amount when you take into account that he was a key cog in the Los Angeles Rams defense since he was claimed off of waivers in 2018.
Williams went on to appear in 46 games with 26 starts and log 27 passes defensed and six interceptions for the Rams. The former UAB Blazer should give Jacksonville’s secondary a boost and his signing got mostly positive reviews around the league, so why was it strange to ink him in free agency? Simple, the Jaguars already have a couple of good starting cornerbacks in Tyson Campbell and Shaquill Griffin, possibly making the additions of Williams unecessary.
Sure, teams should have as many good cornerbacks as possible but the Jaguars were arguably set at the position and could have passed on signing Williams, especially when you consider that he might line up in the slot but he has mostly played outside throughout his career.
Williams might end up having a smooth transition and he could move to the boundaries if needed. Also, the Jags didn’t overpay for his services but they could have spent that money somewhere else, maybe the tight en room or the offensive line.
No. 1 Jaguars strangest decision – Scrap the plan to hire an EVP
Urban Meyer gave the Jaguars no choice but to fire him after series of questinable decisions, one worst than the previous one. Once he was gone, it was reasonable to think that general manager Trent Balke was going to be next. After all, he was partially responsible for the team’s 3-14 record last season. However, the organization decided to keep him around even though fans made their displeasure known.
One thing that gave fans assurance was that the owner Shad Khan had filed a request to add an executive vice president of football operations to their front office (EVP). This executive would have been above Baalke and Pederson and overseen the operation of the team. Former Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spieldman was one name linked to the position but the Jaguars ultimately put the plan on hiatus.
Had Jacksonville hired an EVP, Baalke wouldn’t be the only one calling the shots, and the Jaguars never really explained with they opted to pause the process. Maybe Khan was pleased with his general manager’s performance throughout the offseason or perhaps he meshed well with head coach Doug Pederson. It’s possible that two developed chemistry and the owner no longer thought adding an EVP was necessary. Nevertheless, hiring one would have fortified the Jaguars front office.
If it accounts for something, Jacksonville hired Ethan Waugh as their assistant general manager earlier this year, so Baalke will get a right hand and the front office will get another voice.