The Jacksonville Jaguars raised eyebrows when they decided to stick with general manager Trent Baalke despite the fact that he wasn’t a popular figure around the league and didn’t have an outstanding track record of identifying talent. In retrospect, owner Shad Khan’s decision to keep Baalke around has paid off.
The Jags won the AFC South one year after finishing with the worst record in the league and Baalke is one of the reasons why. The embattled general manager spent the last two seasons adding difference-makers and key contributors over the last two years.
However, Baalke’s job will become considerably more difficult this upcoming offseason. The Jags will have a limited amount of cap space, so they won’t be able to make as many slash signings as they did last year. Similarly, the Jags may not be able to bring back several players that are scheduled to become free agents in 2023.
With that in mind, here’s a ranking of their top 10 pending free agents.
Ranking Jacksonville Jaguars potential FAs: The expendables
15. Blake Hance, offensive lineman
After going undrafted in 2019, offensive lineman Blake Hance signed with the Washinton Commanders in May 2019 but was released in August of the same year. He’s also spent time with the Cleveland Browns, the New York Jets, and the San Francisco 49ers.
Hance has signed with the Jaguars twice, once in 2019 and more recently in 2022 after being waived by the Niners. He appeared in 16 games this past season but mostly on special teams. Given that he’s an exclusive free agent and can’t sign with another club if the Jags offer him a one-year deal, there’s a chance he’ll return in 2023 but he’ll need to compete for a roster spot.
Ranking Jacksonville Jaguars potential FAs: The expendables Part II
14. JaMycal Hasty, Running back
For most of training camp, it seemed like rookie Snoop Conner was going to be the third running back on the Jags’ depth chart but that changed with the arrival of JaMycal Hasty just before the start of the regular season.
Hasty became Jacksonville’s No. 2 running back when they traded James Robinson to the New York Jets. The former Baylor Bear is an exclusive free agent, so it won’t be cost-prohibitive to re-sign him. However, he will probably have to compete with Conner to for the right to back up Travis Etienne in 2023. Similarly, he might be on the roster bubble if the team adds someone else in free agency or the draft.
13. Tre Herndon, cornerback
An undrafted free agent in 2019, cornerback Tre Herndon worked his way up on the depth chart and eventually joined the Jaguars’ starting lineup. He was set to line up in the slot in 2021 but suffered a knee injury that forced him to miss a few games. Once he returned, he spent most of the year on the bench. Nevertheless, the team’s brass liked him enough to bring him back on a one-year deal.
Herndon took started a few games in relief of Shaquill Griffin in 2022 but proved that he’s better suited for a reserve role. At this stage of his career, the Vanderbilt product offers depth but not much more.
Moreover, the Jags used a pair of late-round draft picks in Gregory Junior and Montaric Brown last year. On top of that, they added Tevaughn Campbell to their cornerback room in the offseason. All of them could get more playing time in 2023, which could in turn make Herndon expendable.
Ranking Jacksonville Jaguars potential FAs: Middle of the pack
12. Adam Gotsis, defensive lineman
Former second-round pick Adam Gotsis has been a valuable pickup since signing with the Jags in 2020. The Australia native made 14 starts in his first season with the Black and Teal but has been more productive as a part of the defensive line rotation over the last two seasons.
In 47 games with the Jags, Gotsis has posted five sacks, 83 total tackles, and 13 tackles for a loss. The team’s brass could try to re-sign him but he could leave if he gets a better offer from another club.
11. C.J. Beathard, quarterback
Quarterback is the most important position in football and the backup quarterback is the second most important. Re-signing C.J. Beathard would be cheap and that’s what the Jaguars could do this offseason.
There might be better alternatives in free agency but they will also be more expensive, so bringing back Beathard and drafting a quarterback prospect to develop might be the best course of action for Jacksonville in 2023.
10. Dan Arnold, tight end
The Jaguars traded for Dan Arnold following their Week 3 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in 2021. He quickly became one of Trevor Lawrence’s favorite targets but a knee injury cut his season short.
Arnold seemed poised to have a featured role in Doug Pederson’s tight-end friendly offense but instead saw his playing time diminish. The tight end made the most of his snaps in 2022, hauling in nine passes on 13 targets for 135. However, it doesn’t look like he’s part of the team’s long-term plans.
Ranking Jacksonville Jaguars potential FAs: Middle of the pack II
9. Corey Peters, defensive tackle
At 33, defensive tackle Corey Peters showed in 2022 that he still has plenty of gas in the tank. A third-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons, the former Kentucky Wildcat joined the Jags’ practice squad in September and later signed to their active roster.
Peter posted a Pro Football Focus overall grade of 86.2 against the Tennesse Titans in the finale and Doug Pederson praised him for having a great game. Like Gotsis, Peters is an important part of the Jags’ defensive line rotation, which make a potential return in 2023 possible.
8. Riley Patterson, kicker
The Jags had a revolving door at kicker throughout most of the offseason and trying camp. After cutting ties with Matthew Wright, the front office signed Ryan Santoso, Andrew Mevis, and Elliot Fry but none of them proved to be the answer.
Near the end of the preseason, Jacksonville claimed James McCourt off waiver. McCourt originally made the 53-man roster but was released (and later added to the practice squad) in favor of Riley Patterson, who lost a competition with Austin Seibert for the Detroit Lions kicker job.
Patterson has brought stability at kicker, so it’s hard to see the Jaguars moving on from him. He’s an exclusive rights free agent, so he can be back on a one-year deal.
7. Chris Manhertz, tight end
Tight end Christ Manhertz was signed for his blocking prowess in 2021, and that’s the role he’s filled over the last two seasons. The Canisius product has appeared in 34 games with 21 starts for the Black and Teal.
Manherts has only tallied 12 catches for the Jaguars but his presence allows the offense to run smoothly. He could return on a team-friendly contract.
Ranking Jacksonville Jaguars potential FAs: The best of the bunch
6. Andrew Wingard, safety
Before the 2021 season started, safety Andrew Wingard was named the starter next to Rayshawn Jenkins. The former Wyoming Cowboy was solid but not great, which is why he began the 2022 season behind Andre Cisco.
Wingard can start a few games if called upon but he’s more effective in a reserve role. He has become a core special teams contributor and become a locker room leader. It won’t be shocking to see him leave in free agency if he gets a lucrative offer from another team.
5. Dawuane Smoot, defensive end
Defensive end Dawuane Smoot is one of the longest-tenured players on the Jaguars’ roster. A third-round pick in 2017, he’s spent his whole career in Jacksonville and has registered 22.5 sacks over the last four years.
Smoot tore his Achilles against the New York Jets in Week 16 and is out for the season. He might not have a strong market for his services given that he will spend the offseason recovering from the injury. For that reason, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him sign a one-year deal with the Jags to boost his stock and hit the open market once again in 2024.
4. Mavin Jones Jr., wide receiver
Marvin Jones Jr. was the Jaguars’ top receiver in 2021, hauling in 73 receptions for 832 yards with four touchdowns. However, he’s taken on more of a complementary role in 2022 due to the arrival of Christian Kirk and Zay Jones.
Nevertheless, Marvin Jones was still productive when called upon, catching 46 receptions on 81 targets for 529 yards with three touchdowns. The former Golden Cal Bear is still a viable No. 2 receiver but there might not be room for him with the Jaguars in 2023.
Ranking Jacksonville Jaguars potential FAs: The best of the bunch II
3. Jawaan Taylor, right tackle
Right tackle Jawaan Taylor hit his stride in 2022. Although he made 49 consecutive starts over his first three NFL seasons, he struggled with penalties and was inconsistent in pass protection.
Taylor earned a payday this past season and will be highly coveted in free agency. However, the Jaguars won’t have the cap space to meet his potential salary demands, so it’s hard to picture him returning to Jacksonville in 2023.
2. Arden Key, defensive end
Defensive end Arden Key could have signed with the Kansas City Chiefs but chose to join the Jags because he believed they were a challenge. The former LSU Tiger became an important part of their pass rush rotation and finished the 2022 season with 4.5 sacks and 15 quarterback hits.
Key signed a one-year, $4 million deal last offseason but his price tag will likely go up in 2023. Either way, signing him would be a worthy investment.
1. Evan Engram, tight end
Tight end Evan Engram bet on himself last offseason and it paid off. The Jags wanted him to sign a long-term deal but he preferred a one-year deal. The former Ole Miss Rebels set new team records for yards in a game by a tight end, catches by a tight end in a season, and receiving yards by a tight end in a season.
Giving Engram a multi-year deal makes sense but he could hit the open market if he thinks he can get a better contract from another club.