The trailing for The Boogeyman, a movie based on a Stephen King story, will be premiered during the AFC Championship but that’s not the only reason the Jacksonville Jaguars will be watching the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Jags would have surely loved to play rather than watch from home. On the bright side, they have a head start and can begin scouting players that might be available in free agency. Here are five that will be suiting up in the Conference Championship.
No. 5 AFC Championship free agent target: Carlos Dunlap, DE
Chiefs defensive end Carlos Dunlap will face off against the team that made him a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Following an 11-year tenure with Cincy, he spent two years with the Seattle Seahawks before joining the Chiefs last year.
Dunlap’s name won’t pop up when discussing the top edge rushers in the NFL but he’s had a productive career. The former Florida Gator has appeared in 197 games with 125 starts and has logged 100 sacks, 15 forced fumbles, 77 passes defensed, and two interceptions.
Even though Dunlap hasn’t missed a game over the last two years, he’s only made four starts and has seen his defensive snaps decrease. Then again, he might be better suited for a reserve role at this point in his career. In Jacksonville, he would join a pass-rush rotation that includes Josh Allen, Travon Walker.
The one hurdle that could prevent the Jaguars from pursuing Dunlap is system compatibility. They run a 3-4 defense and he’s played in a 4-3 defense throughout most of his career. Then again, defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell could find a way to maximize his skill set, so they shouldn’t rule out signing him just yet.
No. 4 NFC Championship free agent target: Andrew Wylie, OL
Most of the Jaguars’ offensive line is under contract for at least one more year but right tackle Jawaaan Taylor is slated to become a free agent. Taylor said he wants to re-sign but a potential return might be difficult given the limited amount of cap space they’ll be working with.
Working in Jacksonville’s favor is that they might already have a capable replacement for Taylor in Little. On the other hand, they’ll need to add depth to their offensive line and Andrew Wylie would be a solid addition to the group.
After going undrafted in 2017, Wylie signed with the Indianapolis Colts and spent time with the Cleveland Browns before joining the Chiefs. He’s appeared in 71 games with 54 starts. His ability to line up at guard and center should make him a hot commodity in the open market.
No. 3 AFC Championship free agent target: Samaje Perine, RB
Travis Etienne is firmly entrenched as the top running back on the Jags’ depth chart but the front office might need to replenish the position in the offseason. JaMycal Hasty is scheduled to hit the open market and Jacksonville would surely like to add competition to sophomore Snoop Conners. Enter Samaje Perine, a fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma in 2017.
Perine isn’t a featured back but has delivered when called upon. Throughout his six-year career, he’s toted the rock 401 times for 1,592 yards with seven touchdowns. John Shipley of Sports Illustrated believes he would be a good fit in Doug Pederson’s offense.
No. 2 AFC Championship free agent target: Vonn Bell, S
There will be a high demand for Bengals safety Jessie Bates’s services if he hits the open market, which seems inevitable when you take into account that his request for a multi-year deal hasn’t been granted.
Bates will probably command top-market compensation but there’s another Bengals safety that should be on the Jags’ radar, and that’s Vonn Bell. The 2016 second-round pick signed with Cincy in 2021 and is set to once again become a free agent.
Bell has registered six interceptions, 15 forced fumbles, and 35 passes defensed in 109 career games. He’s made 48 consecutive starts and has missed just eight games in his seven-year career. Safety Rayshawn Jenkins could be a cap casualty this offseason and if the Jags release him, Bell then becomes an option to replace him.
No. 1 AFC Championship free agent target: Khalen Sanders, DT
The Jaguars will need to retool their defensive front in the offseason. Adam Gotsis is slated to become a free agent. Corey Peters might hang up the cleats and Roy Robertson-Harris could get released to free up cap space.
One player who could help Jacksonville is defensive tackle Khalen Saunders. A third-round pick by the Chiefs in 2019, Saunders has played 38 games with five starts. While his numbers won’t pop off of the stat sheet, he’s adept at collapsing the pocket and taking on blocks to free up his teammates to make plays. Like other players on this list, he would be a low-key solid addition in free agency.