The Jacksonville Jaguars were one of the most active teams in free agency last offseason. Even though they got decent grades for the players they signed, they’re surely pleased with the results, as all of them went on to play important roles in the team’s success. Don’t expect the Jags to spend big this year though. Instead, they’ll try to keep core players from leaving and lean on the draft to restock their roster.
After a series of moves, Jacksonville has a bit more than $14 million in cap space but a good chunk of that money will be allocated to Evan Engram, who’ll reportedly get the franchise tag, and wide receiver Calvin Ridley, who filed for reinstatement in February.
If their Jaguars change their mind and wanted to take a dip into this year’s free agency pool, they should target these five players, all of whom would fill crucial positions.
No. 5 Jacksonville Jaguars dream free agent in 2023: Ben Powers, OG
The Jags spared no expenses last year and signed Pro Bowl guard Brandon Scherf, who went on to solidify the right side of their offensive line. Ben Bartch started at the opposite guard spot and showed improvement as the season progressed. However, he suffered a meniscus injury in Week 5 and spent the remainder of the year on the Injured Reserve.
Bartch is expected to make a full recovery and be ready by training camp. However, the Jaguars could fortify the left side of the offensive line by signing Ben Powers, who will be one of the top guards available in free agency.
Powers was outstanding in pass protection last season, allowing no sacks and one pressure on top of posting a Pro Football Focus pass protection grade of 86.5. Although he missed the last four games of the 2021 season with a foot injury, he managed to start all 17 last year, so his health should not be a concern for any potential suitors in the open market.
No. 4 Jacksonville Jaguars dream free agent in 2023: Dre’Mont Jones
This will be a great year for teams in need of a quarterback to either get a starter or one of the top backups in the league. Lamar Jackson is going through a contract impasse with the Baltimore Ravens and Derek Carr is free to sign with any club he wants after being released by the Las Vegas Raiders in February. Jacoby Brissett and Jimmy Garoppolo will also be available for those interested in a bridge quarterback.
However, quarterback is the one position the Jaguars don’t have to worry about due to the presence of Trevor Lawrence, who showed meaningful improvement last year. Backing Lawrence up is C.J. Beathard, who isn’t going anywhere after signing a two-year deal not long ago. Their defensive front, on the other hand, could use a boost.
Defensive end Javon Hargrave played for head coach Doug Pederson in 2020 but if he isn’t interested in organizing a reunion, the Jags could then target Dre’Mont Jones, who is expected to become a free agent despite the fact that he’s engaged in positive contract negotiations with the Denver Broncos’ brass.
A third-round selection by the Broncos in 2019, Jones registered 22 sacks over the last four seasons. In that span, he’s logged 138 total pressures (19th best among interior defensive linemen) and posted a pass-rush win rate of 14.5 percent (the 11th best in the league), per Pro Football Focus.
The Jaguars need to get more pressure from their defensive line and Jones would be an excellent addition to their rotation. The only downside — if you want to call it that — of signing him is that PFF projects him to command an annual salary of $14.5 million in the open market. Although that seems like a rather high amount, whoever signs Jones will acquire a top interior defender.
No. 3 Jacksonville Jaguars dream free agent in 2023: Marcus Davenport, DE
The Jaguars defensive line isn’t the only group that could use a few upgrades. They got solid production from their outside linebackers at times but Josh Allen and Travon Walker weren’t always consistent. Some of that might have been due to getting acclimated to defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell’s system but that doesn’t mean their pass rush couldn’t use a boost.
Defensive end/outside linebacker Dawuane Smoot was one of their most consistent defenders in the first half of the season but tore his Achilles in Week 16 and finished the year on the Injured Reserve. Smoot is now slated to become a free agent but even if he returns, the Jaguars could use another pass rusher.
This year’s pass rush class lacks star power but there are a handful of players available that can bring heat to the quarterback. One of them is outside linebacker Marcus Davenport, one of New Orleans’ top edge rushers since they made him a first-round pick in 2018.
Even though Davenport is coming off a down year and has struggled to stay healthy, he would be an excellent addition to the Jaguars’ pass-rush rotation. The former UTSA Roadrunner can get after the quarterback, posting a 17.8 percent pass-rush win rate and a pressure percentage of 13.9, both top 20 figures in the league.
Davenport isn’t a one-trick pony though. He’s also adept at stopping the run, posting a Pro Football run grade of 82.1. The upside of signing him is that his injury history might prevent him from asking for a top-market contract. He could instead get a one-year, prove-it deal to show he can remain healthy and have a shot at hitting the open market again next offseason.
No. 2 Jacksonville Jaguars dream free agent in 2023: Miles Sanders, RB
This is a good year to sign a running back despite the fact that the 2022 leading rusher, Josh Jacobs, is expected to get the franchise tag. Tony Pollard, who outplayed Zeke Elliot, will reportedly get the tag too. But even with Jones and Pollard out of the picture, there will be many quality running backs, many of them of starting caliber, in free agency.
Based on how things are playing out, the New York Giants will probably keep Saquon Barkley, leaving Miles Sanders as potentially the top running back in the open market. Coincidentally, Sanders played for Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson when he held the same position for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2019 and 2020.
Sanders was productive under Pederson, racking up 343 carries for 1,685 yards with nine touchdowns. He also showed proficiency as a pass catcher, catching 78 passes for 706 yards with three receiving touchdowns in the same span.
Even though the Jaguars aren’t in need of a running back and Pederson has shown an affinity for calling more pass plays than runs, Sanders would be an excellent addition to their backfield. He could form a dynamic tandem with Travis Etienne, who just like him, tallied over 1,100 rushing yards last season.
Pederson told the media at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine that he would like to get their running backs more involved on special teams, which would be another reason to add Sanders. After all, the former Penn State Nittany Lions returned kicks for the Eagles in his rookie season and could have a similar role in Jacksonville.
No. 1 Jacksonville Jaguars dream free agent in 2023: Cameron Sutton, CB
Having two good starting corners isn’t enough to stop opposing offenses in today’s NFL, which is why cornerback is a need for the Jaguars despite the fact that they have a pretty good duo in Tyson Campbell and Darious Williams. The former is one of the best young corners in the league while the latter showed he’s a better fit to play in the boundaries after lining up in the slot early in the 2022 season.
Once Williams moved outside, the Jaguars gave tried out several players in the slot but none of them proved to be a viable solution. For that reason, the team’s brass will likely use an early-round pick on the position in this year’s draft. At No. 24, they will be in a position to take one of the top prospects but they could also wait until the second round and still come out with a talented player.
There will be many boundary cornerbacks available in free agency but the Jags need one that can play nickel and move outside if needed. Cameron Sutton fits the bill.
Sutton was a third-round selection for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2018. He didn’t get much playing time early in his career but it all changed in 2020 when he made six starts and appeared on 54 percent of the Steelers’ defensive snaps. He kept getting more playing time and has become a key cog in Pittsburgh’s secondary.
Even though Sutton has mostly played in the perimeter the last two years, he can also line up in the slot. That kind of versatility should be appealing for the Jaguars and any other team in need of cornerback help.
Jacksonville was recently dubbed an ideal landing spot for cornerback James Bradberry, who’s coming off an All-Pro campaign. Sutton wasn’t nearly as good but he might be a better fit due to his ability to play inside and outside.