Free agency official starts on March 15 but the legal tampering period gives NFL clubs the opportunity to agree to deals with players since the 13th. Teams like the Chicago Bears and the Las Vegas Raiders are expected to make big splashes. On the other hand, the Jacksonville Jaguars will be limited to watching other clubs go on splurges.
The Jags have a limited amount of cap space, $6.9 million as of this writing, which will make it hard for them to make any meaningful signings. Having said that, there are several plots involving Jacksonville worth keeping an eye on.
After applying the franchise tag on tight end Evan Engram, defensive end Arden Key, wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr., and right tackle Jawaan Taylor are their most prominent players set to become free agents and there’s a chance some of them will change uniforms. Here are other Jaguars players slated to hit the open market:
- Chris Manhertz, TE
- Dan Arnold, TE
- Andrew Wingard, S
- Tre Herndon, CB
- Adam Gotsis, DT
- Blake Hance, OT
- Riley Patterson, K
- Brandon Murphy, OT
And here are a few predictions for the Jacksonville Jaguars in this year’s free-agency period.
5. The Jacksonville Jaguars will re-sign Chris Manhertz in free agency
This isn’t the kind of move that will make national headlines but tight end Chris Manhertz was a key cog on the Jaguars’ offense last season. Although his contributions as a pass-catcher are minimal, his blocking skills have been paramount to the team’s success.
Manhertz saw more playing time than Dan Arnold even though the latter was a much better receiver. That goes on to show how much the coaching staff values his skill set. Back in 2021, he inked a two-year contract worth $6.61 million and he could come back on a similar deal.
4. The Jacskonville Jaguars won’t sign a big-name corner in free agency
Cornerback has been the Jaguars’ biggest need even before they parted ways with Shaquill Griffin. While there will be several appealing options in free agency, their dearth of cap space will prevent them from pursuing some of the biggest names.
James Bradberry headlines this year’s cornerback class in free agency and Jacksonville has been dubbed his best landing spot. However, he’s indicated that he wants to get paid and the Jaguars are currently cash-strapped, so signing him seems unlikely. The same is true for Cameron Sutton who might be more affordable and an even better fit than Bradberry.
Sutton can line up in the slot and the boundaries, which will make him an appealing option for teams in need of cornerback help. Even though he’ll be cheaper than Bradberry, he will still be out of reach for the Jaguars.
The Philadelphia Eagles have granted Darius Slay permission to seek a trade but securing him would cost the Jaguars a pair of draft picks and they may also need to give him a new contract. The five-time Pro Bowl cornerback would round out the Jaguars cornerback group but it’s hard to see him landing with the Black and Teal this offseason.
The Jaguars might even have a hard time signing Troy Hill or Rock-Ya Sin, two more cost-friendly options in the open market, so expect them to address the cornerback position in the draft.
3. The Jacksonville Jaguars won’t re-sign DE Arden Key
The downside of revamping their roster last offseason is that the Jaguars won’t have enough space to bring back key players in free agency. The team’s brass signed defensive end Arden Key to a one-year deal last year and he went on to become an important piece of their front seven.
Key got off to a slow start in his career, logging just three sacks for the Las Vegas Raiders in his first three NFL seasons. The former LSU Tiger was waived in 2021 and quickly latched on with the San Francisco 49ers, where he had a breakout season.
Despite the fact that Key didn’t start a single game during his stint in the Bay Area he logged 6.5 sacks and entered free agency as an ascending player. Although he could have signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, he opted to join the Jaguars instead because he wanted the challenge that came with it.
Key’s flexibility to line up at several spots across the line scrimmage gave defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell the flexibility to deploy him in different ways. The Georgia native finished the 2022 season with 4.5 sacks and 20 total pressures on 41 percent of the team’s defensive snaps.
Defensive lineman Javon Hargrave will be one of the top players available in free agency. Teams that aren’t able to secure his services could turn their attention to Key, who will be a more affordable option, so expect him to have a robust market.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars WR Marvin Jones Jr. won’t return in 2023
Back in 2021, the Jaguars acquired several players in free agency that were pivotal to their turnaround last season. Safety Rayshawn Jenkins was one of them and wide receiver Marvin Jones was another. One difference between the two was that Jenkins had a bounceback year after underachieving in 2021 while Jones had an impact right off the bat.
Jones became the Jags’ No. 1 receiver in 2021 and finished the year with 73 receptions for 832 yards with four touchdowns. However, he had a decreased role last year after the arrival of Christian Kirk and Zay Jones. While the former Cal Bear still manage to catch 46 receptions for 529 yards with three touchdowns in 2022, there might no longer be room for him in Jacksonville.
The front office traded for Calvin Ridley last year and he’s been officially reinstated. Given that the Jaguars will need to accommodate his $11.116 million salary for the 2023 season on top of paying the other Jones and Kirk, it will be challenging to bring back Marvin Jones.
The silver lining is that Jones can still play at a high level and could be a superb WR2 for teams in need of weapons, so he should be in demand in free agency. Jakobi Meyers and JuJu Smith-Schuster and maybe Odell Beckham Jr. will be the top three receivers available in the open market but teams that want more bang for their buck should target Jones instead.
1. The Jacksonville Jaguars won’t be able to retain Jawaan Taylor in 2023
This isn’t breaking news but right tackle Jawaan Taylor is expected to have a massive market in free agency. The former Florida Gator put it all together in 2022 after struggling with consistency in previous years and is coming off a career year.
Taylor isn’t a great run blocker but makes up for it by excelling in pass protection. Last year, he gave up just 16 pressures and five sacks. Moreover, he posted a Pro Football Focus 76.4 pass-blocking grade, the best in his NFL career. One team that has become a trendy landing spot for the right tackle is the Denver Broncos, who haven’t enjoyed stability at the position in a long time.
Having said that, the Broncos aren’t the only team that will try to secure Taylor, who should have potential suitors lined up in free agency. Another reason he’ll be a hot commodity is that he’s made 66 straight starts. In a game where players routinely miss time with injuries, his availability will be highly coveted.
The Jaguars already made an offer to Taylor but they feel comfortable leaving in free agency. One reason is the presence of Walker Little, who’s a better fit at left tackle but can also line up on the right side. The former Stanford Cardinal should have no trouble stepping in at right tackle if Taylor leaves.
Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano of ESPN report that the Jaguars’ brass is making a last-minute push to keep Taylor. But at this point, he’s better off hitting the market and seeing what kind of offers he gets from other clubs.