Jacksonville Jaguars on standby early in NFL Free Agency: 3 takeaways
![Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson at TIAA Bank Field. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Fhttps-3A-2F-2Fblackandteal-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2017-2F07-2F19073579-850x560-d8cc74a92f83b52c1c6b93782e2e1565f330b8b523a73a12d812ae4df632e08d.jpg "Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson at TIAA Bank Field. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]")
The Jacksonville Jaguars were one of the most active teams in free agency last offseason. This year? Not so much. The legal tampering period started and the Jags didn’t make a single move. The main reason was their lack of cap room. They currently have $6.9 million in space, so it would have been nearly impossible to sign someone like defensive lineman Javon Hargrave, who agreed to a four-year deal worth $84 million with the San Francisco 49ers.
Heck, Jacksonville chose to move on from right tackle Jawaan Taylor, who reached an agreement on a four-year, $80 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs. While the Jaguars’ lack of activity in the early stages of free agency could be frustrating, the truth is that they have a pretty talented roster, so they don’t have to spend as much money as they did last year.
Instead, the team’s brass needs to fill a few holes, and rather than spending a premium in the open market, they’ll take a methodical approach and won’t probably make a big move in the first or even second wave of free agency.
Keep in mind that free agency will officially start until March 15, so the Jaguars could still sign a few players. With that in mind, here are three takeaways from the Jaguars’ decision to stand by on the first day of the legal tampering period.
3. The Jacksonville Jaguars won’t probably sign a big-name cornerback
Cornerback is arguably the Jaguars’ biggest need this offseason but it’s highly unlikely that they’ll go after any of the big names in free agency. Cameron Sutton agreed to a three-year deal worth $33 million to join the Detroit Lions while Jamel Deal re-signed with Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a four-year contract worth $52 million.
James Bradberry is still available but he’s made it clear he wants to get a top-market contract, so it’s hard to see the Jags making a run for him. Marcus Peters and Byron Murphy also remain unsigned but neither one seems to be on Jacksonville’s radar.
Maybe the Jags will add a cornerback in free agency but this is going to be one of the deepest draft classes in recent years, so they can afford to wait to round out the group.