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.
2. The Jacksonville Jaguars 2019 NFL Draft class got paid in free agency
Right tackle Jawaan Taylor wasn’t the only member of the Jaguars’ 2019 NFL Draft class that got paid in free agency. Linebacker Quincy Williams signed a three-year deal worth $18 million to remain with the New York Jets while tight end Josh Oliver inked a three-year, $21 million contract to join the Minnesota Vikings.
From a player’s perspective, this is great news. The average length of an NFL career is a bit over 3.3 years, so it’s great to see players sign multi-year contracts. On the other hand, the Jaguars should be asking themselves why they let Oliver and Williams walk.
Although the Jaguars were in the position to let Taylor walk, they moved on from both Oliver and Williams too early. It’s possible that general manager Trent Baalke wanted to cut ties with players he inherited from the previous regime or maybe he and then-head coach Urban Meyer failed to properly assess them.
Coincidentally, Jacksonville also traded quarterback Gardner Minshew in 2021, along with other players former general manager David Caldwell acquired, such as linebacker Joe Schobert, and cornerback C.J. Henderson.
Even though things have turned out well for the Jags, it’s fair to wonder what kind of impact Oliver and Williams would have had in Jacksonville if they had stuck around a bit longer.
1. The Jacksonville Jaguars 2022 free agent class looks great
General manager Trent Baalke didn’t have a glowing reputation heading into the 2022 offseason. The fact that he was around during the Urban Meyer era was a big reason and his role in then-Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich not becoming the head coach also made him an unpopular figure among fans. But something happened.
Baalke made several splash signings in free agency and he nailed most of them. Right guard Brandon Scherff played a full season for the first time since 2016. Linebacker Foyesade Oluokun became a team captain and was a tackle machine. Cornerback Darious Williams solidified the spot opposite Tyson Campbell and tight end Evan Engram had a career year.
Of course, Baalke’s most scrutinized additions in free agency last year were Zay Jones and Christian Kirk, who were given top-market contracts despite the fact that neither one had had a 1,000-yard season. In the end, both Jones and Kirk posted career numbers and proved the general manager was right to bring them aboard.
With the benefit of hindsight, every signing Baalke made last year looks even better, at least from a financial standpoint. Even though the Jaguars paid a premium for most of the players they acquired in free agency last season, none of the deals they sign look particularly bad, especially those given to Jones and Kirk. Tremaine Edmunds got a bigger deal than the one Oluokun got and Williams’ annual average of $10 million compares favorably to Cameron Sutton’s average of $11 million per year.
The bottom line is that the Jaguars won’t probably be active in free agency because they got most of the players they needed last year.