There was chatter that the Jacksonville Jaguars could dismiss head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke in the middle of the 2024 season. However, both of them remain in place the rest of the year. It wasn't until the offseason that Pederson got the boot. Surprisingly, Baalke stayed and he'll play a role in the team's coaching search.
Just a couple days after Pederson got the boot, the Jags placed eight requests for interviews. They've since added a few more. All things considered, the list is filled with several intriguing candidates, but the crown jewel of them all is without a doubt, Ben Johnson.
After becoming the offensive coordinator for the Lions in 2022, Johnson has seen his stock soar. If he wanted to, he could've taken the Washington Commanders vacancy last year if he had wanted to but opted to return to Detroit. In retrospect, it was the right decision, as the demand for his services has only gone up.
Now, Johnson has several interviews lined up, and the Jaguars will be the last of the teams he'll meet during the Lions' Bye Week. Reportedly, Jacksonville has set its sights on the coveted head-coach candidates, and the interest appears to be mutual.
So for the sake of the argument, let's say Johnson does get the Jaguars job. He will want some of the guys he's worked in Motor City. And with this in mind, here are five pending free agents who could follo him to Duval.
Dan Skipper, offensive tackle
The Jaguars have a pair of bookend offensive tackles in Walker Little and Anton Harrison. The former just signed a three-year deal in 2024 and the latter is still on his rookie deal, so they'll be around for a while. That said, the team's brass may want to add depth at the position.
Little was the team's swing tackle last year and stepped into a starting role when Cam Robinson was traded to the Minnesota Vikings. That left Cole Van Lanen as the primary backup at the position. So far, he's been up and down and is a restricted free agent. Re-signing him wouldn't be cost-prohibitive, but Johnson could also bring in Dan Skipper.
Skipper went undrafted in 2017 and spent a couple years working on his craft, spending time with different teams, before he could latch onto the Detroit Lions in 2019. The former Arkansas Razorback has been on and off their practice squad and has had brief stints with the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts along the way.
It wasn't until 2022 that Skipper got considerable playing time, starting 11 games the past three years. He isn't a starting-caliber player but could push Javon Foster and compete for a roster spot next season.
Tim Patrick, wide receiver
A while back, Tim Patrick was seen as a star on the rise. The Denver Broncos even made sure to lock him up before another team poached him, giving him a three-year deal worth $30 million in 2021. Unfortunately, injuries derailed his career, and left Mile High last offseason. He quickly landed in Detroit, where's been able to rehabilitate his stock.
Patrick appeared in 16 games with nine starts for the Lions in 2024, registering 33 receptions for 394 yards with three touchdowns. The Jaguars will probably release veteran Christian Kirk at some point in the offseason, and Gabe Davis was a free-agency disappointment last year. Patrick would add insurance at the position.
Marcus Davenport, edge rusher
The Jaguars miscast Arik Armstead as a defensive end in 2024, but he'll once again play inside, where he's at his best, next season. That will leave a void in their pass-rush rotation. Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen are excellent bookend pass rushers but they need a No. 3. It wouldn't hurt to kick the tires on Marcus Davenport.
A first-round pick in 2017, Davenport was off to a strong start to his NFL career, but injuries have limited him to six games the past two years. It's fair to say that he comes with an injury risk. That said, signing him could be a low-risk, high-reward move that could bolster their pass-rush rotation.
Ifeatu Melifonwu, safety
The Jaguars could use help at safety if Andre Cisco leaves in free agency. While they'll probably go the draft route to find his replacement, they could also kick the tires on Ifeatu Melifonwu, a third-round pick who had established himself as a mainstay of the Detroit secondary only to suffer back-to-back injuries in 2024.
It's not a given that Melifonwu will return to the Lions. He may want to test the market and see what's out there. If the demand isn't what he expected, the Jaguars should then pick him up.
Carlton Davis, cornerback
By now, you have probably noticed that this list includes players on both sides of the ball. The ones on defense haven't been coached by Ben Johnson. Heck, they may even follow Aaron Glenn, another candidate for the Jaguars job, to his next stop. That said, these are players Johnson knows because of his time with the Lions, even if they haven't played for him.
With that out of the way, Carlton Davis will be one of the best cornerbacks in free agency, and he could fill the void opposite Tyson Campbell. Davis started his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2018 and signed a one-year deal with Detroit last offseason. He's been dependable throughout his career, having never allowed an opposing passer rating of 100.0 or above since his rookie campaign.
Unlike most players on this list, Davis won't come up cheap, but he would be worth it. Granted, he suffered a jaw fracture that cut his 2024 season short, but that's not the kind of injury that will hamper his performance moving forward.