5 potential bargain free agents Jaguars could start thinking about shopping for now

The Jacksonville Jaguars have lots of talent in place but will need to revamp several position groups next year. While they would surely like to go after wide receiver Tee Higgins or cornerback D.J. Reed, they probably won't go into a reckless spending spree to address their needs.

Granted, the Jags will have ample cap space and could free up by releasing a few players. That said, they'll need to re-sign some of their own players first (offensive tackle Walker Little, and safety Andrew Cisco) before they look at any potential upgrades in the open market.

This begs the question, which free agents could Jacksonvile sign without having to break the bank? These five come to mind.

James Daniels, right guard

Right guard Brandon Scherff has been a staple of the offensive line since he signed with the Jags in 2022. However, he's set to become a free agent next year, and the front office should consider looking for his potential heir apparent.

Sure, bringing back the former Iowa Hawkeye wouldn't be cost-prohibitive, but given the fact that he hasn't been nearly as dominant as he was early in his career and will be 33 next year, Jacksonville will probably be better off looking for alternatives. James Daniels will probably be one.

Daniels, a second-round pick by the Chicago Bears in 2018, signed a three-year deal worth $26.5 million with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022. Apart from being cheaper than Scherff, he's arguably been better in the same span. This season, he's given up just five total pressures and sacks. The Jaguars shouldn't hesitate to pursue him if he's in the same price range he was two years ago.

Paulson Adebo, cornerback

Not long after the Jaguars hired Ryan Nielsen in the offseason, New Orleans Saints cornerback Paulson Adebo became a potential trade candidate, and it's understandable. In Jacksonville, the former Stanford Cardinal would have filled a hole and joined his defensive coordinator. In the end, it was just speculation, and he stayed in The Big Easy.

Unfortunately, Adebo suffered a femur injury in October that cut his season short. He was given a recovery timeline of around five months. Still, teams interested in him will proceed with caution, meaning that he may not have a robust market coming off injury.

Nevertheless, the Jags should take a flyer on Adebo. He's given up a completion rate of less than 60 percent in each of the past two years. Similarly, he's racked up a combined seven interceptions. Whoever's coaching the Jacksonville defense next year could use a cornerback of his caliber.

Javon Kinlaw, defensive tackle

One of the Jaguars' biggest needs this season has been the interior defensive line. The front office drafted Jordan Jefferson and Maason Smith but neither has had a big impact. Perhaps they'll develop into fine players down the road, but that shouldn't deter Jacksonville from beefing up the trenches.

Apart from using an early-round pick in the group, the Jags must bring in outside help. Javon Kinlaw wouldn't be expensive. While he's been inconsistent and injuries have held him back, the 2020 first-round pick would add a veteran presence up front, but more importantly, he would give their interior pass rush a boost.

After logging just 1.5 sack in his first three years, Kinlaw has registered six the past two years.

Josh Uche, edge rusher

A second-round pick in 2020, Josh Uche needed time to put it all together but he broke out in Year 3, registering 11.5 sacks for the New England Patriots in 2022. Unfortunately, injury hindered his production the past two years. Add the fact that he wanted to get a new contract, and he was sent packing to the Kansas City Chiefs before this year's trade deadline.

Uche may not be a premier pass rusher but would be an intriguing rotational piece behind Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen. Even though it's true that the Jaguars are committed to playing Arik Armstead on the edge, they should consider bringing in reinforcements.

Elijah Moore, wide receiver

The Gabe Davis signing hasn't worked out the way the Jaguars expected when they gave him a three-year contract worth $39 million in free agency. Leaving aside that he was unremarkable, the Fernandina Beach, Florida native suffered a knee injury that ended his first season in Jacksonville prematurely.

Maybe Davis will bounce back in his second year with the Jags but the front office should err on the side of caution and add another weapon to Trevor Lawrence's arsenal. Elijah Moore would be an ideal option.

Moore was a second-round pick by the New York Jets in 2021 but left the Big Apple after two uneventful seasons. He's spent the last two years with the Cleveland Browns and has been generally dependable, hauling in 101 receptions for 976 yards with three touchdowns. One thing to consider is that he can play both outside and in the slot, and that kind of versatility could come in handy in Duval.

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