The Jacksonville Jaguars got off to a strong start to free agency, signing several players on Day 1 of the legal tampering period. While they managed to address a handful of position needs, their haul got mixed reviews.
This was mostly due to the fact that the Jags avoided making any splash signing and instead looked for players with an affordable price tag. In fact, the biggest contract the front office handed was the one they gave to offensive guard Patrick Mekari. The former Baltimore Raven agreed to a three-year deal worth $37.5 million.
Next was cornerback Jourdan Lewis, who agreed to a three-year, $30 million contract. The third-biggest signing Jacksonville made was Robert Hainsey, who'll replace Mitch Morse at center. The fifth-year veteran got a three-year deal worth $21 million.
Apart from those three, most of the additions the Jags signed fall in what you would call Tier 2 of free agents. This led a faction of fans to wonder why the front office steered clear of some of the top players available in the open market. There are a couple reasons.
The first is that the Jags are committed to building through the draft. This makes sense when you take into account that they're far from a contender. Simply put, it would be puzzling to make a couple of splash signings when Jacksonville is in the early stages of a rebuild.
Second, free agency hasn't officially started, and there's still plenty of time for the Jaguars to sign a few more players. With that in mind, here are a few players they can target following a busy Day 1 of the legal tampering period.
Will Hernandez, offensive guard
The Jaguars already beefed up the offensive trenches, signing Patrick Mekari, Robert Hainsey, and reserve Chuma Edoga. However, they still have room for another addition: Will Hernandez.
The Jags got two starters on the interior O-Line in Mekari and Hainsay, but the Jags should strongly consider pushing incumbent left guard Ezra Cleveland. That's where Hernandez would come in.
A second-round pick by the New York Giants in 2018, Hernandez truly hit his stride when he joined the Arizona Cardinals in 2022. He's coming off an ACL injury, but his versatility to play nearly any position up front would give the Jags ample flexibility. Moreover, signing him would allow Mekari to stay at left guard.
Asante Samuel Jr., cornerback
The Jaguars already signed Jourdan Lewis, but given that he mostly lines up in the slot, they could still add another one who plays in the boundaries. D.J. Reed, Byron Murphy, and Carlton Davis already found a new home, but Asante Samuel Jr. remains unsigned. It surely hasn't been because of a lack of offers. Instead, it's possible that he's looking for the best possible fit or the best suitor.
While signing Samuel wouldn't come cheap — Pro Football Focus projects him to sign a three-year deal worth $43.5 million — the Jags would at last address their top need: A starting cornerback opposite Tyson Campbell. The one thing that could give Jacksonville pause is that he dealt with a shoulder injury last year that he claims he's had since he was a child.
Kristain Fulton, cornerback
If the Jaguars don't want to overspend on Byron Murphy to bolster their cornerback group, they shoudl then turn their attention to Kristian Fulton.
A second-round pick in the 2020 draft, Fulton has never lacked talent but has been wildly inconsistent. That's why the Tennessee Titans moved on from him last offseason. He quickly latched onto the Los Angeles Chargers, where he had somewhat of a breakout season, However, the Bolts just signed Donta Jackson, so he'll likely be gone.
There's a chance Fulton could regress, but signing him would be a bet worth taking. All along, maybe he just needed the right fit: He found it in Los Angeles and could build off his promising 2024 season with the Jags.
Dante Fowler Jr., edge rusher
Why not bring in a familiar face to bolster the pass rush? Dante Fowler Jr. never truly lived up to his draft billing in Duval but has gone on to have a fruitful NFL career, registering 55.5 sacks in nine years. At 30, he's still got ample football left in him. Just last season, he registered 10.5 sacks with the Washington Commanders.
Fowler could most definitely give the Jaguars' pass-rush a bit of juice behind Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker.