NFL teams resort to free agency in search of proven talent. However, there's no guarantee a signing will pan out. Conversely, clubs could find bargains if they know where to look. That appears to be the case for the Jacksonville Jaguars and offensive lineman Chuma Edoga.
Beefing up the offensive trenches was one of the Jags' biggest priorities in the offseason, and they spared no expense to bolster the level of depth and talent across the unit. Back in free agency, the team's brass signed Robert Hainsey and Patrick Mekari to start at center and right guard, respectively. Moreover, they brought in Edoga and Fred Johnson as depth pieces.
So far, Edoga, who signed a two-year deal worth $7 million, has given the team the most bang for its buck.
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Why has Chuma Edoga been a bargain for the Jaguars
Pattrick Mekari has missed a good portion of training camp with back spasms. Edoga has taken advantage of his absence to shine. With him in the mix, the offensive line hasn't missed a beat. In fact, he made such a strong impression during the Jaguars mock game that the team's official announcer, Frank Frangie, showered him with praise during a recent appearance on 1010 XL.
"The interesting thing to me is, Patrick Mekari has not been out ther, he's been nursing an injury, we all assumed he would be the right guard. Well, Chuma Edoga's been going in there. He's been good," Frangie said when discussing the state of the team's offensive line on Duval Rundown (12:19 mark). "I think they would tell you he might be the biggest, most pleasant surprise of all of camp. Of all of camp, Edoga might be the biggest surprise.
Frangie continued, "He looks more like a guard than a tackle. He's 6'4", he's not 6'7", like some of these guys are these days, like Walker Little is or Fred Johnson. So he looks more like a guard, just looking at him. He wears No. 55, it's kind of like an interior guy's number. He looks the part of a guard, even though he's been a swing tackle at Dallas, and that was one of the conversations when he came here. He's been pretty good at right guard. They like what they have seen so far."
What's impressive about Edoga is that he was inconsistent in his previous stops but has managed to turn the corner in Duval. A third-round pick in 2019, the former USC Trojan spent his first three seasons with the New York Jets. He landed with the Atlanta Falcons in 2022 and played for the Dallas Cowboys the past two years.
Along the way, Edoga switched back and forth between guard and right tackle. That must've made him an appealing choice for the Jaguars in free agency. However, he didn't appear to have a favorable chance to stick with them in 2025 because of how much depth and talent Jacksonville had on the offensive line early in the offseason. It didn't seem to matter.
Edoga got to work and showed that he can come through if called upon. Aside from making a strong impression at guard, he also got first-time reps at right tackle at mandatory minicamp when Anton Harrison struggled.
Fast forward to training camp, and Chuma Edoga should feel good about his chances of earning a 53-man roster. Moreover, he's proven that he'll deliver if he's pressed into action.