Reinforcing the offensive line was a top priority for the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason, so they wasted no time adding help in free agency. On Day 1 of the legal tampering period, they made three signings to bolster the group. Of the bunch, the one that stands out the most is Patrick Mekari, who'll tentatively replace Brandon Scherff at right guard. The signing got positive reviews. Mike Jones of The Athletic, for one, gave them an encouraging grade.
Jones graded the most prominent signings of this year's free agency and assigned a B to the Jaguars for locking Mekari, pointing out that he was part of a Baltimore Ravens offensive that was among the best at creating yards last year.
"The seventh-year veteran played guard last season but has lined up at every position along the offensive line. He helped pave the way for a Ravens offense that ranked among the league leaders in yards. The Jaguars are trying to upgrade the interior of Trevor Lawrence’s offensive line and hope Mekari can help in this regard."
As Jones noted, Mekari has played all positions in the trenches but found his home at left guard last year. Then again, he'll probably need to switch sides in Jacksonville. Scherff left in free agency, and he would immediately fill the void.
Last year, Mekari played a career-high 1,131 offensive spans. He had never logged more than 1,000 in a season. The California native gave up one sack and 32 total pressures. Those are solid, not great numbers, but it's fair to assume that he'll get much better if he settles at one position. He should be able to do that in Jacksonville.
Aside from Makari, the Jags also signed Robert Heinsay. He'll step in at center following Mitch Morse's retirement. On top of that, they brought the inconsistent yet talented Chuma Edoga. At least on paper, the offensive line looks improved.
Why the Jaguars signed Patrick Mekari over Will Fries or Mekhi Becton?
Throughout Day 1 of the legal tampering period, a trend emerged. While the Jacksonville Jaguars looked for ways to address needs, they avoided overspending. That was clear when they didn't even attempt to sign center Drew Dalman, who went to the Chicago Bears on a three-year deal worth $42.5 million. Meanwhile, the Jags landed Robert Heinsey on a three-year, $21 contract.
Granted, Dalman is the better player of the two, but the Bears paid nearly double for him. They'll get plenty of bang for their buck, but Jacksonville chose to be diligent in free agency. That brings us to Patrick Mekari. The top brass saw tape of him and identified him as a player with the talent and the mentality to help them block up front. He doesn't have the track record other guards have but he's certainly got the traits Liam Coen wants when installing his offense.
Add the fact that Mekari isn't coming off a serious injury like Will Fries or James Daniels, and it's easy to see why the Jaguars chose the former Raven. The same is true for Heinsay, While they aren't flashy, they get the job done, and if the Jags are right about them, their offense should look much better in 2025.
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