Linebacker wasn't a pressing need for the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason. That's why, aside from using a fourth-round pick on Jack Kiser, they didn't prioritize the position. Or at least that was the case until they brought in Dennis Gardeck.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports that the Jags are locking up Gardeck, who's appeared in 96 games with 17 starts for the Arizona Cardinals the past seven years.
The news comes in the light of running back Keilan Robinson's release, who got the boot earlier the same day. Similarly, the Jags just waived wide receiver David White Jr., while adding defensive end Dawuane Smoot and wide receiver Trenton Irwin.
Circling back to Gardeck, he was an undrafted free agent in 2018. Throughout his stint in the desert, he didn't get much time on defense but was a key contributor on special teams, playing as much as 80 percent of the total snaps in that phase of the game in a handful of seasons.
Gardeck joins a linebacker corps that includes Kiser, Foyesade Oluokun, Chad Muma, and Devin Lloyd, so he will have an uphill battle to stick around. Of course, there's the possibility that he could play defensive end after mostly lining up on the edge for the Cards. But he would still have trouble making the cut, as the Jags just signed Smoot to round out their rotation behind Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker, and Emmanuel Ogbah.
How can Dennis Gardeck can make the Jaguars' 53-man roster
At this stage, it's hard to expect Dennis Gardeck to contribute on defense. If he's going to make the team, it will be because of his play on special teams. As noted before, that was his bread and butter with the Arizona Cardinals, and he could fill the shoes of a player who left on free agency.
And that's the thing, the Jags let Caleb Johnson walk, and he wasted no time latching onto the Atlanta Falcons after a tryout in rookie minicamp. Like Gardeck, he was listed as a linebacker but mostly contributed on special teams.
Last year, Jacksonville had one of the best special-teams units in the NFL and may not want to see a decline in 2025. Of course, Gardeck could always move up the depth chart, but it's hard to see him getting a featured role if he makes the team.
The bottom line is that signing Dennis Gardeck isn't the kind of move that will send shock waves across the league. That said, he could end up giving the special teams a boost. But aside from that, the move probably won't move the needle much.