The Jacksonville Jaguars must fortify their free agency. Working in their favor is that they'll have a wide array of options to do it in free agency. The bad news is other teams will probably make a run for some of the players the Jags are targeting. For instance, they might need to get into a bidding war with the Chicago Bears to land one of the top centers available.
Albert Breer took a look at this year's free agent class and talked about several players who are slated to be available. Regarding Will Fries, he says teams will need to compete to land his services.
On the other hand, Beer says that Chicago could set their sights on center Drew Dalman.
" Indy’s Will Fries could be another guard that surprises, with Smith tagged, and contending teams such as the Vikings and Houston Texans potentially looking to upgrade on the interior. And while we’re there, teams really like the Atlanta Falcons’ Drew Dalman atop the center market. He could, perhaps, be the last piece of Ryan Poles’s offensive line makeover in Chicago."
Given the Jaguars need at center and guard, they could target both Dalman and Fries. The thing is that if they miss out on the latter, they would still have options. However, the dropoff at center in free agency is noticeable.
Ryan Kelly is the second-best center in Pro Football Focus' list of free agency. While he's been a long-time staple of the Indianapolis Colts, he's 31 and unlike Dalman, has already reached his ceiling. Another option would be Coleman Shelton, but there's a reason why the Bears are ready to replace him with Dalman.
Center became a need for the Jaguars when Mitch Morse announced his retirement less than a week ahead of free agency. While the news was unexpected, it had probably been in the works for a while, there's a strong chance Jacksonville wasn't caught by surprise and knew that it will need to take care of the position.
Related story: Updated cap space and draft picks for the Jaguars in 2025
What's next for the Jaguars if they miss out on Drew Dalman?
Landing Drew Dalman won't come cheap. Pro Football Focus expects him to ink a four-year deal worth $46 million in free agency. The Jacksonville Jaguars could afford him if they wanted to. They currently had $38 million in space but got over $20 million after releasing a handful of players. Then again, they have more roster holes to fill aside from center, and that will impact the way they approach free agency.
The Jags must also have needs at cornerback, safety, right guard, and maybe wide receiver. While cap space won't be an issue, they'll have to wait until the draft to address some of those positions. If that's the approach they take at center, they'll have options.
This year's offensive line class is loaded with interior offensive line talent. They could easily wait until Day 2 to beef up the trenches. That would allow them to address other needs in free agency. It's also worth noting that fourth-year pro Luke Fortner is still in the mix.
Fortner was so underwhelming in 2023 that the Jags signed Mitch Morse last offseason. He barely played last year, but taking a step back might've helped him. He could compete for a roster spot in the offseason, but that shouldn't stop Jacksonville from making upgrades at the position.
The bottom line is that Drew Dalman will address a big need for the Jacksonville Jaguars. But there's no guarantee they'll land him if they make a run for him.
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