The cornerback position has turned out to be a weakness for the Jacksonville Jaguars in spite of making several additions in the offseason. Fortunately for them, there will be several routes they can take to fortify the unit, and Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report has an appealing suggestion.
Ballentine put together a list of needs every NFL will need to address and believes the Jags should go after cornerback Byron Murphy in free agency, pointing out that their secondary is one of the worst in the league and the former Washington Husky could provide much-needed help.
"The secondary has been among the worst in the league and it's hard to win games that way. They can look to the Vikings for some inspiration and might even be able to steal a key player. Minnesota went from a middle-of-the-pack unit to one of the toughest in the league. Signing Byron Murphy Jr. ended up being a catalyst.
His ability to get in a receiver's face and play press coverage allows the Vikings to be one of the most aggressive defenses in the league. The Jaguars could use some of that in their secondary next season."
A second-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2019 draft, Murphy signed a two-year contract worth $17.5 million with the Minnesota Vikings in 2023. One reason he got a team-friendly deal was that he coming off a back injury at the time of the signing.
However, the Scottsdale, Arizona native has vastly outplayed his current contract, registering nine interceptions and 25 passes defensed in 27 games with the Vikes. Not surprisingly, Minnesota wanted to work out an extension in the offseason but he turned it down, looking to test the market next year. This presents a conundrum for his team, as Shaquill Griffin (remember him?), and Camryn Bynum are also slated to become free agents in 2025.
Given that Murphy has been the most successful of the three, he'll probably command the biggest salary, and it's hard to tell if he'll fit in the Vikings' budget. If he doesn't, he'll be available in free agency, where the Jaguars would be able to pursue him.
Why the Jaguars should sign Byron Murphy in free agency
It's not a given that Byron Murphy will be a free agent, but if he is, he'll have a robust market, and signing him won't come cheap. Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune thinks the Vikings cornerback could be in a position to ink a contract that pays him an annual average of $17 million. Then again, he would be worth it.
Leaving aside his affinity for making plays, Murphy has held his own in coverage this season, with teams losing 16.7 expected points when targeted, according to Next Gen Stats. The Jacksonville Jaguars could most definitely use someone like him opposite Tyson Campbell.
While Campbell has developed into a stud after being drafted 33rd overall in 2021, the Jags need another corner on the opposite side of the field. Ronald Darby just got benched and Montaric Brown is better suited for a reserve role. Moreover, he'll enter a contract year in 2025, so the team may want to replenish the secondary. Rookie Jarrian Jones is also in the mix, but he's projected to stay in the slot.
Circling back to Murphy, he would be an enticing option in free agency, and the Jaguars will have the cap space to go after him in 2025. They are currently slated to have $46 million in space but if their $16.7 million from this year rolls over, they'll have around $62 million at their disposal. Add the fact that they can free up extra space by releasing a handful of players, and setting their sights on the Vikings cornerback won't be cost-prohibitive.
The bottom line is that the Jaguars must bolster their cornerback group, and signing Byron Murphy would check off that box, especially if they think they'll lose the Travis Hunter swepstakes.