The Jacksonville Jaguars aren't precisely showering in cap space but most definitely have enough to make a couple of big moves in free agency. In fact, John Shipley of Sports Illustrated reports that they'll be making a strong push to sign one of the top players expected to be available in the open market.
Shipley shared the things he heard at the NFL Scouting Combine. An NFL exec told him that Jacksonville plans to go after Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland.
"The secondary. The buzz around a lot of teams is they will look at ways to add there. A lot of us have them pegged as the Jevon Holland team."
It's also worth noting that Jeremy Fowler of ESPN broke the news that the Phins won't be using the franchise tag on Holland, paving the way for other teams to potentially pursue him in free agency. Sure, they can get a deal done between now and the start of the NFL year. After all, deadlines spur action, but it looks like the former Oregon Duck will hit the open market.
A second-round pick in the 2021 pick, Holland has been a mainstay of the Miami backfield, registering five forced fumbles, five interceptions, and 25 passes defensed in 60 games. Spotrac projects his market evaluation at $15.1 million per year. His final price tag could be a bit higher depending on the demand he encounters in free agency, but that amount would put him in the top 10 of the highest-paid safeties in the NFL.
Holland isn't a ballhawk in the mold of fellow safety Andre Cisco, but he's the more consistent of the two. That's something the Jaguars secondary could most definitely use. Aside from him, Cam Bynum is also seen as a potential fit in Jacksonville, but there's a chance he'll command a higher salary in the open market.
Related story: Updated cap space and draft picks for the Jaguars in 2025
Why signing Jevon Holland makes sense for the Jaguars
The Jaguars ranked last in the NFL in passing yards allowed and 26th in passing touchdowns allowed in 2025. It's clear that the secondary needs upgrades. Aside from a starting cornerback opposite Tyson Campbell, they need better play from their safety group. Based on the fact that the Jags will tentatively pursue Jevon Holland, it seems like they don't think Andre Cisco can do it.
Sure, Cisco had a combined seven interceptions and 15 passes defensed in 2022-2023 but his performance suffered a steep drop off last year. Moreover, he appeared to have checked out by the midpoint of the season, calling out his teammates for quitting. This was a bit odd because he himself wasn't particularly great.
At this point, there are no reports about Jacksonville re-signing Andre Cisco. There's a chance they will, but by all indications, he'll hit the open market. That would pave the way for the team's brass to go after Holland in free agency. This would make sense when you consider that he played for defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile.
Campanile wasn't his position coach, but because they were both on defense, they interacted on a consistent basis.
You should always expect the unexpected when it comes to the NFL, but signs point toward the Jacksonville Jaguars signing Jevon Holland in free agency. It's trending that way.