More often than not, teams who are aggressive in free agency are dubbed winners, but how about those that take a calculated approach and wait until it's necessary to take out the check book? The Jacksonville Jaguars certainly fill that category. Sure, they've made several moves but none would fit the "splash" category. Instead, they've been selective with their players they bring in. And just before the end of Organized Team Activites, they've locked up a familiar face.
The Jags announced that they're inking defensive end Dawuane Smoot along with wide receiver Trenton Irwin. They also released wide receiver Davin White Jr.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have made the following roster moves, the team announced today:
— JaguarsPR (@JaguarsPR) June 3, 2025
- Signed DE Dawuane Smoot and WR Trenton Irwin
- Waived WR David White Jr.
A third-round pick in 2017, Smoot spent his entire career in Duval until he left for the Buffalo Bills in 2024. On the other hand, Irwin was an undrafted free agent in 2019 that played for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2019 to 2024. He was waived last season and had a short stint with the Carolina Panthers before hitting free agency earlier this year. Both signings give Jackosnville depth at defensive end and wide receiver respectively.
Smoot, for one, gives the Jaguars a proven commodity at defensive end. While he hadn't previously interacted with the new regime, he must've gotten enough positive reviews from his teammates that Jacksonville decided to bring him back.
Meanwhile, Irwin gives the Jags a potential WR5. Travis Hunter, Brian Thomas Jr., Dyami Brown, and Parker Washington are virtually locks to make the team. However, the rest of the depth chart remains a work in progress. The team's brass signed Eli Pancol, J.J. Jones, Cam Camper, and Chandler Bradboy after the draft, but expecting them to make an immediate impact may be unrealistic. Similarly, Josh Cephus III is in the mix, but he might not have made a strong impression on OTAs.
Dawuane Smoot can give juice to the Jaguars pass rush
Smoot isn't a Pro Bowl-caliber player but is most definitely a productive rotational piece. Although he didn't log a sack in his first two seasons, he did tally 22.5 from 2019 to 2022. Heck, the former Illinois Fighting Illini was leading the team in sacks in 2022 before he tore his Achilles. He spent most of 2023 recovering and wasn't his usual self once he returned.
Last season, Smoot joined the Buffalo Bills and flashed signs of the player he once was but a wrist injury landed him on the Injured Reserve list. He ended up appearing in 11 games with four starts and registering 1.5 sacks.
If Smoot is back at full strength, he would round out the Jacksonville pass rush. And that's the thing, he won't be thrust into a featured role. Instead, the veteran defensive end will spell Travon Walker, Josh Hines-Allen, and Emmanuel Ogbah. On top of that, he's got experience with rebuilds. Having spent time with Doug Marrone, Urban Meyer, and Doug Pederson, he knows a thing or two about making a transition.
All things considered, bringing Smoot back isn't something observers had on their bingo cards, but it's a pleasant surprise nonetheless. Maybe they didn't like their depth at defensive end. Perhaps they wanted to add an experienced voice at the position, but regardless of the reason, the Jaguars didn't hesitate to arrange a reunion when the opportunity arose.