The Jacksonville Jaguars should feel good about themselves after the start of the tampering window. While they weren't able to secure kicker Wil Lutz, they managed to address many of their most pressing needs. The fact that they didn't have to overspend makes the most of the moves look even better.
The Jags could still make one or two more signings but even if they're done, there's no doubt they're in much better shape than they were at the end of the 2023 season. That said, some players and coaches benefited more than others from the moves the Jags made. With that in mind, here are three winners and two losers from the early stages of free agency.
Jaguars early winner of free agency No. 3: Riley Patterson
The Jags had tentatively agreed to a three-year deal with Wil Lutz before he backed down and returned to the Denver Broncos, where spent the 2023 season. That's one of the things of the tampering period. Contracts can be negotiated but they cannot be officially signed until free agency starts. This gives players the chance to change their minds.
Not long after Lutz re-signed with Denver, Brandon McManus, the Jaguars' kicker last year, joined the Washington Commanders on a one-year deal, leaving Riley Patterson as the only kicker under contract in Jacksonville.
Patterson was the Jags' kicker in 2022 but they traded him to the Detriot Lions last year to pave the way for McManus. He was eventually waived and spent a few games with the Cleveland Browns late in the season.
Once the year ended, the Jags re-signed Patterson to a future deal. The Jaguars could eventually try out a veteran kicker or draft one but for the time being, Petterson sits at the top of the depth chart.
Jaguars early winner of free agency No. 2: Kris Richard
The Jaguars revamped their defensive staff in the offseason, retaining only a few coaches from last year. Kris Richard will be taking over the secondary and he'll have no shortage of talent to work with. During the tampering period, Jacksonville inked safety Darnell Savage Jr. and cornerback Ronald Darby. Both of them could play important roles in 2024.
Savage isn't particularly great against the run but he's pretty good in coverage, so Richard and defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen should find a way to maximize his skill set. On the other hand, Darby could start opposite Tyson Campbell or replace Tre Herndon in the slot if he leaves in free agency.
Either way, Richard should be able to get the most out of his current personnel, something that the previous staff wasn't always able to do.
Jaguars early loser of free agency No. 2: Antonio Johnson
Kris Richard is surely thrilled he'll have plenty of talent at his disposal but sophomore Antonio Johnson may not be as enthused. A fifth-round pick in last year's draft, Johnson was held back by a hamstring injury early in his rookie season. But once he was able to contribute, he wasted no time making an impact.
Johnson supplanted Tre Herndon in the slot by the end of 2023 and was seen as a potential candidate to replace Rayshawn Jenkins, who was released in a cap-saving move before the start of free agency. Unfortunately, Johnson's path to the starting lineup doesn't look so certain after the additions of Darnell Savage and Ronald Darby.
Johnson, who's listed as a safety, may need to compete with Savage for the job next to Andre Cisco. Or maybe he'll have to fend off Darby to man the slot. Either way, Johnson doesn't currently seem to have a defined role in the Jags' defensive backfield.
Jaguars early winner of free agency No. 1: Trevor Lawrence
Trevor Lawrence is coming off a somewhat underwhelming season. In his defense, he was playing behind a subpar offensive line and injuries hampered the team's overall performance. Heck, Lawrence himself dealt with a myriad of ailments at the end of 2023. Fortunately for him, it looks like the team's brass realized that they needed to help their quarterback more.
The Jags recognize that they weren't great in the offensive trenches last season, so they signed veteran Mitch Morse after he was released by the Buffalo Bills. While he's far from a Pro Bowl-caliber player, he should be much better than Luke Fortner, last year's starter. Moreover, the Jags re-signed Ezra Cleveland, so left guard shouldn't be a question mark like it was last offseason. Similarly, they reworked Brandon Scherff's deal, ensuring he stays in 2024.
Having said that, one of the Jaguars' top acquisitions in free agency is wide receiver Gabe Davis. While he has never topped 1,000 yards in a season, he can get deep and draw coverage away from other players, giving everyone more favorable matchups. His career average of 16.7 yards per reception should have Lawrence excited about his big-play potential.
Jaguars early loser of free agency No. 1: Luke Fortner, center
The Jaguars' brass decided to keep most of their offense line from last year intact, with one big exception. After regressing last year, Luke Fortner will no longer be in the starting lineup, with Mitch Morse taking over at center.
General manager Trent Baalke had previously expressed support for Fortner, but the Mitch Morse signing shows that the Jaguars think he was part of the problem in 2023. The silver lining is that Fortner will have the chance to step back, see what went wrong, and fix it behind Morse. Still, he's probably disappointed he'll get demoted next season.