NFL teams tend to restock their rosters in free agency but the Jacksonville Jaguars chose to sit and watch other teams get busy in the open market this offseason. So far, they've only made depth moves, which could be interpreted as a lack of urgency but the truth is that the team's decision-makers are smart for adopting a conservative approach.
Sure, other AFC teams have made key additions but being aggressive in free agency doesn't always translate into wins in the regular season. With that in mind, here are three reasons the Jaguars' methodical approach should help them return to the playoffs and win the division for the second year in a row.
3. The Jacksonville Jaguars already have plenty of talent
Nobody will downplay the impact right tackle Jawaan Taylor and defensive end Arden Key had for the Jaguars last season but the Jaguars were in a position to let them go and not press the panic button. After all, their roster is stacked with talent at different positions. Trevor Lawrence took a huge step forward in 2022 and should continue to get better next season.
On top of that, tight end Evan Engram is back after putting up career numbers last year. If that wasn't enough, Calvin Ridley, Zay Jones, and Christian Kirk will form one of the most dynamic wide receiver corps in the whole league.
While the defense has room for improvement, they have several playmakers such as cornerback Tyson Campbell, safety Andre Cisco and linebacker Foyesade Oluokun. Moreover, edge defender Travon Walker and linebacker Devin Lloyd are set to take a leap next season. If the Jaguars can add a couple of playmakers in the draft, the defense should improve considerably.
Does losing Jawaan Taylor and Arden Key hurt the Jaguars? Absolutely, but they have players ready to pick up the slack.
2. The Jacksonville Jaguars didn't want to mortgage their future
Make no mistake, the Jaguars aren't being stingy and saving up money for future purchases in the future. If they haven't made any splash signings this offseason, it's because they were over $20 million in the red before free agency started and they needed to release cornerback Shaquill Griffin and restructure a few deals just to get under the cap. This left them with little to no room to ink a big-name player in the open market.
The Jaguars could have signed someone like defensive tackle Javon Hargrave in free agency and structured his contract in a way in which they push a significant portion of the cap hit into future years but the team's brass didn't want to hinder their chances of signing or keeping players next offseason.
Keep in mind that Trevor Lawrence is eligible for an extension next offseason and the longer the Jaguars wait to get a deal done, the more expensive it will get. Thus, they should get one done as soon as possible. Also, outside linebacker Josh Allen is set to become a free agent next offseason and if he's part of the team's long-term plans, they should consider giving him a multi-year deal.
Similarly, many players will enter contract years in 2024 and general manager Trent Baalke will need to decide which ones to keep. While 2015 seems like a distant time in the future, the Jags need to start planning their budget, so when the time comes, they can retain as many players as possible.
1. The Jacksonville Jaguars can to address their needs in the 2023 NFL Draft
The departures of right tackle Jawaan Taylor and defensive end Arden Key in free agency created a couple of roster holes on the roster but the Jaguars' brass can fill both of them in the 2023 NFL Draft. Furthermore, Walker Little is ready to step in at right tackle and he'll most likely get a shot at replacing Taylor, so the Jags can address other needs in the first and second rounds.
Even before releasing Shaquill Griffin, Jacksonville's biggest need was arguably cornerback. You could argue that they already had a couple of quality corners in Tyson Campbell and Darious Williams but they still need a nickel. Williams lined up in the slot early in the 2022 season but he fared much better in the boundaries, so it would make sense to keep them there.
This year's cornerback class is quite deep, so the Jaguars will have a realistic shot at landing one of the top prospects at No. 24. On the other hand, they need to replenish their tight end room despite the fact that they brought back Evan Engram, so it wouldn't be shocking to use a pick on the position in any of the first three rounds.
Also, the Jaguars need to bolster their pass rush rotation. Travon Walker is set to improve next season and Josh Allen has been a mainstay of the defense but a third edge defender would give their front seven a needed boost.
Now, the draft is a crapshoot but if the Jaguars can find a couple of players that can contribute right off the bat and return to the playoffs next season, it will prove that they were smart for not going into a spending spree in free agency.