3 upcoming Jaguars free agents who have earned another contract this season
• These 3 have done enough to warrant a new contract
The Jacksonville Jaguars have done a good job of re-signing their own free agents the past two years. However, things could get complicated next offseason, with Trevor Lawrence becoming eligible for a contract extension. The same is true for the rest of their 2021 draft class.
Players such as offensive lineman Walker Little, cornerback Tyson Campbell, and safety Andre Cisco will be entering the last year of their rookie deals and be up for extensions. The Jags will need to decide whom to prioritize but they'll also have to take into account that the next three players have already earned new deals this season.
3. Brandon McManus
Riley Patterson was reliable for the Jaguars last year. Although he had a rough stretch at the midpoint of the season, he went a solid 20-of-24 for an 83 percent completion rate the last nine weeks. On top of that, he came up big in the clutch, nailing the game-winning field goal against the Los Angeles Chargers in Wild Card Weekend.
That said, Patterson lacked the strength for kickoffs and long field goals, so the team's brass didn't hesitate to go after Brandon McManus when the Denver Broncos released him in May.
The decision raised eyebrows at the time since McManus was coming off a relatively down year, but it's fair to say that the Jaguars made the right choice, with the benefit of hindsight. With McManus in the fold, the Jaguars haven't had the need to go for it on fourth down as often as they did last year.
So far, McManus has failed three attempts this season but he's made up for it by nailing five of his seven field goals of 50+ yards. His other miss came on a kick behind the 40-yard line, but he's overall done good for the Jags. McManus' deal is set to expire after the season, so it would be a good idea for the Jags and his representative to get on the negotiation table as soon as possible.
The Jags need to make this move, just like you need to claim BetMGM's instant $200 sign-up bonus today. New users who bet $10 or more on Jacksonville vs. Cincinnati right now will instantly receive $200 in bonus bets. Sign up for BetMGM now!