The Jacksonville Jaguars have done a good job of adding depth to position groups over the last few months. In fact, they got praise for coming out of the 2023 NFL Draft with a handful of intriguing players that could go on to have a huge impact as soon as next season.
On the other hand, the Jags should keep an eye on a handful of free agents in the upcoming weeks. After all, you can never have enough talent and there are a few players that remain unsigned that could come in and contribute in Jacksonville right off the bat. In particular, the team's brass should keep an eye on these four free agents.
No. 4 free agent the Jaguars could sign after the draft: Leonard Floyd, OLB
The Jaguars drafted defensive end Tyler Lacy and outside linebacker Yasir Abdullah to bolster their pass rush. However, they could both need a little bit of time before they can have a meaningful impact on defense.
If Jacksonville wants to give an immediate boost to their pass-rush rotation, they should then consider taking a flyer on outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, who's done a great job of getting after the quarterback since the Chicago Bears made him a first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
It took Floyd a few seasons to hit his stride and he truly flourished only after joining the Los Angeles Rams in 2020. Since then, the former Georgia Bulldog has tallied 29 sacks, which makes you wonder why he still hasn't found a team.
Despite the fact that Floyd missed 10 games in his first two NFL seasons, he's proven to be highly durable, sitting out two contests over the last four years. This is another reason the Jaguars should consider signing him to round out a pass-rush group that includes Travon Walker and Josh Allen.
No. 3 free agent the Jaguars could sign after the draft: Troy Hill, CB
Even though cornerback was one of the Jaguars' top needs entering the draft, the front office waited until the sixth round to address it, taking Rutgers' Christian Braswell with the 202nd overall selection. The front office also chose defensive back Antonio Johnson, who often lined up in the slot at Texas A&M, in Round 5. However, head coach Doug Pederson told the media after Day 3 of the draft that they expected Johnson to stay at safety in Jacskonville.
While Pederson should reconsider his stance and try out Johnson in the slot, there's a chance Tre Herndon could start the regular season inside. While Herndon isn't necessarily a bad player, he isn't great either, which is why the team's brass should consider an upgrade.
Leaving Johnson aside, the Jaguars' coaching staff could give Braswell and sophomores Gregory Junior and Montaric Brown a chance to challenge Herndon for the nickel spot but they could also look for help outside the building. More specifically, they could sign Troy Hill, who has ample experience lining up inside. Former Indianapolis Colts and Las Vegas Raiders' slot cornerback Rock Ya-Sin would have also made sense but just signed a one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens.
After going undrafted, Hill spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals and the New England Patriots before finding his footing with the Los Angeles Rams, where he's spent most of his NFL career. Although the former Oregon Duck signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2021, he returned to Los Angeles last year.
Hill mostly lined up in the slot for the Rams and he could have a similar role in Jacksonville, with Darious Williams and Tyson Campbell expected to start in the boundaries in 2023.
No. 2 free agent the Jaguars could sign after the draft: Dalton Risner, OG
The Jaguars were seemingly interested in drafting Florida offensive guard O'Cyrus Torrence but ended up going to the Buffalo Bills in Round 2. Although offensive guard isn't a pressing need for Jacksonville, they should consider having a contingency plan in case offensive guard Ben Bartch isn't ready for training camp.
Bartch, a fourth-round pick in 2020, was the starting left guard last year but he dislocated his knee in Week 5 and was shut down for the reminder of the season. Head coach Doug Pederson told the media before the draft that Bartch may not be a full-go for training camp. If that's the case, the coaching staff could turn to veteran Tyler Shatley, who's hold the fort at both guard positions and center when injuriers have struck in the past.
However, the Jags may also want to take a flyer on offensive guard Dalton Risner, who would be an upgrade to Shatley.
A second-round pick by the Denver Broncos in 2019, Risner has managed to stay relatively healthy throughout his career, missing just four games over the last two years. Even though the former Kansas State Wildcat isn't a Pro Bowl-caliber guard, he could start in 2023 and fare well in case Bartch isn't ready to go.
Last year, Risner gave up three sacks and 29 total pressures, solid numbers overall. If he could have that kind of production in Jacksonville, the Jaguars could afford to wait until Bartch is fully healthy to return to the lineup.
No. 1 free agent the Jaguars could sign after the draft: Yannick Ngakoue, DE
If the Jacksonville Jaguars aren't interested in signing outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, they should then consider bringing a familiar face in defensive end Yannick Ngakoue. Days before the draft, Michael DiRocco of ESPN said that the Jags were keeping tabs on Ngakoue, a third-round pick in 2016 that got traded to the Minnesota Vikings after a series of incidents.
Ngakoue went on to spend parts of the 2020 season with the Vikes before being traded to the Baltimore Ravens. He then signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021 before joining the Indianapolis Colts last offseason. In spite of changing teams five times over the last four years, the former Maryland Terrapin has managed to stay productive, racking up 35.5 sacks, 11 forced fumbles, and one interception.
Even though things didn't end well between Ngakoue and the Jags, enough time has passed for them to bury the hatchet. Moreover, there's a new administration in town, so he would get a fresh start with head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke.
Keep in mind that the Jaguars also planned a reunion with defensive end Calais Campbell and even hosted him for a visit. However, he ended up joining the Atlanta Falcons, which might have been the best possible outcome when you consider that the Mayor is no longer in his prime.
Meanwhile, Yannick is still going strong, which is why the Jags should strongly consider getting on the phone with him and getting a deal done.