4 Jacksonville Jaguars who robbed the team blind in 2023
• Many of them delivered but these 4 failed short of expectations
• Even worse, they were well-compensated for their services
3. DaVon Hamilton, defensive end
Defensive end DaVon Hamilton made the news when he became the first member of the Jaguars' 2020 draft class to get a second contract with the team. Based on how things played out this season, he may be the only one who will get re-signed.
Hamilton, a third-round pick in the 2020 draft, joined the starting lineup in Week 6 of his rookie deal and never looked back. He progressively got better and the Jags acknowledged his growth by rewarding him with a three-year deal worth $34 million in the offseason. Heading into the 2023 season, the former Ohio State Buckeye was expected to have a big impact in the trenches.
However, Hamilton suffered a non-football back injury in the preseason that sidelined him for the early portion of the campaign. He made his season debut against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 8. He then suited up against the San Francisco 49ers before becoming a healthy scratch in Weeks 11 and 12.
At the time, head coach Doug Pederson cited the team wanting Hamilton to get well, both physically and mentally, as the reason for keeping him on the sidelines. The fourth-year defensive end returned against the Cincinnati Bengals and hasn't missed any more games but he hasn't had the impact Jacksonville envisioned when they extended him.
Maybe Hamilton will get back at full strength in 2024 but so far, the Jaguars haven't gotten much of a return on their investment.