4 players set become free agents in 2024 the Jaguars should target next offseason
• That shouldn't stop them from keep adding talent next offseaon
The Jacksonville Jaguars will have many decisions to make next season. While they have built a solid core in place, there are currently a handful of prominent players on their roster who are set to become free agents next season, including outside linebacker Josh Allen and wide receiver Calvin Ridley.
On top of that, cornerback Tyson Campbell, safety Andre Cisco, and Trevor Lawrence will be eligible for contract extensions. The Jags will make an effort to keep most (if not all) of the aforementioned players, but they will also look for potential reinforcements in free agency.
Things will change between now and free agency and many players slated to hit the open market will re-sign with their respective teams. That said, Jacksonville should target the next four.
No. 4 projected free agent the Jaguars should target in 2024: Teair Tart
The Jaguars have a solid defensive line rotation in 2023. While defensive end DaVon Hamilton is currently recovering from a non-football back injury, Jermaine Ledbetter and Adam Gotsis are holding the fort. Also, the Jags drafted Tyler Lacy to round out their rotation. In the middle, they have Folorunso Fatukasi, who was limited by injuries but is now fully healthy.
Fatukasi signed a three-year deal worth $30 million in 2022. He's slated to have a cap hit of $12.8 million in 2024 and moving on from him doesn't seem like a realistic option when you take into account that releasing him would free up $3.5 million in cap money but also leave $9.26 million in dead money.
On the off chance the Jags do move on from Fatukasi, who would be entering the last year of the deal he signed, they should then consider going after nose tackle Teair Tart.
After going undrafted in 2020, Tart signed with the Tennessee Titans. He's worked his way up the depth chart and started all 17 games last year. He's become a mainstay of the Tennessee defensive front and Pro Football Focus named him the most improved Titans player in 2022. He will most likely be a priority signing for Tennessee next offseason, but if he hits the market, the Jaguars should target him.
After all, Tennessee poached defensive end Arden Key from the Jaguars in free agency. They could return the favor by signing Tart next offseason.