The Jacksonville Jaguars have built a pretty good roster and they've done so while keeping a healthy cap. In just two years, they've gone from having several glaring weaknesses to lots of star power and depth. This past offseason though, the Jags adopted a conservative approach in free agency. Instead of making splash signings like they did last year, they opted to make depth moves. This strategy should pay off in 2024.
The reason the Jags opted not to dip their toes in the open market is that they'll need to re-sign several players next year. They already started by giving tight end Evan Engram, defensive lineman DaVon Hamilton and defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris multi-year extensions.
However, there's still work left to do and the Jaguars will need to next get these five players under contract.
No. 5 player the Jaguars must sign before the 2024 free agency: Brandon McManus, K
Kicker Brandon McManus just joined the Jaguars in May, so it may be odd to call him a priority free agent. However, he's got a proven track record of getting the job done and if he bounces back from somewhat of a down year, Jacksonville won't have to worry about the position for a few years.
McManus completed 77.8 percent of his attempts in 2022, the second-lowest mark of his career. However, five of his eight missed kicks were from behind the 50-yard line. Meanwhile, he went 10-for-10 from yards 40-49, so he should have no trouble bouncing back next season.
At 32, McManus should still have plenty of gas left and if he gets off to a strong start, the Jaguars should then hurry to secure him beyond 2023.
No. 4 player the Jaguars must sign before the 2024 free agency: D'Ernest Johnson
The Jaguars have lots of depth at running back heading into the 2023 season. Travis Etienne is firmly entrenched as the starter after a highly productive year but rookie Tank Bigsby should also get lots of playing time. A collegiate start at Auburn, Bigsby showed starting potential in the preseason, averaging 5.7 per carry. But wait, there's more!
The Jaguars also gave JaMycal Hasty a two-year extension in the offseason. Hasty was claimed off waivers before the start of the 2022 season and he became the primary backup at running back once James Robinson was shipped to the New York Jets. Although he's not as dynamic as Etienne, he can come off the bench at any time and deliver.
There's also D'Ernest Johnson, a free-agent pickup earlier this year, who did enough in the preseason to get ahead of Hasty on the depth chart. Johnson, who had to play for the Orlando Apollos of the American Football Alliance before he got a shot in the NFL, adds explosiveness to an already talented backfield.
Even though he won't get nearly as many carries as either Etienne or Bigsby, the running game won't miss a beat if he's on the football field. In three preseason games, he toted the rock 17 times for 93 yards and three touchdowns. That's an average of 5.5 yards per carry. That's consistent with his 5.2-yard career average. On top of that, he can contribute on special teams, so he doesn't have to play on offense to show his worth. He's set to make a bit over $1 million in 2023 and if he comes through, the Jaguars' brass should then consider giving him a pay bump before the season ends.
No. 3 player the Jaguars must sign before the 2024 free agency: Jamal Agnew, LS
When discussing the best players on the Jaguars' roster right now, wide receiver/return specialist Jamal Agnew doesn't pop up often but that's not a reflection of his talent. The receiver corps is so stacked that it's sometimes easy to overlook Agnew.
A fifth-round pick by the Detroit Lions in 2017, Angew became one of the best returners in the league right off the bat, earning an All-Pro designation as a rookie. Not surprisingly, he was a hot commodity when he became a free agent in 2021. In a rare moment of lucidity, Urban Meyer pounded the table for the former San Diego Torero in an effort to bolster their special teams play.
Even though the 2021 season is one the Jaguars would surely want to forget, Agnew had a huge impact in the return game, scoring two touchdowns, one off a kickoff and another one off a missed field goal. He also broke off a 61-yard touchdown run on a jet sweep against the Indianapolis Colts. Unfortunately, a hip injury cut his season short.
Angew didn't make nearly as many big plays in the return game last year but still gave the Jaguars a favorable field position more often than not. On top of that, he had three touchdowns on 23 receptions.
While the Jaguars will be working on a limited budget next year, they must make an aggressive effort to bring back Agnew.
No. 2 player the Jaguars must sign before the 2024 free agency: Calvin Ridley, WR
The Jaguars have come a long way since the end of the 2020 season. In three years, general manager Trent Baalke has managed to make upgrades to all position groups. Although there are units that could still use a boost before the 2023 season, the roster is in good shape overall ahead of the 2023 season.
In particular, the offense now has lots of talent and depth at wide receiver and running back. Having a quarterback of Trevor Lawrence's caliber certainly helps but Baalke and the front office have done a good job of surrounding him with lots of talented players such as Christian Kirk and Zay Jones.
Last season, Jacksonville ranked 10th in both points scored and total years and they'll now get a motivated Calvin Ridley. A first-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons in 2018, Ridley joined the Jags via trade last year. However, he was serving a suspension at the time, so he wasn't able to join the team until he was reinstated this past March.
Since then, the Alabama product has done nothing but prove he's still the same player he was early in his NFL career. If he returns back to greatness — his goal for the 2023 season — there's a strong chance the Jaguars will field a top 5 offense.
Simply, the Jaguars should be much better with Ridley in the fold, which is why he sticks around beyond the 2023 season.
No. 1 player the Jaguars must sign before the 2024 free agency: Josh Allen, OLB
You have probably heard that pressure makes diamonds or burst pipes. This year, the Jaguars which one is outside linebacker Josh Allen, who's entering the 2023 season with lots of pressure under his shoulders to prove he's the dominant pass rusher Jacksonville thought he was when they drafted him seventh overall in 2019.
Make no mistake, Allen can play at an elite level. He showed how much havoc he can wreak in an upset win over the Buffalo Bills in 2021. Similarly, he made the Pro Bowl as a rookie. Now, the Jaguars want to see him to consistently perform at that level on a consistent basis.
The biggest reason Allen isn't mentioned in the same breath as the Bosa brothers or the T.J. Watts of the world is his total sack tally. After registering 10 in 2019, he's had 17 over the last three years. It's true that sacks aren't the only indicator of a pass rusher's success or lack thereof but the best ones put up 10 or more year and year out.
Allen had the seventh most pressures in the league last year and Pro Football Focus ranked him fourth among edge defenders in true pass sets. However, he needs to take his game to the next level in 2023. If he does, the Jaguars' pass rush will no longer be a question mark. For his part, he'll secure a long-term deal that ensures he remains in Jacksonville for years to come.