Jaguars urged to bring back familiar face on defense after disappointing Week 2 loss

The Jacksonville Jaguars are stacked on the defensive line. Heck, they're so loaded that rookie Maason Smith was a healthy scratch in the loss to the Cleveland Browns. But despite their surplus of "bigs" in the trenches, Alex Ballentine of the Bleacher Report scouting department believes the Jags should go after defensive tackle Adam Gotsis.

Ballentine drew up a list of needs for each AFC team and suggests Jacksonville re-sign Gotsis, pointing out that he would add depth in case injuries strike the defensive front.

"Sometimes you just have to go back to the well. Adam Gotsis played the last four seasons with the Jaguars. He started out as a consistent starter on the defense before taking a back seat to younger talents. The Jags brought in Arik Armstead while drafting Maason Smith and Jordan Jefferson. It didn't leave much room for the soon-to-be 32-year-old in the rotation.

The problem is that Tyler Lacy, Jefferson and Smith were all out this week with various injuries. Gotsis isn't going to be a game-wrecker, but he will elevate the floor of the group when injuries strike."

A second-round pick by the Denver Broncos in 2016, Gotsis signed with the Jaguars in 2020. That year, he appeared in all 16 games, registering 37 total tackles and one forced fumble. The former Georgia Tech Yellowjacket saw a decrease in playing time in 2021 but managed to remain productive, registering three sacks and 27 total tackles.

After another productive season, the Jags brought back Gotsis on a one-year deal in 2022. Once it expired, he inked another one for two years in 2023. However, his odds of suiting up for the Jags in 2024 took a hit when the team's brass drafted Maason Smith and Jordan Jefferson.

Gotsis didn't help his case by missing an early portion of training camp. Just before the preseason opener, Jacksonville decided to cut ties with him. The Australia-born defensive lineman has remained unsigned ever since, which is why Ballentine thinks the front office should arrange a reunion.

On a related note, Ballentine thinks Darrell Taylor would be an intriguing addition to their pass rush in free agency next year.

Why it wouldn't make sense for the Jaguars to re-sign Adam Gotsis

There's no doubt Adam Gotsis became a key rotational piece for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2020-2023, appearing in 64 games with 26 starts and logging one forced fumble, 5.5 sacks, and 109 total tackles. Having said that, there's a reason they moved on from him.

Gotsis could still contribute in a rotation role. Just last year, he played a crucial role in replacing DaVon Hamilton when he missed a portion of the regular season. However, there was no longer room for him in Jacksonville.

Leaving aside that the front office drafted Jordan Jefferson and Maason Smith, Hamilton is back in the fold. Jeremiah Ledbetter and Esezi Otomewo are also in the mix. All of them are either better than Gotsis or have a higher ceiling. When you factor in that releasing him only left $125,000 in dead money, the decision looks like a no-brainer.

For the sake of the argument, let's say the Jaguars do re-sign Gotsis. He would be part of a rotation that included Hamilton, Ledbetter, and Otomewo. Then again, how much better would the defensive line be if the team's brass brought him back?

Alex Ballentine suggests that having Gotsis around would help Jacksonville withstand a couple of injuries, but they already have Jefferson and Smith. Furthermore, his presence could potentially hinder the development of the rookie defensive linemen.

This is to say that it doesn't make much sense for the Jags to re-sign Adam Gotsis. If injuries truly depleted the defensive line, they should consider it. But for the time being, they aren't in need of his services.

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