NFL analyst has dreadful understanding of Jaguars free-agency moves

The Jacksonville Jaguars, by all accounts, are having a productive free agency. However, former NFL manager/turned analyst Mike Lombardi isn't overly impressed. Maybe he would be if he had a better understanding of the moves the Jags have done. Based on a recent exchange with Pat McAfee, it doesn't look like he does.

Lombardi made an appearance on the Pat McAfee show and said he doesn't undertand why Jacksonville would make a run after Calvin Ridley after giving fellow receiver Gabe Davis a three-year deal during the tampering window.

Here's what I don't understand," Lomardi told McAfee. "I think you've been right because if the Jags are going to re-sign him and they're going to pay him what he's probably gonna get, why did they sign Gabe Davis? Why did they sign Devin Duvernay? Why are they signing all these other receivers, what are they doing? They've got [Evan] Engram on the franchise tag, they've spent a lot of money on Christian Kirk."

"They still have Zay Jones. For me, how many can you have? It's not a hockey team, you're not running the lines up there. To me, it was a message that you're sending that you don't want to get Calvin Ridley back," Lombardi said.

That's a lot to take on. For starters, Davis wouldn't be a replacement for Ridley. If anything, the Jags would probably release Zay Jones to make room for Davis. Moreover, there's been mutual interest in Ridley returning to Jacksonville. Granted, the New England Patriots made a competitive offer but he's made it clear his preference is to re-sign with the Jaguars.

Another thing that makes Lombardi's take look bad is that tight end Evan Engram didn't even get the franchise tag. That honor would go to outside linebacker Josh Allen. Engram was tagged last year and he ended up signing a three-year deal worth $43 million. Here's the exchange with McAfee in case you want to look at it.

The point is that Lombardi has his fact confused when discussing the moves the Jags have made in free agency. Fortunately, others analysts have taken notice. ESPN ranked Jacksonville as the second-most improved team in free agency, and the Gabe Davis signing got favorable reviews from both Seth Walden and Matt Miller.

The Jaguars have gotten much better in free agency (with or without Calvin Ridley)

As of this writing, the Jaguars and New England are making a push to sign Ridley. The Pats feel like they made a good offer but it's Ridley's preference to return to Jacksonville, something he's stated since the end of the 2023 season.

By waiting to make a decision, Ridley is helping the Jaguars keep their 2024 second-round pick.When they traded for him, they agreed to give the Atlanta Falcons a second-rounder if he re-signed before the start of free agency. They already owe them a third-round pick because the star receiver met playing conditions last year, but Jacksonville would rather part ways with a third than a second.

This isn't the first time Mike Lombardi has had a puzzling take on the Jags. But based on how things are playing out, it's hard to argue that they've had a promising offseason, and that's even before taking Calvin Ridley's potential return into account.

Here are more stories from Black & Teal: