Following a disappointing end to the 2024 season, the Jacksonville Jaguars decided to clean house and begin a rebuild. So far, the new regime has done a good job of replenishing the roster while keeping key contributors, such as Trevor Lawrence, around. On the other hand, the Jags made a strong effort to raise the team's floor. That meant moving on from several veterans who no longer fit into their plans in the offseason.
While some of these players have had no trouble finding a new home, others remain unsigned. The good news is that clubs will now begin to fill holes they weren't able to address in the draft. This bodes well for the following four Jaguars, who could soon sign with a new team.
Brandon Scherff, offensive guard
Along with Christian Kirk and Evan Engram, Brandon Scherff was one of the Jags' premier signings in 2022. A first-round pick by the Washington Commanders in 2015, the former Iowa Hawkeye signed a three-year deal worth $49.5 million. Although the amount seemed exorbitant, the Jags had a glaring need at right guard, so they spared no expense to find the best possible player to fill the void.
Scherff's biggest red flag when he landed in Jacksonville was that he hadn't played a full season in five seasons, so the signing came with a risk. Surprisingly, he managed to stay healthy throughout his stint in Duval. On the other hand, he was nearly as dominant as he had been with the Commanders. For this reason, nobody batted an eye when he left in free agency.
At 33, Scherff won't get a deal like the one he got with the Jags. That said, teams in need of help at guard should give them a call. He's past his prime but can still hold his own. Before the draft, the Iowa native was linked to the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this year. Maybe they will give him a call.
CJ Beathard, quarterback
When the Jaguars drafted Trevor Lawrence, they wanted to make sure he could learn all the naunces of preparing for game day. They settled on C.J. Beathard, a third-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2017 draft.
Beathard didn't get much playing time in Jacksonville and mostly saw mop-up duty behind Lawrence during his first three seasons. The only time he got to start was against the lowly Carolina Panthers. Then in 2024, the Jags traded for Mac Jones, and Beathard became expendable. The only reason he was brought back was that Lawrence was dealing with a shoulder injury last year.
But with a new regime in place, there was no longer room for Beathard. Nick Mullens is now the backup behind Lawrence. Working in his favor is that the demand for quarterbacks outweighs the supply, so clubs who suffer an injury at the position will not hesitate to give Beathard a call.
D'Ernest Johnson, running back
D'Ernest Johnson was unfazed by the fact that he went undrafted in 2018. He put his head down and spent a season with the Orlando Apollos of the Alliance of American Football before joining the Cleveland Browns in 2019. While the former South Florida standout didn't get much playing time, he made the most out of his carries, averaging over 5.0 yards per tote.
After four seasons with the Browns, Johnson joined the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023. Again, he got limited touches but took advantage of every single one of them. Unfortunately, he'll probably be remembered for being unable to reel in the game-winning pass on a wheel route against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024.
Sure, it's not Johnson's fault that the coaching staff dialed up a bad play, but he ultimately failed to deliver. Nevertheless, he should get a tryout during training camp. If given a fair chance, he should have no trouble earning a roster spot.
Josiah Deguara, tight end
Josiah Deguara was advertised as a movable chess piece that could line up anywhere across the line of scrimmage. But in practice, he wasn't much of a factor during his lone season in Jacksonville. Granted, he was behind Evan Engram and Brenton Strange on the depth chart, but if he had made a strong impression in practice, the coaching staff would've found a way to get him onto the field.
Of course, Deguara wasn't a Pro Bowl-caliber player but a complementary piece. Moreover, the Jaguars were in a tailspin last year, so he might not have gotten a fair shot. Hopefully, a team gives him one soon.