The Jacksonville Jaguars avoided making splash signings in free agency but most definitely made several moves to improve the roster.
Aside from beefing up the offensive line, the Jags got a wide receiver and cornerback help. Moreover, they added depth to their tight end room and did it without having to break the bank. But as productive as they were during the legal tampering period, there's still plenty of work left.
Just recently, the Jags announced the signings they made in the legal tampering period. Now that all the moves are official, they still have $45 million in cap space. That's more than enough to make a few more additions in the upcoming weeks.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to terms with nine players, the team announced today. pic.twitter.com/OOWaOu0SIb
— JaguarsPR (@JaguarsPR) March 12, 2025
With that in mind, here's a look at what Jacksonville's next three moves could be.
The Jaguars lock up Cooper Kupp following his release
Early in the offseason, the Los Angeles Rams told Cooper Kupp that they were moving on from him and would help him land in a favorable situation. Right off the bat, the Jaguars were brought up as a potential landing spot because of his ties to both head coach Liam Coen and general manager James Gladstone. However, Jacksonville opted to stay put, and it's easy to see why.
Had the Jags traded for Kupp, they would've had to take on his $20 million salary for 2025 and compensate Los Angeles. That was simply too many resources allocated to one player. Then again, things have changed in the past few days.
The Rams just released Kupp, and he's free to sign with any team he pleases. He probably won't get the $20 million he was set to make and might need to settle on a one-year, prove-it deal. This is a reasonable expectation when you take into account that he's missed 20 games the past three years and hasn't been nearly as dominant as he was in 2021. Don't be surprised to see Jacksonville kick the tires on the Eastern Washington product.
The Jaguars will add another cornerback (maybe Jaire Alexander?)
Cornerback was one of the Jags' top needs ahead of free agency, and they kind of fixed it, signing Jourdan Lewis to a three-year deal worth $30 million. While the secondary will benefit from his feisty attitude, he'll tentatively line up in the slot. That's not where Jacksonville needed help.
With Lewis settling at nickel, it looks like Jarrian Jones will be kicked to the boundaries opposite Tyson Campbell. However, the Jags shouldn't hesitate to keep adding help. The Los Angeles Chargers let Asante Samuel Jr. and Kristian Fulton walk in free agency. They're both available, and the front office could sign one of them to a one-year deal.
An alternative would be to trade for Jaire Alexander and reunite him with defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile. The Green Bay Packers are holding firm but it's a matter of time before they give up the two-time Pro Bowl at a discount rate or outright release him. Either way, the Jaguars have options to further bolster the cornerback room.
The Jaguars round out the pass rush rotation
The one position the Jaguars have avoided in free agency is defensive end. While they have a pair of talented pass rushers in Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen, they need a No. 3 to round out their rotation. The good news is that Jacksonville has no shortage of options.
Even though several pass rushers have found a new home, many others remain available. The Buffalo Bills just released Von Miller. The Washington Commanders did the same with Dante Fowler Jr. Maybe the Jags should consider a reunion, or perhaps they could go after Carl Lawson who had somewhat of a bounce-back season with the Dallas Cowboys in 2024.
It's possible that the Jaguars may want to wait for the second way of free agency to bolster the pass rusher, but they should most definitely do it.