The Jacksonville Jaguars were among the least active teams in free agency this year. Then again, that's understandable when you take into account that they were working with limited cap space and didn't want to make big signings without affecting their future cap. The good news is that general manager James Gladstone managed to make the most out of it.
With the Jags carrying plenty of dead money from bad contracts the past regime got done, Gladstone was able to amass draft capital. More specifically, he got three compensatory picks because cornerback Greg Newsome, linebacker Devin Lloyd, and running back Travis Etienne left.
The formula for how Jacksonville got those compensatory picks is a bit complicated, but it basically narrows down to the team losing more players than the ones they signed. Either way, those picks will come in handy to make trades down the road. Having said that, you could make the case that the Jags should have been a bit more aggressive in free agency. In fact, they could regret passing on these three players.
Free agent No. 1 the Jaguars could regret not signing: K'Lavon Chaisson
The Jaguars need a true No. 3 behind Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen. Danny Striggow or B.J. Hill Jr could eventually fill that role, but neither is there yet. That's why it would've made sense to go after K'Lavon Chaisson, who's coming off a breakout season with the New England Patriots.
Sure, Chaisson already had a stint in Duval, and he left much to be desired. However, he's not the same player he was when he left in 2024. Furthermore, he inked a somewhat affordable $11 million contract with the Washington Commanders.
Paying that kind of price for a pass rusher who had 7.5 sacks in the regular season and 3.0 more in the playoffs seems like a good deal.
Free agent No. 2 the Jaguars could regret not signing: Nahshon Wright
The Jaguars managed to retain Montaric Brown, giving him a three-year, $31 million deal to stick around. However, they could still use reinforcements at cornerback. Sure, two-way star Travis Hunter is slated to play defense full-time next season. Nevertheless, it would have hurt to add depth at the position. This is why Jacksonville should have targeted Nahshon Wright.
Originally drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 2021, Wright was inconsistent early in his career, which is why Big D showed him the door after just three seasons. The Minnesota Vikings signed him in 2024, but he only lasted one season with them.
It wasn't until Wright joined the Bears last year that he put it all together, registering five picks and making the Pro Bowl. Surprisingly, he didn't garner much demand in free agency and ended up signing a modest $5 million deal with the New York Jets. Sure, there's a chance he was a one-year wonder, but signing would've been worth the risk, as the Jags wouldn't have made a big commitment to him.
Free agent No. 3 the Jaguars will regret not signing: John Franklin-Myers
The Jaguars are in dire need of help at defensive tackle. The trouble is that this year's free agency class wasn't particularly deep. That said, John Franklin-Myers was available, and signing him would've given the Jacksonville interior defensive line a massive boost.
Not only does Franklin-Myers do a heck of a job bringing the heat but also excels at stuffing the run. Simply put, he would've given the Jags the game-altering talent they're craving at defensive tackle.
Granted, signing him wouldn't have been cheap, as he inked a three-year deal worth $63 million with the Tennessee Titans. That would've been another benefit of signing him, as the Jags would have prevented him from landing with a division foe.