The crown jewel free agent who would transform Jaguars' defense

If the Jacksonville Jaguars want to take their defense to the next level, they must find a way to rush the quarterback more effectively, and they need a solid boundary cornerback opposite Travis Hunter.

Now that Hunter is transitioning to cornerback on a more full-time basis, he should have one side of the field locked up. However, imagine if the Jags could finagle their way around the salary cap well enough to add a premier free agent on the other side.

Having two lockdown corners would improve the pass rush by proxy. The Jags have bargains they can score on the open market for adequate depth in the trenches.

What doesn't come along every day is a Super Bowl champion who's a converted college wide receiver with a 6'4" frame and sub-4.3 speed. That is a man worth aggressively pursuing.

Seahawks standout Riq Woolen & Travis Hunter would be the NFL's freakiest CB tandem

Riq Woolen's boneheaded taunting penalty for the ages in the NFC Championship Game almost cost the Seattle Seaahwks a Lombardi Trophy. His lackadaisical alignment on the ensuing play saw him get burned by Rams wideout Puka Nacua for a touchdown.

Woolen had a similar mental pre-snap alignment lapse that led to Mack Hollins roasting him for a TD in Super Bowl LX. Thankfully, he and the Seahawks defense had played so well to that point that it didn't matter.

Point being, when he's dialed in, there are few cornerbacks with better production and physical tools than Riq Woolen. Look at this advanced data point for proof of concept:

Those brain fart plays in the playoffs could cost Woolen millions upon millions of free-agent dollars. Jacksonville wouldn't complain about that. Just puts GM James Gladstone in better striking distance to get him.

And make no mistake, Gladstone has a lot to juggle this offseason cap-wise. Retaining All-Pro linebacker Devin Lloyd should be a big focus, as should re-signing star running back Travis Etienne.

Projections for Woolen's market value are all over the place. The Athletic opines that he's worth $76 million over four years. Spotrac has Woolen at just $40.8 million on a five-year deal.

Let's split that massive difference. We'll say Woolen's market is a four-year, $65 million contract. An average annual value of $16.25 million. To use round numbers, we can get to that figure with $14 million in Year 1, $15.5 million in Year 2, and then $17 million and $18.5 million thereafter.

Perhaps Lloyd gets a good chunk more than that at $17 million in Year 1 since he's the unquestioned top free agent at his position. Then, how about the Jags save a few million bucks and use the transition tag on Etienne at $11.7 million for 2026.

According to OverTheCap.com, those moves would put Jacksonville a shade under $53 million in the salary cap red this year. Can they get under it? Let's see.

Trading Walker Little frees up $7.26 million. Then, it's a bunch of contract restructures, headlined by Josh Hines-Allen, Arik Armstead, and Davon Hamilton. The latter two are free agents via voided contracts in 2027, so big whoop.

Five more restructures gets Jacksonville to $5 million in positive cap space: Jakobi Meyers, Foyesade Oluokun, Ezra Cleveland (also void next offseason), Jourdan Lewis, and Patrick Mekari.

I know this is a lot but stay with me. Restructuring Trevor Lawrence and Cole Van Lanen the next year, plus releasing Robert Hainsey and Maason Smith, would bring the Jags' 2027 cap room to $87.3 million.

Would that be enough to re-sign Etienne, Travon Walker, Antonio Johnson, Anton Harrison, Brenton Strange and Parker Washington? Doubtful. Somebody's gotta go. Or, you know, Woolen could restructure his contract. Or Lloyd could. Or Etienne if he did, in fact, sign a multi-year contract this offseason.

Went down that long-view rabbit hole as a means to an end. That end is to show that in the NFL, when there's a front office's will, there's a way to manipulate the salary cap to one's advantage.

Gladstone had to be drooling as a talent evaluator with the Rams all those years as he watched Woolen ball out for the NFC West rival Seahawks. Now, he has the chance to vindicate his bold draft day trade for Hunter by spending big and getting creative to give Jacksonville by far the most electrifying cornerback tandem in the sport.