The hype of free agency has come and gone and now it’s time to look at what teams have gained and lost since March 16th and where they stand as they prepare for the upcoming draft. Let’s chat about the big free agent spenders, the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Key acquisitions: WR Christian Kirk, G Brandon Scherff, LB Foye Oluokun, DT Folorunso Fatukasi, TE Evan Engram, WR Zay Jones, CB Darious Williams, DE Arden Key, CB Xavier Crawford
Re-signed: OT Cam Robinson (franchise), CB Tre Herndon, WR Laquon Treadwell, C Tyler Shatley, OT Will Richardson, TE Tyrell Adams
Departures: C Brandon Linder, WR D.J. Chark (Lions), LB Myles Jack (Steelers), G A.J. Cann (Texans), G Andrew Norwell (Commanders), LB Damien Wilson (Panthers), RB Carlos Hyde, DT Taven Bryan (Browns), DE Jihad Ward (Giants), RB Dare Ogunbowale (Texans), TE Jacob Hollister (Raiders)
Remaining free agents: WR Tavon Austin, DE Adam Gotsis, CB Nevin Lawson, TE James O’Shaughnessy
Analysis: The story of the 2022 free agency was the Jacksonville Jaguars. Spending over $175 million in guaranteed money, the Jags signed a ton of the top free agents after finishing with the worst record in 2021. They broke the bank on these guys and reset a couple markets in hopes of turning their franchise around after the embarrassment of the Urban Meyer “era”.
The deal heard around the league that destroyed the wide receiver market was the signing of former Cardinal Christian Kirk to a monster four-year, $72 million contract. The career WR3 has shown potential in a limited role, and is poised to be a WR1 for Trevor Lawrence alongside Marvin Jones, Laviska Shenault, and fellow FA signee Zay Jones. The aforementioned Jones found success with Derek Carr in Vegas, and hopes to earn an elevated role in Jacksonville. Both players can help make up for the loss of D.J. Chark, who signed with the Lions.
Also joining that receiving group is former first-round tight end Evan Engram, who signed a one-year deal after an up-and-down career in New York. He gets a chance on a prove-it deal to and will be more of a big receiver than tight end.
The Jags are also reworking their offensive line, signing former Washington Pro Bowl guard Brandon Scherff, who finally hit unrestricted free agency after two seasons under the franchise tag. He’ll get a starting job after both their previous starting guard, Andrew Norwell and A.J. Cann, signed elsewhere. They also franchised left tackle Cam Robinson for a second time and brought back backup center Tyler Shatley, who will likely be the full-time starter following the retirement of longtime starter Brandon Linder.
On defense, the Jaguars made big signings to some not-so-well-known names but are impact players. Foye Oluokun, a former sixth-round pick, signs on after four seasons with the Falcons as a leading tackler. Foley Fatukasi, another former sixth-round pick, was a backup early on but emerged as a starter the last two seasons with the Jets. Darious Williams has been the Rams starting cornerback the past few seasons, and gets a multi-year deal to start alongside Shaquil Griffin and Tyson Campbell. The final signing was Arden Key, a former top prospect who fell to the Raiders in the third round of 2018 and spent 2021 with the 49ers.
All these additions in turn saw a lot of departures, releasing starting linebacker Myles Jack, and parting with linebacker Damien Wilson and former first-round bust Taven Bryan.
Conclusion: The winners of March aren’t often winners from September to January, and it will likely be the same for the 2022 Jacksonville Jaguars. The development of Trevor Lawrence is key in advancing this team from the bottom of the barrel to somewhat competitive. They’ve made a lot of big moves, but its common for new personnel to not experience success in the first season, but a lot of these signings were multi-year deals, so there’s a longer leash. With former Eagles head coach Doug Pederson at the helm, you can’t get any worse than Urban Meyer. The Jags hold the first overall pick, and coupled with the big free agent spending, leads to big changes in Jacksonville.
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