Although they opened the checkbook generously in the early days of the current open market, the bet in Jacksonville remains on the draft and developing their own talent, rather than bringing it in from abroad.
JACKSONVILLE — Los Jacksonville Jaguars were big buyers at the agency, once more, and the general manager Trent Baalke hope it’s the last time.
The Jaguars they have signed seven players this week, with contracts totaling $259.5 million with $155.25 million in guarantees. A better use of that money would be on players the team has drafted, rather than trying to buy outside help to make up for the numerous draft mistakes the franchise has continually made over the past decade.
That’s where Baalke and the head coach Doug Pederson they hope to be within the next few years, but for now, it’s a huge open checkbook.
“We’re trying to fix this for the long term, to be forward thinking as we build this thing, and right now it’s a combination of free agency and the draft,” he explained. Baalke on Wednesday. “We’re hoping to get this organization to the point where we’re not relying as much on free agency, that we’re relying on our drafts and giving our guys second deals.”
Of the seven players signed so far this week, wide receiver Christian Kirk got the most guaranteed money ($37 million), followed by guard Brandon Scherff ($30 million), linebacker Foyesade Oluokun ($28 million), defensive tackle Fatukasi Folorunso ($20 million), cornerback Darious Williams ($18 million), wide receiver Zay Jones ($14 million) and tight end Evan Engram ($8.25 million). All of those players will be 29 or younger when the 2022 season begins, with the exception of Scherffwho will be 30.
The Jaguars they have yet to find another expert in pressuring quarterbacks to match up with Josh Allen and Dawuane Smoot, another wide receiver, at least one other linebacker, and figuring out who will start at left guard, but the roster is in better shape now than it was on Monday morning. Also, they have 12 draft picks and might deal with some of those issues (possibly an edge defender like Aidan Hutchinson in shift No. 1 global) next month.
Spending big during free agency has worked before for Jaguars, although it was only a short-term solution. They committed what was then a franchise record $157 million ($69 million guaranteed) in contracts in 2017 to defensive end Calais Campbellcorner A.J. Bouyesafety Barry Church and special teams linebacker Lerentee McCrayand that group played a major role in surprisingly leading the team to the AFC Championship Game.
However, that group didn’t have as much of an impact following that season. Campbell had 10.5 sacks in 2018 following posting 14.5 in 2017, but Bouye and Church they did not play at the same high level during 2018. Church was benched in Week 12, and did not participate in a down NFL once more.
Other than that group, free agency has done little for the Jaguars. From 2014-’16, they signed contracts for more money in free agency than any other team in the NFL ($488.4 million, $187.6 million guaranteed), and that paid them back just .
The Jaguars they should have been big buyers, though, thanks to their lack of success in the draft. Only nine of his 59 draft picks from 2012-’19 have signed second deals with the club, including offensive tackle Cam Robinson with the franchise tag for 2021 and 2022. Only one — the quarterback Blake Bortles— was selected in the first round. The other players who signed second contracts are wide receiver Marquise Lee (2014 second round), center Brandon Linder (2014 third round), linebacker Telvin Smith (2014 fifth round), guard A.J. Cann (2015 third round), linebacker Myles Jack (2016 second round), Smoot (2017 third round) and guard/tackle Will Richardson (fourth round of 2018).
Allen he was the club’s first-round pick in 2019, and is eligible to sign an extension this offseason.
Those numbers, especially when it comes to first-round draft picks, need to change, he said. Baalke.
“It is very important for everyone to understand that [el draft] should be the focus,” explained Baalke at NFL scouting combine. “If we’re not recruiting well and developing well and getting guys to their second contracts with the Jaguarsthen it will be hard to turn this thing around.”
