Well, it’s safe to say it was an eventful Monday in the state of Florida for football. The Buccaneers made most of the day’s headlines by re-signing free agents Shaquil Barrett and Rob Gronkowski. However, it was the Jacksonville Jaguars that made arguably the biggest splash in free agency, as the team managed to sign a whopping seven free agents. This surge of deals from Duval County came as expected, as the Jaguars entered Monday with by far the most cap space in the entire NFL. Although a lot of that is now gone, the team has taken on a completely new look.
Rudy Ford, S
The Jaguars signed Rudy Ford to a two-year contract worth $4.2 million. Ford, who was originally drafted by the Cardinals in 2017, has registered only two career starts during his tenure in the NFL. However, the former Cardinals and Eagles safety has the potential of being an all-around player, as he could be used on both the defensive and special teams side of the football.
Dawuane Smoot, DE
The Jaguars re-signed Dawuane Smoot to a two-year deal worth $14 million. Smoot registered a team-high 5.5 sacks in 2020, proving to be the most essential piece on the Jaguars defensive line. Smoot’s return to Jacksonville ensures the team of more stability in the trenches.
Phillip Dorsett, WR
Phillip Dorsett qualifies as the latest free agency signing for the Jaguars. The contract length and salary for the 28-year old wide receiver is still unknown at this point in time, as the deal is fairly recent. Dorsett, who signed a one-year deal with the Seahawks last year, missed the 2020 season due to injury. His contributions were much more apparent in New England, where he played 45 games over the course of three seasons with Tom Brady under center. In that tenure, Dorsett recorded 73 catches for 881 yards and eight touchdowns, winning Super Bowl 53 in the process.
Phillip Dorsett Highlights by FL Teams via Youtube
Carlos Hyde, RB
Although Dorsett joining the Jaguars will be a great boost for the offense, the signing of Carlos Hyde qualifies as arguably the most intriguing news of the day. Hyde, who played under Urban Meyer at the Ohio State University, has agreed to a two-year, $6 million dollar deal with the Jaguars. The 29-year old running back has spent his NFL tenure so far with the 49ers, Browns, Chiefs, Texans, and most recently the Seattle Seahawks. In 2020, the former second-round pick carried the ball 81 times for 356 yards and reeled in 16 catches for 93 yards in his year with the Seahawks. However, 2019 qualified as his best year, as he managed to rush for over 1000 yards on the Texans.
Roy Robertson-Harris, DT
Considering one of Jacksonville’s biggest weaknesses last year was the defensive line, it should come as no surprise as to why the Jaguars picked up Roy Robertson-Harris in free agency. The 27-year-old defensive tackle signed a four-year deal worth $24.4 million, ensuring him at least $14 million in guaranteed money. Harris, who went down to a shoulder injury midway through the 2020 season, recorded 10 sacks in his eight starts with the Chicago Bears last year.
Rayshawn Jenkins, S
Former Chargers safety Rayshawn Jenkins agreed to a four-year deal with the Jaguars for an unknown amount of money. Jenkins, who is originally from the Sunshine State, recorded a career-high 84 tackles with the Chargers in 2020. The 2017 fourth round pick started for the Chargers in all but one game in the last two seasons, recording a combined 92 tackles, eight pass break-ups, five interceptions, and one sack.
Jamal Agnew, WR, CB, Special Teams
If you want someone who can play on all sides of the football, Jamal Agnew is your guy. The former Detroit Lions multipurpose player signed a three-year contract with the Jaguars for up to $21 million on Monday. Although mainly focusing on kick returns, Agnew spent time as a cornerback and wide receiver in his tenure with Detroit. In 2020, Agnew reeled in 13 receptions under the Lions offense and returned 14 punts for 178 yards and one touchdown on special teams. Expect for the 2017 fifth round pick to primarily serve as a kick returner for the Jaguars, as his special teams play still qualifies as his most impressive.
Overall Thoughts
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from free agency frenzy, it’s that NFL teams can change within the blink of an eye. Monday night’s Jaguars offer a much more welcoming look then Monday morning’s Jaguars, as the team has improved on all sides of the football.
And the best part of this all? The fact that the Jaguars have even more cap space available. That’s what $74.4 million will get you in free agency. The team does not even necessarily need to sign a big time free agent, as bringing in multiple smaller names could be much more affordable.
So, with a new coaching staff and a completely fresh team, does Jacksonville have what it takes to make the playoffs next year?
It’s hard to say, especially with the extremely high expectations set around quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The Jaguars obviously earned the dubious honor of being the worst team in the entire NFL last year, so it’s clear that the franchise still has some rebuilding to do. However, if there’s one thing for certain, it’s that Urban Meyer and company are without a doubt taking big steps in the right direction.