ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler doesn’t think it’s all that likely that the Jacksonville Jaguars will be big spenders this offseason.
In a recent article over at ESPN where Matt Bowen ranked the top 50 available free agents this offseason, Fowler provided some nuggets along the way.
One of those nuggets was that the Jaguars are a team to watch when it comes to Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis. For more on that, click here.
But Fowler also added this bit of information as well:
“The Jaguars likely won’t be huge spenders in free agency, but they want to fortify their secondary.”
After a 9-8 season in 2023, former GM Trent Baalke did go out and make some big additions last offseason in an effort to help the Jaguars take that next step.
However, the team instead went backwards, winning only four games. They now have a new head coach in Liam Coen and are in search of a new general manager.
By Fowler saying that the Jaguars won’t be big spenders, perhaps that sets the expectation that Jacksonville isn’t going to be in on a number of top of market players–although I don’t know if many expected that anyways.
Coen also said in his introductory press conference that this isn’t a four win team, referencing that there is a lot of talent already on the Jaguars roster, but the group needs to learn how to win. That factor could also impact how the team goes about free agency.
But having said that, the secondary, as Fowler mentioned, and I would also include the offensive line, are two areas where the Jaguars have to improve this offseason.
The Jaguars’ pass defense was among the worst in football in several categories including interceptions, passer rating, yards per pass attempt, and completion rate.
Offensive line play, meanwhile, was a big part of the success that Coen had last season with Tampa Bay, and is a unit that has to improve in Jacksonville. Having a steady and effective run game to lean on helped then open up opportunities in the passing game.
Along those lines, Trevor Lawrence when speaking with the media after the season mentioned that in order to be less predictable, the offense needs a more consistent run game.
Salary cap-wise, the Jaguars have just over $35 million in available cap space this offseason, which ranks as the 17th-most in the NFL. That figure, however, does not their rollover amount of unused cap space from 2024, and like every other NFL team, the Jaguars can create more room as needed.
After winning four games a season ago, the Jaguars aren’t on the cusp of being a big free agent signing away from being where they want to be. So maybe that’s what Fowler was referencing.
But at the positions mentioned, I don’t think the Jaguars sit on their hands either. They’ll want to give Coen the players he needs to have some success in Year 1.
