The Jacksonville Jaguars added some help for their defensive line in the opening week of free agency by signing former Arizona Cardinal Rodney Gunter to a three-year deal.
At 6-foot-5, 304-pounds, Gunter will be used like veteran Calais Campbell was according to coach Doug Marrone, meaning he’ll play both defensive end and kick in to defensive tackle. That means he’s been penciled in as a starter for the Jags, which has led to many wondering about the details of his contract.
Thanks to Spotrac, details have emerged on his deal, and like Schobert’s deal was reported to be, Gunter’s is very reasonable in the first year. His cap hit for 2020 will only be $3.6 million, however, it will almost double in 2021 to $6.9 million.
Note: Spotrac generally collects this information from verified reports
The structure of the deal makes this a deal the Jags can get out of in two years as most of his $11.1 million in guarantees will be paid out at the end of 2021. If he exceeds expectations, maybe the Jags will look to extend him before the deal ends like they’ve done in the past with former players like Sen’Derrick Marks and Roy Miller.
Again, due to the guaranteed money on his contract and the info Doug Marrone gave the media, Gunter should be penciled in as a starter. However, it’s uncertain who will join him on the defensive line if he starts but one sure-fire name will be Josh Allen. Veteran Abry Jones would be in the starting four, too, if the team took the field today alongside Taven Bryan at the other defensive tackle position.