After narrowly missing the playoffs due to a late-season collapse, the Jacksonville Jaguars haven’t sat on their hands so far in the 2024 offseason.
In free agency, the Jaguars struck deals with eight players on the market who they hope will lead the way for a return to the postseason:
- Former 49ers defensive lineman Arik Armstead (3-year, $43.5 million)
- Former Bills wide receiver Gabriel Davis (3-year, $39 million)
- Former Packers safety Darnell Savage Jr. (3-year, $21.75 million)
- Former Bills center Mitch Morse (2-year, $10.5 million)
- Former Ravens cornerback Ronald Darby (2-year, $8.5 million)
- Former Ravens return specialist Devin Duvernay (2-year, $8.5 million)
- Former Commanders kicker Joey Slye (1-year, $1.3 million)
- Former Titans edge rusher Trevis Gipson (no contract details yet)
That list doesn’t include former New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, who was acquired by the Jaguars in a trade just before free agency began.
While it’s no guarantee that the Jaguars are done adding from the list of available veterans, experts have already started voicing their opinions on the first wave of free agency. Here’s how they’ve graded Jacksonville’s haul:
They paid big time for DT Arik Armstead (3 years, $51 million), WR Gabe Davis (3 years, $39 million) and Savage (3 years, $21.8 million) – maybe too much? – while keeping OL Ezra Cleveland on a three-year, $24 million pact. Also, did the Jags get too cute waiting to re-sign Ridley, knowing it would cost them a second-round pick to do so rather than surrendering the third-rounder to Atlanta as was stipulated by their 2022 deal if he reached the market? Welp, reach the market he did, jumping to Tennessee, but admitting he’d wanted to remain in Duval County.
…Davis had games where he took over, most memorably the playoff game where he went for 200 receiving yards with four touchdowns, but the week-to-week consistency in a pass-happy, high-octane Josh Allen offense was never there. … Jacksonville used the first pick in the third round of 2022 on center Luke Fortner, but they deserve commendation for admitting that was a miss and taking advantage of Mitch Morse getting released in Buffalo. Morse played for Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson when he was the offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs, and he offers an extremely high floor as a pass protector.
The Jaguars’ offense took a step back in 2023 after injuries to quarterback Trevor Lawrence and poor blocking up front. Jacksonville did a solid job addressing some of those areas of need immediately between the acquisition of center Mitch Morse and wide receiver Gabe Davis. Lawrence could have used Davis’ size (6-foot-2, 225 pounds) down in the red zone last season. Darnell Savage also represents a younger, more explosive player to fill the free safety role vacated by Rayshawn Jenkins’ release. Jacksonville did what they could given a limited amount of cap space this offseason. They could earn a higher grade, though, if they extend Josh Allen, who set the team’s single-season sacks record (17.5 in 2023), and not have him play out next season on the tag. The addition of Armstead makes the pass rush more formidable.
The Jaguars did well with Arik Armstead and Mitch Morse to fill different interior line concerns. Trent Baalke gave Trevor Lawrence more speed around him with Gabriel Davis and Devin Duvernay arriving to help stretch the field. Darnell Savage and Ronald Darby are fine recoveries from losing Rayshawn Jenkins and Darious Williams. Mac Jones was worth the small trade to give Lawrence a developmental No. 2 with QB C.J. Beathard batting injury.
An alternative Jacksonville offseason path should have seen the Jaguars work out an extension with Allen, allowing them to use their franchise tag to keep Ridley around for another season.
That didn’t happen, but many of Jacksonville’s moves made sense individually. Jones flashed as a rookie and only cost a sixth-round pick. Morse (two years, $10.5 million) allows the Jags to replace Luke Fortner. Darby could make for a cheap starter at two years and $8.5 million.
Yet, Jacksonville’s roster-building strategies often seem so meandering that it’s challenging to understand what direction the front office feels it’s taking the club. This iteration of the Jaguars can compete in the AFC South — but what’s the long-term vision?