Tag: Darnell Savage

All-22 review: How the Jaguars can beat the Colts

All-22 review: How the Jaguars can beat the Colts

The Jacksonville Jaguars enter Week 5 as the only winless team in the NFL following their 24-20 defeat at Houston last Sunday. 

But not all hope is lost in Jacksonville as the Jaguars head into a potentially favorable matchup against Indianapolis.

Jacksonville has not played functional, sound football this year, although we saw the Jaguars’ offensive identity begin to emerge in their loss to the Texans.

This offense can balance the run with a dose of play-action and can take advantage of favorable explosive mismatches. If the Jaguars want to avoid sinking to 0-5 this weekend, their offensive game plan from last week gives them the best chance to win.

Sunday presents a Colts team without star running back Jonathan Taylor, likely without starting quarterback Anthony Richardson and with an underperforming defense that could lend the Jaguars their first win of the season.

Jaguars Wire reviewed the All-22 to present a few ways for Jacksonville to secure a victory against Indianapolis. 

Lean on Trevor Lawrence and the rushing attack

The focus of this film review begins with the $275 million man, quarterback Trevor Lawrence, whose play is under scrutiny after a rough start to the season. It seems he is pressing as a passer, staring down targets and playing flat-footed at times. His footwork has certainly become a concern.

Lawrence has also shown to bail from clean pockets and put even more stress on his offense. Despite offering the pre-snap acumen required to operate as an NFL quarterback, he has been inconsistent with his post-snap awareness this season.

Some have called the former No. 1 draft selection “broken,” and while that might be the case right now, his issues are fixable.

Surprisingly enough, it is Lawrence and Jacksonville’s run game that makes the Jaguars go. If he can get into a stretch within games where he can play in rhythm more consistently, this unit will look much improved.

Using play-action more frequently could help with this as the Colts’ defense has allowed opposing quarterbacks to go 21-for-35 with 298 yards, one touchdown and one interception against such calls this year.

Entering Sunday, the Colts rank dead-last in the NFL in yards-per-game allowed, next-to-last in rushing yards and rushes of 10-plus yards allowed, and 25th in passing yards allowed. 

Indianapolis’ defense has underperformed relative to its expectations which has cost the Colts games to this point. Jaguars running backs Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby could be in for plenty of touches and big play opportunities, accordingly. 

Jacksonville enters the weekend ranked No. 2 in football in rushing yards per play and No. 9 in team rushes of 10-plus yards. This is an advantageous matchup for the Jaguars’ run game to explode onto the scene.

Jaguars’ improved trench play vs. Colts’ underperforming defensive front

One of the bright spots from Sunday’s loss to Houston was the steady improvement of Jacksonville’s offensive line and the trenches overall. In general, the Jaguars’ front five displayed better consistency in pass protection while opening up rushing lanes for Etienne and Bigsby. 

Offensive tackles Anton Harrison and Cam Robinson were specifically better, especially in their pass sets moving rushers beyond the arc and giving Lawrence clean pockets. The offensive line also did a better job handling games such as twists and stunts, displaying better communication on this front. 

However, when the offense looked to run a play-action with a set-slide protection, the line did not wash defenders out as cleanly as it needed to, allowing pressure on Lawrence almost immediately.

Still, this was the offensive line’s best performance of the season and the unit must build on it, especially against a subpar Colts defense.

Defensively, coordinator Ryan Nielsen knows how to make offenses one-dimensional. That’s what Jacksonville will have to do against Indianapolis’ rushing attack.

With players like linebacker Devin Lloyd and safety Darnell Savage Jr. expected to return from injury, the Jaguars should be able to limit the Colts’ big play opportunities on the ground.

The Jaguars’ consistent defensive line rotation has generated plenty of pressure from the four-man fronts deployed. Rookie interior lineman Maason Smith flashed at times against Houston, including an impressive swim move in the first quarter that got pressure on C.J. Stroud. He could present an intriguing rotational rush threat on passing downs against the Colts. 

Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker were fantastic last Sunday with Walker producing a team-high seven pressures on 33 pass rushes and Hines-Allen recording six pressures on 19 rushes. Hines-Allen cleared concussion protocol on Saturday and is set to play.

Target Christian Kirk and Brian Thomas Jr. 

The Colts’ passing defense remains an underwhelming unit in 2024 and that should leave Kirk and Thomas licking their chops at the opportunity for a productive weekend. Indianapolis has allowed the fifth-most yards in downfield passing attempts at 13.3, per Next Gen Stats.

Kirk saw his targets increase from four and three in Weeks 1 and 2 respectively to 10 and 12 against Buffalo and Houston. Kirk is very good at setting up defenders with hesitation moves and fakes along with great short-area quickness.

Furthermore, Kirk is light on his feet and offers smooth acceleration in and out of breaks. He was open on almost every target last week. Pederson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor must utilize him in motions and grant him free releases to create potential mismatches. 

Thomas is already the most talented playmaker on the roster four games into his career, as he flashed vertical separation and the necessary quickness to cut routes short and work back to the football.

Next Gen Stats shows Thomas is leading all rookies in deep directions and receiving yards this season while his average route depth is the third-deepest among first-year receivers. His 16.2 yards per catch rank No. 14 among all qualifying NFL pass-catchers. 

When Jacksonville attacks Indianapolis through the air Sunday, Trevor Lawrence needs to continue looking Kirk and Thomas’ way.

All-22 review: Jaguars vs. Dolphins

All-22 review: Jaguars vs. Dolphins

The Jacksonville Jaguars are off to a rough start to their 2024 campaign following an embarrassing defeat on the road against the Miami Dolphins, 20-17.

At one point, the Jaguars held leads of 14-0 in the first half and 17-7 in the second, leaving many to wonder what happened after such a great start to the game.

Jaguars Wire broke down the matchup’s All-22 film to digest Sunday’s events with better context, sharing its biggest takeaways below.

Defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen impressed in his first game with the Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen talks to the media ahead of the second day of an NFL football training camp practice session Thursday, July 25, 2024 at EverBank Stadium’s Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla.

One of the key matchups Sunday was Ryan Nielsen’s Jacksonville defense versus arguably the most explosive offense in football. One key concern was capping the big plays Miami has been known to produce throughout the last two seasons. 

Despite Dolphins receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle producing crucial explosive plays late in the contest, Nielsen otherwise called in a great game. Jaguars defenders on all three levels of the field flew around the field but rarely appeared out of place outside of a couple of occasions.

One of the most impressive things from this unit is that it rarely got caught in Miami’s barrage of shifts and motions, staying disciplined and on task while forcing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa off his spot and forcing throws.

Jacksonville’s linebackers were stout in their run fits. According to Next Gen Stats, the run defense held Miami to just 69 yards of offense on 23 touches and negative 44 rushing yards over expected, the lowest since Week 9 of 2021. 

Linebacker Foyesade Oluokun played terrific in coverage and against the run. He made an excellent play in the second quarter on fourth & short by shadowing double slants on the front side and nearly secured the interception.

Other defensive players such as safety Darnell Savage Jr. and defensive lineman Arik Armstead had quality performances.

Before leaving the game with an injury, star cornerback Tyson Campbell played with sound technique in press-man and zone shells. Rookie Jarrian Jones had a couple of one-on-ones with Hill and held his own.

Edge rusher Travon Walker’s season is off to a great start. He piled up two sacks in Week 1 with elite explosiveness, power at the point of contact, an impressive bull rush, and the rare athleticism he has been known for since he was drafted No. 1 overall in 2022.

Jacksonville’s first-half offense displayed a glimpse into the future…

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 08: Trevor Lawrence #16 and Brian Thomas Jr. #7 of the Jacksonville Jaguars celebrate after a touchdown during the second quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on September 08, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Sunday offered a peak into what the 2024 Jaguars offense could become under whoever is calling plays in Jacksonville, head coach Doug Pederson or offensive coordinator Press Taylor. There were more under-center, vertical passing concepts that opened up the offense to an extent. The operation seemed steadier and smoother.

Franchise signal-caller Trevor Lawrence had a quality first half, making a terrific throw seemingly every series. He had a couple of middle-of-the-field darts for big completions, including the beautiful bucket drop to rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. to go up 14-0 in the second quarter.

Lawrence did a great job using his eyes to manipulate second and third-level defenders while maintaining his progressions.

The Jaguars have the potential to field a consistently explosive offense. Second-string running back Tank Bigsby broke off a couple of nice runs. Thomas also looks as advertised as a deep threat, showing vertical separation almost consistently with subtle movements to create space and opportunities for Lawrence to make accurate, on-time throws.

Jacksonville could have continued to mash its foot on the gas and attack Miami’s secondary with vertical play-action attacks from under-center and route concepts to put its players in positions to succeed. As the score later showed, it didn’t.

…but the second-half offense offered a not-so-good blast from the past

Sep 8, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson looks on from the sideline against the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

As soon as the Jaguars’ offense took the field in the second half, there was an easy tell to the momentum swing that began to occur. What went from an explosive and dynamic first 30 minutes to a stale and conservative final 30. 

Pederson or Taylor let their foot off the gas almost entirely, especially after running back Travis Etienne Jr. fumbled in the red zone. 

The offense reversed back to what led to its demise late in the 2023 season. There were very few concepts that allowed Lawrence to attack the middle of the field and several play-action rollouts that only allowed for the short area of the gridiron to be attacked. 

Thomas received no targets in the second half, a head-scratching reality considering his earlier production paired with Jacksonville’s late offensive stalls. The Jaguars offensive line largely held its own throughout the game, allowing Lawrence to navigate the pocket and reset his base when needed.

The lack of aggression from the offense was staggering and it allowed Miami to take the field for just enough plays, including the 80-yard touchdown by Hill, to stage a successful comeback.

There was also too much faith placed in the Jaguars’ rushing offense and defensive performance to secure the victory. This kind of approach has far too often put coaches at a disadvantage against explosive teams such as the Dolphins or Kansas City Chiefs.

Jacksonville will host the Cleveland Browns in the Jaguars‘ home opener this weekend. They have the offense and personnel to be an aggressive, explosive offense. If the Jaguars learn to keep mashing the gas pedal when up 10 or more points, this could be a potent team throughout the season. 

Jaguars CB Ronald Darby assured entering Year 10: ‘Been making plays’

Jaguars CB Ronald Darby assured entering Year 10: ‘Been making plays’

Nine seasons, five stints on injured reserve, two anterior cruciate ligament tears, a dislocated ankle and probably more soft tissue lesions than he would like to recount later, Ronald Darby remains confident in his ability to lock down an opposing wide receiver.

“I’ve always been able to play,” Darby told Jaguars Wire. “My biggest thing was, you know, getting hurt.”

The Jaguars, who signed Darby in March, are his fifth team in the NFL and fourth since 2020, when he last played a full season.

But no matter the injury, the competition he faced or the scheme he had to learn — “I done played in almost all of them,” he said, “from the zone ones to the man ones to the Cover-0 ones” — Darby typically found a way to establish himself as one of the league’s better cover corners.

“As long as I’m able to run, move — you know, each year I learn and I just get better,” Darby expressed. “It’s like, I’ve been doing this for a long time.”

He has, and he’s right.

Jan 28, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens cornerback Ronald Darby (28) upends Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) during the second half in the AFC Championship football game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Per Pro Football Reference, Darby’s 44.2% coverage completion rate with Baltimore in 2023 was not only his career-best in seasons he played 10 or more games, it led all qualifying NFL coverage defenders.

Darby’s 2022 performance with Denver was even more dominant, albeit finite.

Over four-and-a-half games before tearing his ACL, Darby allowed just seven receptions over 18 targets (38.9%), per PFR. He gave up no more than 20 receiving yards in a single game.

Working back from a ruptured knee ligament proved easier the second time for Darby than the first.

Darby was a starter under Doug Pederson in Philadelphia in 2017, but a dislocated ankle in Week 1 cost him eight games. He returned and played very well during the Eagles’ stretch run to Super Bowl LII. In 2018, he didn’t appear in a game after Week 10 after suffering his first torn ACL. He played in Week 1 the next season, but strained his hamstring in Week 4 and his hip in Week 16.

He went unsigned in free agency until 10 months after his second ACL tear, when Baltimore coveted an experienced player after starting cornerback Marlon Humphrey endured a foot injury last August.

“To be honest, it wasn’t [a challenge] when I signed with Baltimore. I was, like, eight months out of my surgery,” Darby explained.

“But me going through my first one, I knew what I had to do for my second one, and I got on it early. I was doing two-a-days, like rehab, and I was doing a lot of running, so I knew how to come back from it a lot faster.”

Despite learning a new defense three weeks before the season, Darby logged 69 defensive snaps with the Ravens in Week 1, fifth-most on the team.

If not for a Week 18 illness, Darby would have appeared in every game last year. He took the field for 624 total snaps in 2023, his third-most in a regular season since 2018.

Darby fared particularly well against star wide receivers throughout the campaign.

Per Pro Football Focus, Darby held San Francisco’s Deebo Samuel to one catch for nine yards over two targets; Miami’s Tyreek Hill to two-of-four for 17 yards; Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins a combined two-of-five for 15 yards with two pass breakups; and Houston’s Nico Collins’ zero-of-two with a pass breakup in the playoffs after Collins went three-of-five for 46 yards against him in Week 1.

While he was limited to 48 of 67 possible appearances over the last four seasons, with three different teams in that span, Darby never allowed a year-long completion percentage higher than 54.3% (ranking No. 27 of 274 coverage defenders in 2021).

Some observers ding Darby for not intercepting a pass in that same stretch. However, his 32 defended passes since 2020 rank No. 28 among the 247 cornerbacks who have recorded at least one.

All but two players on the list in front of Darby have appeared in more games. Eight have appeared in at least 20 more.

Jacksonville managed to add Darby on a two-year contract with a $4.25 million average annual value. If he can remain healthy and perform as he has in recent years over a full season in 2024, the deal could end up a steal for the Jaguars.

“I just go out there and work,” said Darby. “You know, this [is] Year 10 for me. Like, I’ve been making plays. You don’t make it to Year 10 not being able to play. So I just go out there and do what I gotta do, like I do all the time.”

Pederson, now the Jaguars’ head coach, desired to reconnect with Darby this offseason as part of Jacksonville’s effort to strengthen its roster with established veterans; players who have been there, done that and can help the Jaguars battle through adversity to reach their goals.

This year, they entail a return to the postseason — and ideally a playoff run — after Jacksonville lost its grip on seeding in the AFC bracket in Week 18 of the 2023 campaign, following a 1-5 slide to end the season.

Darby is one of five free agents Jacksonville signed with at least six games worth of playoff experience, joined by center Mitch Morse (13), defensive lineman Arik Armstead (12), wide receiver Gabe Davis (seven) and safety Darnell Savage (seven) in that department.

“With Ronald, a veteran guy, he comes in here competing for that spot and just really embracing the opportunity. But at the same time, being able to lead because we got some young guys at the corner position,” Pederson detailed in June.

“Being able to I think show them how to practice, how to study, how to prepare, are all things that guys like that really bring to us.”

Darby is expected to start opposite freshly extended cornerback Tyson Campbell, with safeties Andre Cisco and Antonio Johnson returning and Savage expected to occupy the nickel cornerback position in Jacksonville’s revamped secondary.

July 25, 2024: Jaguars cornerback Ronald Darby during Jacksonville’s 2024 training camp. [Credit: Zach Goodall – Jaguars Wire/USA TODAY SMG]
Darby believes his experience and coverage savvy will benefit the Jaguars as they vie for a return to playoff contention.

And while he understands his influential role, Darby is convinced Jacksonville’s roster features plenty of similarly capable players.

“I know what it takes,” Darby said. “Like, I’ve been there. Even last year, [Baltimore] made it to the AFC Championship. I just know what it takes.

“You know what you gotta do throughout the year. You’ve got to stay focused and go out there and just compete, really. Just have fun and compete. We’ve got a lot of guys that like to compete, so it’s gonna be good.”

Doug Pederson updates Jaguars’ injuries ahead of training camp

Doug Pederson updates Jaguars’ injuries ahead of training camp

The Jaguars enter their 2024 training camp with a relatively clean bill of health.

Only two players are on Jacksonville’s injured lists at this point in the offseason: Defensive lineman Arik Armstead (knee) is on the active/physically unable to perform list; wide receiver David White Jr. (knee) is on injured reserve.

The Jaguars aren’t rushing Armstead, one of their prized free agent signings of the year, back onto the field as he continues to recover from surgery on a torn meniscus suffered last season with San Francisco, according to Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson.

“This guy, he’s played a ton of football, right?” said Pederson. “I wanna make sure guys like that — you know, we brought them here obviously to help us. But at the same time, we’ve got to make sure that they’re healthy before we put them on the field.”

Armstead missed five games due to the injury and returned to action below full health during the 49ers’ 2023-24 three-game playoff run, waiting to operate on the hurt until after the campaign.

In nine years with the 49ers, who picked him in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft, Armstead tallied 302 tackles with 43 for loss, 33.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and six defended passes. He added 38 tackles with six for loss, eight sacks and one forced fumble in 12 playoff games, including two Super Bowl appearances.

After being released by San Francisco in March, Armstead joined Jacksonville on a three-year, $43.5 million deal.

“He knows what it takes. He’s a vet. I’ve seen him during OTAs, I’ve seen him even while he was here during our little three days with the rookies,” Pederson said.

“He’s kind of another coach right now on the field until he gets ready to go. That’s invaluable. That’s gold out there on the field. So I’m not concerned right now this early that he’s not out there. I just wanna make sure that when he is out there, that he’s a hundred percent.”

Pederson also shared that Jaguars’ rookie running back and return specialist, Keilan Robinson, suffered a sprained toe during Jacksonville’s rookie minicamp, forecasting the injury would limit the fifth-round draft pick to begin camp.

Yet Robinson participated in position and team drills without wearing a no-contact jersey during Wednesday’s practice, appearing unrestrained during the workout.

Undrafted rookie offensive lineman Steven Jones “tweaked” his calf during a pre-camp conditioning test on Tuesday, per Pederson. Jones was not observed during Wednesday’s practice.

While his injury wasn’t mentioned by Pederson, Jaguars free agent safety signee Darnell Savage sported a no-contract jersey while participating, including during team drills, in Wednesday’s practice.

Savage was similarly active while limited during Jacksonville’s offseason team activities and mandatory minicamp while continuing to recover from a rotator cuff injury suffered with Green Bay in Week 13 last season.

Savage inked a three-year, $21.8 million deal with the Jaguars after posting 302 tackles with nine for loss, one sack, nine interceptions, one pick-six, 32 defended passes and two forced fumbles in five seasons with the Packers.

Doug Pederson shares positive update on Jaguars DB Darnell Savage

Doug Pederson shares positive update on Jaguars DB Darnell Savage

Jaguars free agent defensive back signee Darnell Savage is making progress as he continues to recover from an injury suffered during his final season with the Packers, according to Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson.

Savage revealed to the Florida Times-Union in May that his recovery from a torn rotator cuff suffered in Week 13 of the 2023 season was limiting his participation in Jacksonville’s offseason team activities. Savage continued to sport a no-contact jersey during the Jaguars’ mandatory minicamp this week.

But Savage has flashed the play-making abilities that led to his signing with Jacksonville on a three-year, $21.8 million deal earlier this offseason in these practices, despite his current physical restrictions. Notably, he recorded an interception in team drills during Tuesday’s minicamp practice.

Pederson believes Savage is on track to participate fully in training camp later this summer.

“He’s getting a lot stronger. Getting more reps with the defense. He’s showing a lot of good things out there, and just, he’s in a good position now,” Pederson said Wednesday. “I think when he comes back for camp he’ll be ready to go.”

A 2019 first-round pick by Green Bay, Savage spent five seasons with the Packers and accumulated 302 tackles with nine for loss, one sack, nine interceptions, one pick-six, 32 defended passes and two forced fumbles over 72 appearances and 69 starts.

Savage displayed ample positional versatility during his time with the Packers, logging 2,467 snaps at free safety, 1,026 snaps at box safety and 961 snaps at nickel cornerback.

Pederson said in March that Savage would begin at nickel corner in new Jaguausr’ defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen’s scheme. Nielsen added in May that Savage is working both spots, nickel and safety, and is even capable of playing outside cornerback.

“He’s aligning at nickel, at safety. In a pinch, he can run so we can put him in some man coverage situations. So, he’s a great guy to have,” Nielsen said.

“Really happy that our front office, [Jaguars general manager] Trent [Baalke], and those guys, brought him in. The guy has been fantastic in terms of just being around [and] learning the system.”

Report: Jaguars DB Darnell Savage still recovering from prior injury

Report: Jaguars DB Darnell Savage still recovering from prior injury

New Jaguars safety Darnell Savage, who signed with Jacksonville as a free agent in March, is limited in Jacksonville’s organized team activities as he continues to recover from an injury suffered in his final season with the Green Bay Packers, he told Demetrius Harvey of the Florida Times-Union.

Savage missed seven games during the 2023 season. He was first placed on injured reserve in Week 7 with a calf injury and remained there through Week 11. Then in Week 14, two games into his return, he suffered a torn rotator cuff in one of his shoulders, forcing a two-game absence.

He played through the hurt from Week 17 through the NFC Divisional Round of the 2023-24 NFL playoffs.

“I finished out there [last] year, so I’m just recovering from that. But I feel great. It was just good to get back out there, and put on a helmet,” Savage said. Harvey noted Savage’s desire not to let his teammates down as his reason for playing while injured.

Over 12 appearances during the regular and postseason, Savage accumulated 59 tackles including one for loss, one interception (a pick-six) and three defended passes with the Packers in 2023.

Savage signed with Jacksonville on a three-year deal worth $21.8 million earlier this year, following five seasons with Green Bay, in which he compiled 302 tackles with nine for loss, nine interceptions, 32 defended passes and two forced fumbles.

He has maintained his aspiration to be available for his teammates by participating in the Jaguars’ voluntary offseason workouts.

With the Jaguars, Savage will be expected to occupy a versatile role in the secondary. Although he has primarily played safety throughout his career, Jacksonville plans to try Savage at nickel cornerback in the future, among other spots.

“He’s aligning at nickel, at safety. In a pinch, he can run so we can put him in some man coverage situations. So, he’s a great guy to have,” Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen said about Savage on Monday. “Really happy that our front office, [Jaguars general manager] Trent [Baalke] and those guys brought him in.

Flowers, Edmunds signings continue Jaguars’ vital secondary rebuild

Tre Flowers, Terrell Edmunds signings continue Jaguars’ secondary rebuild

One important aspect of Jacksonville’s busy 2024 offseason has been the team’s necessary secondary rebuild.

The Jaguars released two starting defensive backs from last season earlier this year, cornerback Darious Williams and safety Rayshawn Jenkins, and have added six since, including four veteran free-agent signings and two rookie selections in the NFL draft.

The moves weren’t coincidental or business as usual.

They were intentional, a concerted effort by Jacksonville’s front office to revamp the back five of the Jaguars’ defense after the team allowed 239.8 passing yards and 1.59 passing touchdowns per game in 2023, both stats ranking No. 26 in the NFL.

The first addition, cornerback Ronald Darby, is expected to take over for Williams at outside corner, opposite Jacksonville’s 2021 second-round draft pick, Tyson Campbell.

Darby, a nine-season pro, has started 95 games in his career and tallied eight interceptions and 97 passes defended. Per Pro Football Reference, Darby allowed sub-50% completion percentages in coverage in 2022 and 2023, with a career-best 38.9% mark two years ago.

Safety Darnell Savage joined Jacksonville shortly after Darby, after five seasons with his drafted team, Green Bay. There, he accumulated nine interceptions and 32 pass breakups over 72 games and 69 starts.

Although he has been considered a replacement for Jenkins on the backend, next to safety Andre Cisco, Savage has been floated as a candidate to play nickel corner by Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson.

Despite obtaining those veterans, the Jaguars were widely projected to target another outside cornerback early in the 2024 NFL draft, leaving some analysts surprised when they waited until the end of Day 2 to address their secondary whatsoever.

Notably, Campbell is entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2024, while Darby turned 30 years old in January.

They double-dipped at the position, though, taking nickel corner Jarrian Jones late in the third round and then picking outside corner Deantre Prince in the fifth round.

Both were five-year college contributors who participated in the East-West Shrine Bowl all-star game before the draft.

“I think what both Jarrian and Prince probably share as players is confidence in terms of their coverage ability, but also knowing how to use their athletic ability,” Shrine Bowl director of football operations and player personnel, Eric Galko, described Jones and Prince in an interview with Jaguars Wire.

“Some guys are athletic and don’t know how to use it, and they’re just guessing and trying to use their athleticism and kind of recover a lot, not necessarily maximizing it. I think both these guys know where they can get to on the field in coverage.”

The Jaguars have been similarly complimentary of the rookies and believe each can become an impact player in the secondary.

Still, Jacksonville thought it had room to improve. Accordingly, the club signed another pair of veteran defensive backs on Thursday, safety and former first-round pick Terrell Edmunds and cornerback Tre Flowers.

Flowers, in particular, provides a sense of familiarity as the most recent season of his six-year career was under the guidance of current Jacksonville defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, who occupied the same role for Atlanta in 2023.

He appeared in 17 games with three starts last year, and has compiled four interceptions, 22 pass breakups and five forced fumbles over 90 games since 2018.

Edmunds could fill the safety role initially expected of Savage in 2023, with 79 starts at the position under his belt over six seasons. He’s recorded six interceptions, 28 pass breakups, 7.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss in that span.

Second-year Jaguar Antonio Johnson will vie for a starting safety role, too, after intercepting two passes and defending three as a rookie in 2023.

While it remains to be seen how the batch of new faces will perform as a unit, Jacksonville was wisely aggressive in acquiring defensive backs of varying positional fits, experience levels, and physical and athletic potential this offseason.

The unit added a combined 287 starts via free agency, patching holes in the Jaguars’ previously underwhelming secondary and, as a result, slowing down the pace of the incoming rookies’ development track.

Jones and Prince won’t need to be forced into action at cornerback early in their career — barring injury or if they prove to be equipped for pro ball immediately — with Campbell, Darby, Flowers and perhaps Savage at nickel available to start in 2024.

Jaguars signing Packers S Darnell Savage to 3-year deal

The Jaguars are turning to 2019 first-round pick Darnell Savage to take over for Rayshawn Jenkins in the secondary.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have a deal in place to sign Green Bay Packers safety Darnell Savage to a three-year contract when he becomes a free agent Wednesday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The deal is set pay Savage $21 million over the three years with $12.5 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Savage, 26, was a first-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft and played the 2023 season on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract. During his time in Green Bay, the safety recorded nine interceptions, one forced fumble, 32 passes defended, and nine tackles for loss. He also recorded a pick six in the Packers’ postseason win against the Dallas Cowboys.

His final season with the Packers was plagued by calf and shoulder injuries, which caused him to miss seven games.

While the Jaguars released Rayshawn Jenkins earlier in March to save more than $5.1 million in salary cap space, the decision to go after a safety in free agency is still a bit of a surprise. Fifth-round pick Antonio Johnson impressed as a rookie in 2023 and appeared in line to take over for Jenkins at strong safety with veteran Andrew Wingard providing quality depth.

Instead, the Jaguars may envision a nickel cornerback role for Johnson with Savage in the starting lineup.

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Former Packers S Darnell Savage will sign 3-year deal with Jaguars

Former Packers S Darnell Savage, a 2019 first-round pick, will sign a 3-year deal with the Jaguars.

Darnell Savage, a first-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in 2019, is leaving Green Bay and will sign a three-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Savage was the 21st overall pick and the first defensive back selected in the 2019 draft. The Packers traded two fourth-round selections to move up from No. 30 and get him.

Savage went on to play five up and down seasons with the Packers. A member of the All-Rookie team in 2019, Savage broke out as a difference maker to end the 2020 season and looked like one of the NFL’s best young safeties entering 2021. But his impact never ascended and eventually plummeted under defensive coordinator Joe Barry.

Between 2021 and 2023, Savage intercepted only three passes and recorded 15 passes defensed. In 2020 alone, he had four picks and 12 passes defensed. Missed tackles and missed assignments became common, and Savage was eventually benched during the second half of the 2022 season.

The Packers will begin rebuilding the safety room. Savage will attempt to reignite his career in Jacksonville.

Combine buzz: Packers S Darnell Savage could get ‘nice deal’ in free agency

Which team will be willing to pay Packers free agent safety Darnell Savage a nice deal this offseason?

Some buzz coming out of the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis: According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Green Bay Packers safety Darnell Savage is expected to get a “nice deal” in free agency. Fowler listed Savage among the NFL free agents that “should do pretty well” once the new league year starts.

“Enough teams will like his first-round traits to give him a chance on a nice deal after he spent the past five seasons in Green Bay,” Fowler wrote.

Savage, a first-round pick of the Packers in 2019, has an expiring contract. He played in 10 games and defended just one pass during the regular season in 2023, but he did have an interception return for a touchdown in the Packers’ playoff win in Dallas.

After a breakout 2020 season, Savage has struggled to be a difference maker in recent years and was even benched in 2022. Pro Football Focus ranks Savage as the 145th overall free agent and the 13th best safety, so it’s difficult to quantify what a “nice deal” would look like for him in free agency.

Savage’s rep, Seth Katz, told ESPN’s Rob Demovsky that he expects “significant interest” in his client in free agency, but all agents say that about their own players. Another source told Demovsky that Savage could command between $5-7 million per year.

At that price point, the Packers would almost certainly allow another team to pay Savage and then start a full rebuild of the safety position. Rudy Ford and Jonathan Owens are also free agents this offseason.

Because of the void years added to Savage’s fifth-year option last year, he will still count $5.4 million as dead money on the Packers’ salary cap whether he remains in Green Bay or departs.

Savage’s 2024 team — whether it’s the Packers or a different club — must decide if he’s a better fit as a free safety or slot corner. Jeff Hafley’s new defense is expecting the safety and slot cornerback position to be interchangeable. Savage had excellent moments as a slot corner at Maryland but hasn’t been as successful there at the NFL level.