Tag: Jaguars

Report: Chargers agree to terms with WR D.J. Chark

The Chargers wide receiver room got deeper after the addition of D.J. Chark.

The Chargers agreed to terms with veteran wide receiver D.J. Chark on Thursday, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.

The deal is for a year worth up to $5 million, Rapoport added.

Chark joins a wide receiver room that consists of Joshua Palmer, Quentin Johnston, Derius Davis, Simi Fehoko and recent draftees Ladd McConkey, Brenden Rice and Cornelius Johnson.

Chark spent the 2023 season with the Panthers after signing a one-year deal last offseason. He caught 35 passes for 524 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games.

A former second-round pick by the Jaguars, Chark’s best season came in 2019. That year, he amassed 73 receptions for 1,008 yards and eight scores en route to earning a Pro Bowl berth.

Chark played with the Lions in 2022, totaling 30 catches for 502 yards with three touchdowns.

The Chargers’ goal at wide receiver is to get younger and faster, and Chark has plenty of juice, having run a 4.34 40.

Zay Jones may make sense as another Raiders reunion for Saints

The Saints are already flush with former Raiders, but Zay Jones may make sense as a safety net in case one of their young wideouts slips and falls:

The NFL draft is always tough on older players. Teams come out of it flush with young talent, which often leads to redundancies —  that are quickly dealt with in a wave of cuts around the league.

And that’s exactly what Zay Jones experienced with the Jacksonville Jaguars this week. Jacksonville drafted former LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. in the first round of this year’s draft, and a few days later chose to make room in the receiving corps by letting Jones go. Now he’s a free agent, and the former Las Vegas Raiders wideout could make sense for the New Orleans Saints.

Sure, the Saints are flush with Derek Carr’s former teammates already. But they could use another veteran at receiver, and Jones is better-accomplished than other free agents they’ve picked up over the last month. Jones caught 34 passes for 321 yards last season. The Saints’ trio of Cedrick Wilson Jr., Stanley Morgan, and Equanimeous St. Brown combined for 27 receptions and 358 yards on their previous teams in 2023. Add up their careers and Jones outpaces them by 118 catches and 802 yards.

Signing him could make sense. The Saints don’t have much to hang their hats on after Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. A.T. Perry has a ton of potential but we should remember he only caught a dozen passes last year. It would be wise to invest in a safety net in case one of those youngsters slips and falls. Jones isn’t likely to be expensive, and he already has a connection to Carr. If the money makes sense there’s no reason not to bring him into training camp and see if he can compete for a roster spot.

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Former Saints WR Jarvis Landry to try out for the Jaguars

Jarvis Landry is back in the NFL. The former New Orleans Saints wideout is expected to try out at the Jacksonville Jaguars’ upcoming minicamp:

Jarivs Landry is back in the NFL after taking a year off to heal up from an injury-plagued season with the New Orleans Saints. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that Landry is expected to try out for the Jacksonville Jaguars at their upcoming rookie minicamp.

While these rookie minicamps are intended for, well, rookies — it’s common for veteran free agents to try out alongside first-year pros in hopes of landing a contract through training camp. If Landry looks like a better option than other players auditioning in Jacksonville, he could spend his summer catching passes from Trevor Lawrence.

Landry’s one year with the Saints didn’t go as planned. After rushing out the gates with 7 receptions for 114 yards in Week 1, he only caught 18 passes for 158 yards the rest of the season. A persistent ankle injury kept him out of eight games in 2022.

Maybe things will go smoother in Jacksonville. The Jaguars released veteran wideout Zay Jones after the 2024 draft, in which they picked Brian Thomas Jr. in the first round, so there aren’t many roster spots to go around.

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Doug Pederson on Jags’ running game in 2024: ‘We have to get Tank going, bottom line’

Doug Pederson says Tank Bigsby is “too good” to not be on the field more for the Jaguars.

Earlier in the offseason, Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said he wants to “knock the reps down” for Travis Etienne Jr. after the running back finished third in the NFL in touches. The solution sounds like it’ll be a lot more opportunities for 2023 third-round pick Tank Bigsby.

“We have to get Tank going, bottom line,” Pederson said in March. “He is too good — that’s why we drafted him. I think early he had some ‘what is that?’-type plays for whatever reason, right or wrong. Again, in and out of the lineup. He is a young player that we’re excited about. Like we talked about last year, we take some burden off of Etienne a little bit, keep him healthy for the remainder of the season.”

Bigsby had seven carries and one passing target in the Jaguars’ Week 1 game against the Indianapolis Colts. But a mental error by the rookie in his debut resulted in a fumble that was returned for a go-ahead touchdown by the Colts, forcing the Jaguars to pull off a fourth-quarter comeback.

After that, Bigsby had no more than three rushing attempts in the Jaguars’ next eight games. That stretch included another fumble in Jacksonville’s October game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and an interception that bounced off Bigsby’s hands against the San Francisco 49ers.

By the end of the year, Bigsby had 132 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 50 attempts.

So far in the 2024 offseason, the Jaguars haven’t done anything to change up their running backs room. They brought back D’Ernest Johnson on another one-year deal and didn’t acquire any additional talent at the position. While there’s still a chance the Jaguars will add a back in the 2024 NFL draft, it sure looks like Jacksonville is planning big things for Bigsby.

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Jaguars to host UNC WR Devontez Walker on visit, per report

The Jaguars have reportedly shown interest in Drake Maye’s favorite touchdown target.

The Jacksonville Jaguars met with North Carolina wide receiver Devontez Walker prior to his pro day workout and will host him on a Top 30 visit, according to SportsKeeda draft insider Tony Pauline.

Walker, 22, received attention in 2023 after he was initially deemed ineligible to play for the Tarheels after the NCAA ruled he was a two-time transfer due to his previous stints at North Carolina Central and Kent State, despite never playing at NCC due to COVID-19.

After missing four games, Walker was reinstated for the remainder of the year. In eight games with UNC, Walker recorded 41 receptions for 699 yards and seven touchdowns.

At the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, Walker measured in at 6’2, 193 pounds and recorded a 4.36 40-yard dash with a 40.5-inch vertical jump. He’s been projected by most to be a Day 2 selection in April.

Other players set to visit the Jaguars ahead of the 2024 NFL draft reportedly include Western Michigan defensive end Marshawn Kneeland and Ole Miss cornerback Deantre Prince.

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Jaguars 2024 offseason: OTA, minicamp schedule announced

The Jaguars will get their offseason program started on April 15.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will get their offseason program started on April 15, the NFL announced Friday.

When players first report in mid-April for “Phase I” of the offseason, activites will be limited to meetings, strength and conditioning, and physical rehab only. After two weeks, the Jaguars will be allowed to begin “Phase II,” which includes walkthroughs and on-field workouts, but no live contact or team offense vs. team defense drills.

In Phase III, teams may conduct 10 days of organized team activity (OTAs). Those dates for the Jaguars are:

  • May 20
  • May 21
  • May 23
  • May 28
  • May 29
  • May 31
  • June 3
  • June 4
  • June 5
  • June 6

The Jaguars’ offseason program will then conclude with a mandatory three-day minicamp that runs from June 10-12.

Not yet included in the offseason schedule are the dates of Jacksonville’s rookie minicamp, which will happen on the first or second weekend after the 2024 NFL draft. The dates for that event will be announced at a later date.

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Jaguars sign LB Foye Oluokun to 3-year extension

The Jaguars locked down their defensive team captain Foye Oluokun with a new deal that runs through the 2027 season.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are signing linebacker Foye Oluokun to a three-year contract extension, according to his agent AJ Vaynerchuk.

Oluokun, 28, was due to play on the last season of the three-year contract he signed with the Jaguars in free agency during the 2022 offseason. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the new deal is a four-year contract worth $45 million with $22.5 million guaranteed.

While the exact framework of the deal hasn’t yet been revealed, the contract will likely save the Jaguars cap space for the 2024 season. Oluokun was due to count $21,750,668 against the cap next year and $7,752,000 in 2025 after a restructure last year tacked a few void years on to his deal.

Oluokun led the NFL with 184 tackles during the 2022 season and finished fourth in 2023 with 173 tackles. Oluokun also recorded 2.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries, and his first career pick-six in 2023.

In his two seasons with the Jaguars, Oluokun has earned team captain honors both times.

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Arik Armstead reveals ‘disrespectful’ 49ers offer that ended tenure

Arik Armstead says he was “extremely disrespected” by the 49ers’ contract offer and decided to bet on himself in free agency.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ biggest addition in March, both physically and financially, was 6’7 defensive lineman Arik Armstead.

Armstead, 30, hit the free agency market when he was released by the San Francisco 49ers earlier this month after nine seasons with the team. In an episode of his Third and Long podcast released Thursday, Armstead revealed the details of his frustrating negotiations with the 49ers that eventually resulted in his release.

“They did notify me that they did want to extend me,” Armstead said. “They wanted me to be a Niner for life and remain on the team, but they didn’t say what that number would be at. The offseason kept progressing and, finally, they told me I was going to have to take a significant pay cut.”

That wasn’t too surprising as Armstead was due to count $28.35 million against the 49ers’ salary cap in 2024. That would’ve been the highest for any NFL defensive lineman following Aaron Donald’s contract restructure and retirement.

But the drastic difference in pay that was proposed by the 49ers insulted Armstead.

“They extended an offer to me of $6 million on a one-year deal with incentives to go up to like $8 [million],” Armstead said. “When they sent that over, I did feel extremely disrespected. I don’t feel that that level of compensation is nowhere near the type of player that I am.

“Not even just the type of player that I am. What I have committed to the game, what I’ve committed to my team, what I’ve committed to the organization and my community. I didn’t feel like it was representative of who I am as a player and a person.”

Armstead, a four-time Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee, said he had moments of self-doubt before coming to a revelation about his worth.

“Just talking to myself, I was like ‘Nah bro, if 32 teams had an opportunity to have me on their team for $6 million, I think every team in the league would do that in a heartbeat.’ Once I made that decision in my head, I was like I can’t accept this,” Armstead said.

The bet on himself clearly paid off as he scooped up $28 million guaranteed from the Jaguars and is due to make $43.5 million over the next three years.

Yet, despite the rocky end to his time with the 49ers, Armstead also said he isn’t holding any grudges.

“First off, I don’t have any animosity toward the organization, Kyle [Shanahan], John [Lynch], the York family” Armstead said. “I have a lot of respect and admiration for them and my time with them. Even with this situation, it’s not on me to decide how they want to build their team and who they want to pay and how they want to build they roster. That’s not my decision. Business is business.”

That business led Armstead to reunite with the general manager who drafted him, Trent Baalke, in Jacksonville.

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Arik Armstead ‘disrespected’ by 49ers contract offer

The veteran defensive tackle reveals he was “disrespected” by a contract offer from the 49ers.

While free agency has brought in a wave of new faces for the San Francisco 49ers, the start of their offseason was headlined by a notable departure. After reportedly wanting Arik Armstead to take a pay cut, the 49ers released the veteran defensive lineman at the start of free agency.

After becoming a free agent, Armstead inked a 3-year, $51 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

During his recent podcast “Third and Long” via The Tidal League, Armstead spoke about his departure from San Francisco and feeling “disrespected” by the 49ers contract offer.

Via Third and Long – The Tidal League:

They extended an offer to me of $6 million for a one-year deal with incentives to go up to like eight. When they sent that over, I did feel extremely disrespected. I don’t feel that level of compensation is nowhere near the type of player that I am — not even just the type of player that I am —  it’s what I’ve committed to the game, what I’ve committed to my team, what I’ve committed to my organization and my community. I didn’t feel like it was representative of who I am as a player and a person.

I put a lot into what I do. I’m not just a guy who goes to practice, goes home, and does all the bare minimum team stuff just to get by. I’m a guy who watches the most film, invests the most time in my body, preparation, working on my game, and working on my craft. I have a real passion for this—a true love for this.

I know for a fact that I do a lot more than a majority of players. I put a lot more into football than a majority of players. I think that has value as well too. Also too I value myself as a player in a multitude of ways in what I do. My approach. My intrinsic value as well. I didn’t feel like that offer was anywhere near the level of compensation for a player like me.

Listen to Armstead’s full podcast via YouTube:

Armstead was the No. 17 overall pick in the 2015 draft out of Oregon. In nine seasons with the 49ers, Armstead racked up 32.5 sacks and 43 tackles for loss.

With Armstead signing in Jacksonville, the 49ers brought in multiple players on the defensive line in free agency. Leonard Floyd, Yetur Gross-Matos, Jordan Elliot all signed with the 49ers along with acquiring veteran defensive tackle Maliek Collins in a trade with the Houston Texans.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 

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DaVon Hamilton ‘trending in the right direction’ after tough 2023

Doug Pederson is optimistic that DaVon Hamilton will be back to himself in 2024 after his 2023 season was derailed.

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton is on the path back to full strength after his 2023 season was derailed by a non-football related back issue.

“All indications this offseason are that he’s trending in the right direction; he’s getting back,” Jaguars coach Doug Pederson told reporters earlier this week. “I’m excited for that and I know he is too. We missed that piece last year and, even though he played late [in the season], he just wasn’t the same.”

Hamilton received a contract extension last year and appeared primed for a breakout season when an infection from a spinal abscess sidelined him in August.

“A lot of stuff was going on,” Hamilton told Jaguars.com in December. “A lot of side effects were going on. I was in a weird place. This isn’t really a normal illness, or a normal infection people get. It was very strange. I feel very fortunate. There was a lot of stuff that could have happened. I could be not playing football permanently.”

Hamilton returned in October, but only played 30 snaps in two games before he was scratched for the next two. By the season’s end, Hamilton appeared in eight games but earned a dismal 36.2 grade from PFF — less than half his 72.6 grade from 2022.

Without much help from the 335-pound defensive tackle, the Jaguars struggled to generate much pressure from the interior as Josh Allen and Travon Walker combined for more than two-thirds of the team’s sack total. Jacksonville also allowed three of its last six opponents to rack up more than 150 rushing yards.

The Jaguars opened up the pocketbooks to add Arik Armstead to their defensive line to help fix those issues. But getting a renewed version of Hamilton would go a long way too.

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