Moeller: Expect A Quiet Free-Agency Period With Maybe a Few Surprises
Unlike most teams, the Jaguars should have a relatively quiet free-agency period.
There won't be a huge couple of shopping days this week due to their lack of major space under the cap. Instead, general manager James Gladstone will need to fill some holes and create some depth with April’s draft and cutdown leftovers.
The Jags did restructure the contracts of guard Patrcik Mekari and cornerback Jourdan Lewis that did open up some cap space. Still, they won’t be big spenders.
Fortunately, the Jags have a solid structure on both sides of the ball in place. They also have the luxury of Travis Hunter, who is currently penciled in to play in the secondary. But Hunter, who only played seven games before his season ended last year, should get some reps at wide receiver or possibly in the backfield.
Yet, the defending AFC South champs likely will lose two key pieces.
Edge rusher/linebacker Devin Lloyd and running back Travis Etienne have been targeted to walk in free agency since last season.
The Jags declined their fifth-year option of Lloyd, and they also didn’t use the franchise tag on Lloyd. He became a star in new defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile’s system. In fact, he was a second-team All-Pro.
Lloyd will enter a loaded market, and he will probably command a deal in the range of three years, $51 million. The lone way he’ll stay in Jacksonville would be to accept a hometown discount. Yet,, it appears that the Jags want to spread their cap money around.
Etienne’s future still is in doubt.
There’s plenty of speculation that he could be brought back on an incentive deal, but like Lloyd, there could be plenty of suitors for him.
The Jags are high on second-year backs Brayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen, and Gladstone will supplement through the draft.
Jacksonville will bring back cornerback Montaric Brown and linebacker Dennis Gardeck, who both should be in their price range.
It should be a relatively quiet number of days on the free-agency front, but there will be plenty of action ahead in April’s draft.
