The Jacksonville Jaguars find themselves at a crossroads as another NFL season comes to an end. They finished 9-8 and lost out on the 2023-24 playoffs. With a bright young core and a ravenous crowd eager for success, General Manager Trent Baalke must make important decisions during the next free agency period. The supporters want him to strengthen their roster and lead the team to greater success. Here, we look at four clever free agency additions who might help the Jaguars go from contenders to champions.
Entering the new season with lofty expectations following a hopeful 2022 campaign, the Jaguars grappled with inconsistency despite sporadic displays of brilliance throughout the season. Sure, quarterback Trevor Lawrence led a potent offense. That said, injuries and execution lapses hindered sustained momentum. On the defensive front, resilience was evident, especially against the run. However, the team struggled with depth and consistency against formidable passing attacks.
As we said, the Jaguars narrowly missed the playoffs last season. In the previous year, they clinched the AFC South with a 9-8 record after winning their final five regular-season games. However, after starting the 2023-2024 season strongly with an 8-3 record, they stumbled in the final stretch. They lost five of their last six games while the Houston Texans secured the AFC South title.
The Jaguars wasted no time as the regular season concluded. They initiated their offseason by dismissing several coaches, including defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell. He was succeeded by Ryan Nielsen. With an estimated $16.4 million in salary cap space, the Jaguars seem to have ample room to target key free agents this offseason.
Here we will look at the four sneaky good NFL free agents the Jacksonville Jaguars need to sign during the 2024 offseason.
In Jacksonville’s receiving corps, Christian Kirk served capably in the slot. Meanwhile, Calvin Ridley fits more into the role of a Z-receiver at this stage of his career. Tee Higgins, on the other hand, embodies the big-bodied X-receiver archetype. He can potentially amplify deep passing options for Trevor Lawrence and offer a reliable target in the red zone. That’s where the Jaguars struggled significantly in 2023. Having shared the field with Lawrence during their time at Clemson, Higgins could bring back that dynamic duo to Jacksonville.
Despite a challenging 2023 season marked by injuries to both himself and his starting quarterback, Higgins remains a viable option. With the Jaguars poised to lose a substantial portion of their wide receiver utilization this offseason, Higgins could emerge as a long-term solution. Higgins’ 42 catches for 656 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games last season also underscore his solid performance. His potential role as the primary WR1 for Lawrence could reignite their college days connection. Remember that they previously had 18 touchdowns and over 1,600 receiving yards between 2018-2019.
Kendall Fuller, CB
Beyond cornerback Darious Williams, the Jaguars’ secondary struggled to contain opposing receivers. Kendall Fuller of the Washington Commanders emerges as a playmaking cornerback. Keep in mind that he tallied two fumble recoveries and a pair of pick-sixes back in 2022. Additionally, he showcases prowess in run support. In 2023, he ranked fourth on the Commanders with 79 tackles. Consider also the struggles of the Jaguars’ number-two corner Tyson Campbell. He allowed a 130.4 passer rating in coverage. As such, any addition to the cornerback position would represent an improvement for the Jaguars. Adding Fuller should be a no-brainer decision.
