Jacksonville Jaguars set to sign CB Davon House: Grading the deal
Perhaps it should come as no surprise given the excess money they had to spend, but the Jacksonville Jaguars are making a run at the title of Offseason Champion. The latest reported addition: CB Davon House, who will join TE Julius Thomas, OT Jermey Parnell and DT Jared Odrick in Jacksonville once free agency officially opens on Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.
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House will receive $6.25 million per year on his contract, the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported. The length of that deal and the guaranteed money included remain to be seen.
The 25-year-old House is one of two Packers cornerbacks who commanded free-agent attention—veteran Tramon Williams being the other. House is a less-proven, higher-upside play than his former teammate, having made just 14 starts over four seasons with the Packers.
He does, however, very much fit the mold of what Jacksonville head coach Gus Bradley wants in a cornerback. House (6'0", 195 pounds) brings decent size to the position and, more importantly, plays a physical game. Barring any additional moves, House should have an opportunity to step in as the No. 1 cornerback on a pass defense that allowed nearly 3,900 yards last season.
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"We’re very prepared, especially on the defensive side of the ball," Jaguars GM David Caldwell said of the front office's approach to free agency. "Any year is good to have cap space, but you have to be wise. Just because you have a lot of money, you have to be wise to not mortgage the future. ... If there is a player we want, we’re going to do what we need to do to get him."
Caldwell has backed those words repeatedly early in the free-agent process. House stands to be the fourth pickup and the second tabbed for a major role on defense.
Grade: B-plus
House, who has yet to play 500 snaps in a single season, should expect a significant leap in responsibilities. But the Jaguars were far from the only team interested in signing him as a starting cornerback, so many in the league believe that House is an ascending prospect.
In general, cornerbacks are going to come with elevated price tags this offseason, as has been the recent trend. House's $6.25 million per-year salary average is up there given his limited starting experience, yet not too over the top.
Again, this caveat can be repeated for the Jaguars: They have the money available to overpay some for the guys they want.
