2023 Free Agency: Prioritizing the Jaguars' Impending Free Agents
In a little over a month, the future of over a dozen Jacksonville Jaguars from last year's 2022 squad will be known.
The Jaguars have 18 players set to be some type of free agent (unrestricted, exclusive rights, restricted) on March 15 at 4 p.m. 12 of those players are unrestricted free agents, which means the Jaguars have to either re-sign or lose the player, potentially for good.
"I think you’re always looking to keep as many players in the nest as you can," Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke said last week.
"You work hard to draft these guys or to secure them through various methods, whether it’s free agency or the draft, college free agency, a lot of different ways these guys come onto the team. Once they’ve proven themselves, not only on the field, but in the locker room, those are the core guys you want to build around.”
Of the 12 players set to be unrestricted free agents in a month, which of those are the most important to retain? And which can the Jaguars likely find a way around re-signing as they look to get under the 2023 cap? We examine below.
Top priorities: Players worth exploring all options for to retain them
1) TE Evan Engram: The Jaguars said when they signed Evan Engram that they originally envisioned a multi-year deal for Engram last March, and it is easy to see why. It is even easier to see why Engram opted for a one-year prove-it deal, with the former first-round pick coming off the best year of his career and a year in which he proved to be one of the most important pieces of the Jaguars' changing culture.
Whether it is using the $11.345 million franchise tag on him or signing him to a Jonnu Smith/David Njoku-level deal that pays him close to $12.5 million per year, Engram should be a priority for the Jaguars to keep because there is the gift of knowing. The Jaguars know Engram fits on and off the field. They know they can get production out of him. They know how to use him. They know he has a good connection with Trevor Lawrence, which should only be better in 2023. They don't know any of this about any other tight end available to them in 2023, so it makes sense to make Engram the top priority.
2) OT Jawan Taylor: Taylor has a legit argument to be No. 1 on this list when you consider his age and position. Taylor will be just 25 in Week 1 in 2023 and already has four full seasons of starts under his belt, proving to be one of the most durable and reliable Jaguars' on the roster since he was a second-round pick in 2019. Taylor is coming off a career year in which you could argue he was the Jaguars' best overall offensive lineman, and starting tackles don't grow on trees.
The only knock against a scenario in which the Jaguars keep Taylor is that they already have a cheap replacement on the roster in offensive tackle Walker Little. Little is more of a natural left tackle, but he competed with Taylor for the right tackle job this fall and nearly won it. Little is a starting tackle, and spending on Taylor would mean pushing him to the bench while paying big-money for two other tackles.
3) DL Arden Key: No pass-rusher was more efficient for the Jaguars in 2022 than Arden Key. While playing mostly as a rotational player and sub-package edge rusher, Key led the Jaguars' defensive line and edge rushers in pass-rush win-rate and was second on the team in pressures and quarterback hits despite not being an every-down player.
Key is a unique player whose skill-set does not fit every defense, but he clearly fits into what Jacksonville does along their defensive line. Considering the interest he has shown in returning to Jacksonville, it makes sense for both sides to work something out this offseason.
Medium priorities: Makes sense to retain, but not a dealbreaker
4) DL Dawuane Smoot: One of the most productive defenders the Jaguars' have developed in recent years, Dawuane Smoot was on his way to another productive season as a flexible pass-rusher until an Achilles injury in Week 16. Smoot likely will see the same timeline James Robinson saw last year, putting a potential return for him closer to Week 1 than to training camp. Despite this, Smoot is someone the Jaguars should still look to retain when you consider his situation. Coming off an injury, Jacksonville makes more sense for Smoot than anywhere else, and the Jaguars know enough about Smoot to be confident in his ability to bounce-back from the injury.
5) CB Tre Herndon: One of the more under-appreciated members of the Jaguars' roster, slot cornerback Tre Herndon is someone the Jaguars should look to retain for depth purposes. He was the best nickel cornerback on the roster in 2022, counting Darious Williams. He is a good tackler, blitzer and run defender who can hold his own in coverage as long as he isn't drawing a No. 1 receiver like he did vs. the Cowboys. If the Jaguars let Herndon walk, they will need to add two new nickel corners instead of just one. Herndon is a solid depth piece.
6) S Andrew Wingard: Another key depth defender has been safety Andrew Wingard, though his value may come as much on special teams as it does on defense. The Jaguars' special teams units improved significantly in 2022 and Wingard was a big reason for that, serving as one of the core special teams players and giving the Jaguars a veteran who can help on each coverage or blocking team.
Low priorities: Makes more sense to let them hit free agency
7) TE Chris Manhertz: It would be a plus for the Jaguars to bring Chris Manhertz back in 2023 because he is an excellent blocker, but his lack of usage as a pass-catcher is such an obvious tell for defenses that it would have to be a cheap investment.
8) WR Marvin Jones: One of the leaders of the offense the last two years, Marvin Jones moved into the No. 4 receiving role in 2022 behind Christian Kirk, Evan Engram and Zay Jones. With Calvin Ridley coming into the fold, it makes sense to let Jones move on.
9) DL Adam Gotsis: Adam Gotsis has been a valuable run defender for the Jaguars for several years now, but the Jaguars may want to get younger up front as they move into a key transition for the defense.
10) QB C.J. Beathard: C.J. Beathard has been a key mentor for Trevor Lawrence the last two years, but it is worth remembering that it was Urban Meyer's staff, not Doug Pederson's, that added him as a backup. He didn't have a great showing in extended action in the preseason and regular-season this year in Pederson's system.
11) DL Corey Peters: Corey Peters had an inspired performance against the Titans in Week 18, but it is likely time to get younger along the defensive line.
12) TE Dan Arnold: Other than the occasional tight end screen, Dan Arnold wasn't utilized much in 2022. There just aren't enough footballs to go around in the offense with all of the other pass-catching options, and his lack of blocking makes it hard to play him otherwise.
