2023 NFL Free Agency: 3 Observations on the Jaguars' First-Wave Moves and Departures

How do we see the Jaguars' re-signing of Andrew Wingard and the loss of Arden Key? We break it down below.

Entering March, most figured the Jacksonville Jaguars were going to make few waves during the first days of free-agency. 

So far, the Jaguars have met that expectation to a tee. 

Through the first several days of free agency, the Jaguars' moves have been mostly limited. They re-signed safety Andrew Wingard to a cheap three-year deal, re-signed depth cornerback Tevaughn Campbell, and have seen two key contributors walk in Jawaan Taylor and Arden Key. 

Otherwise, the Jaguars have seen their names kept out of the headlines completely this March. In fact, there haven't even been ripples made by the Jaguars. Few teams have been more inactive, which is exactly what was expected. 

So, what all do we make of the Jaguars' free agency period so far? From departures to their own re-signings, we break it down below. 

Why Andrew Wingard's re-signing goes beyond the field

If anyone predicted a few years ago that Andrew Wingard would be a key re-signing for the Jaguars, they likely would have drawn some laughs. But that is exactly what Wingard has proven to be, with Wingard signing a three-year deal this week to remain a lynchpin of the Jaguars' locker room and special teams unit, as well as providing insurance as a No. 3 safety. 

During the NFL Scouting Combine, the Jaguars frequently said how important it was to retain core players. They also made a point to state that core players doesn't just mean starters -- it means players who can serve multiple roles on and off the field, all while showing that it is possible to be proud to be a Jaguar. Wingard is the exemplary example of that. Every winning franchise has these types of players in droves, and Wingard has proven to be one of Jacksonville's. 

Arden Key is a tough loss to shoulder, but the Jaguars may have already prepared for it

Anyone attempting to downplay the significance of losing Arden Key is off-base. Key isn't a star player or even a proven every-down starter, but he is an effective and versatile pass-rusher who can be a glue player and make up for deficiencies up and down the pass-rush rotation. Add in the fact that he will be just 27 in Week 1 and it is easy to see why the Titans gave him a pay-day, even with just 4.5 sacks in 2022. 

Key was a good player who the Jaguars wanted back, but it is also clear the Jaguars weren't prepared to pay him to be more than the rotational, sub-package player he was. This doesn't mean he won't be a significant loss for a team that was among last in sacks last year and will now have to rely heavily on Travon Walker developing. But it does mean the Jaguars at least seem to have a plan for replacing Key's pass-rush production. 

For one, the Jaguars have set the roster up to allow them to use the No. 24 pick on virtually any position they want, including pass-rusher. Not every pass-rusher in the draft has the inside/outside versatility Key has, but the Jaguars haven't forced themselves into a corner. 

Secondly, the Jaguars extended Roy Robertson-Harris earlier this offseason, which already fills part of Key's departure. Robertson-Harris wasn't used as much as a nickel pass-rusher as Key was in 2022, but he got his chance when Dawuane Smoot went down with injury over the final several weeks of the season. Robertson-Harris thrived with a bigger role as a pass-rusher, which could help the Jaguars believe he can step in to help replace what Key provided. 

Why cornerback should still be priority No. 1

The Jaguars may have internal replacements and options for most of their free agency departures, but the same can not be said for cornerback, even after the re-signing of Tevaughn Campbell. Campbell is a player the Jaguars clearly like and want to keep developing, but they can't afford to enter training camp with him near the top of the depth chart like he is today. He offers good competition for their young cornerbacks in Montaric Brown and Gregory Junior, but cornerback should still obviously be the Jaguars' first priority. 

There are a lot of reasons to not overreact about the cornerback room, however. For one, the Jaguars still have the rest of free agency and the entire 2023 draft to restock the cornerback room, even if players such as Emmanuel Moseley and Tavierre Thomas off the board. While the Jaguars will need to be creative with their cap space to make it happen, they need to leave free-agency with a veteran cornerback. That doesn't mean it needs to happen today, but it is fair to say it needs to happen by the end of the month.