Author: Dallas Robinson

2) Add to the defensive front: The Jaguars certainly haven’t been shy about investing in their defensive line during the past few offseasons, as they’ve signed or drafted Malik Jackson, Jared Odrick, Dante Fowler Jr., Yannick Ngakoue, Sheldon Day, Michael Bennett, and Jonathan Woodard since 2015. But the unit, which ranked 19th in sacks and 17th in adjusted sack rate, will likely see a good deal of overhaul before the 2017 campaign gets underway, as Odrick and Roy Miller look like clear release candidates, while contributors Abry Jones and Tyson Alualu are unrestricted free agents.

Jones, 25, didn’t generate any sacks from the interior last year, but he did perform well against the run and graded as the NFL’s No. 21 defensive tackle per PFF. Jacksonville clearly values him, as the club placed a second-round restricted free agent tender worth $2.553MM on Jones prior to last season. He’s worth at least that amount as a free agent, and could see his salary tick up into the $3-4MM range. Odrick and Miller, meanwhile, are scheduled to count for more than $12.5MM on the Jaguars’ 2017 salary cap, an untenable total given the duo played a combined 417 snaps last season. Because Jacksonville rarely employs extravagant signing bonuses, Odrick and Miller’s dead money charges would amount to pocket change.

Even if they cut bait with some of their overpaid defenders, the Jaguars will still have a good group of lineman up front, but another body — preferably, a player with the versatility to move between tackle and end — would be ideal. Luckily for Jacksonville, that prospect exists in the former of Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen, whom many mock drafts, including that of Rotoworld’s Josh Norris, have sent to the Jags at pick No. 4. In his ranking of the draft’s top 50 players, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com says Allen — whom ranks fifth overall — has “very strong, violent hands and he generates a lot of push with his bull rush,” but noted that Allen is more of a complete defender than a straight pass-rusher.

Allen isn’t the only defensive lineman who could be available to Jacksonville, and though it’s unlikely, a scenario does exist where the Jaguars could have a shot at Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett, who is universally ranked as the draft’s top player. Each of the three teams selecting ahead of the Jaguars — Cleveland, San Francisco, and Chicago — could use a quarterback, so if signal-callers come off the board at pick Nos. 1, 2, and 3, Garrett could be there for Jacksonville.

Again, that situation is pretty implausible, but the Jags could instead be interested in Solomon Thomas (Stanford), Taco Charlton (Michigan), or Derek Barnett (Tennessee), either at fourth overall or later in the round following a trade down. Clemson’s Carlos Watkins could also be on the table given that new Jacksonville defensive line coach Marion Hobby spent the past six seasons with the Tigers.

Coaching connections could factor into the Jaguars’ free agent (or trade) pursuits, as well. Jacksonville recently hired Mark Collins — who spent the past two years coaching the Jets’ outside linebackers — as its new LBs coach, and his familiarity with DL/LB Sheldon Richardson could potentially lead to trade speculation. The Jaguars weren’t among the clubs that expressed interest in Richardson last season, and although New York reportedly asked for a first-round pick in exchange for its mercurial pass rusher, that price tag could have since softened. If the Jets are now willing to accept, say, an early third-rounder for Richardson, a deal could make some sense.

Free agency offers a variety of line options depending on what the Jaguars are looking for. If the club wants a big body to stick in the middle of the defense and play next to Jackson, Johnathan Hankins, Brandon Williams, and Bennie Logan will be available. Interior rushing free agents include Nick Fairley and Charles Johnson, while the list of edge rushers on the market includes Melvin Ingram, Jabaal Sheard, or, if Jacksonville is willing to break the bank, Jason Pierre-Paul. Veteran defender Chris Baker stands out as a possible target, as well, given that new Jags coach Perry Fewell was with the Redskins for the past two years.

3) Figure out who’s playing opposite Jalen Ramsey: Jacksonville’s pass defense was among its better attributes in 2016, as the club ranked fifth in passing yards allowed and 16th in both opponent quarterback rating and pass defense DVOA. Jalen Ramsey fell into the Jaguars’ lap at pick No. 5, and proceeded to play like a shutdown cornerback for much of the season, while free agent signee Prince Amukamara produced dividends after signing a one-year, $5.5MM contract.

The Jaguars figure to see some changes in the secondary, however, as Amukamara is now a pending free agent. Entering his age-28 season, and coming off a campaign in which he graded out as an above-average corner per PFF, Amukamara is probably looking at his last chance to land a hefty free agent contract. A three- or four-year deal at $7MM per season isn’t out the question, and it’s unclear if Jacksonville would be willing to meet that demand. Elsewhere, 2015 free agent addition Davon House appears to be an obvious release candidate given his $6MM cap charges in 2017-18 and his limited playing time (25% of snaps) in 2016.

If Amukamara doesn’t return, Jacksonville needs to find a defender to play opposite Ramsey, and it doesn’t figure to spend much money on the position given that it’s already investing ample funds along the defensive line, at linebacker, and at safety. If they’re searching for bargains on the free agent market, the Jaguars won’t be in the running for the available elite corners, a list that includes Trumaine Johnson, A.J. Bouye, and Stephon Gilmore. Cowboys cornerbacks Morris Claiborne and Brandon Carr could both be on the Jags’ radar depending on cost, while the club could also take a shot on veteran Sam Shields, whom the Packers earlier this week. Marcus Cooper, Leodis McKelvin, and Coty Sensabaugh represent options even further down the free agent rankings.

The Jaguars don’t seem likely to use a high first-round pick for the second consecutive season, but Ohio State’s Marshon Lattimore could conceivably be a fit at fourth overall. The second round is a more probable area for Jacksonville to expend resources on its secondary, and given that defensive backs are plentiful in this year’s draft, the Jags should be able to find a decent corner. After Lattimore, Teez Tabor (Florida), Tre’Davious White (LSU), Sidney Jones (Washington), Quincy Wilson (Florida), and Marlon Humphrey (Alabama) rank as the next-best options in the seconday, according to Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN.com, and at least one of those prospects figures to fall to the part of Day 2.

Safety could also be a concern for Jacksonville this offseason, as fourth-year pro Jonathan Cyprien broke out just in time for free agency, grading as the league’s No. 7 safety per PFF. The 26-year-old figures to be one of the more attractive safeties on the open market, joining a free agent class that also includes the likes of Eric Berry, Tony Jefferson, and Barry Church. The Jaguars should make an effort to extend him, but if that fails, Donte Whitner and/or Duke Ihenacho could be options given that new Jacksonville secondary coach Perry Fewell worked with the pair in Washington last year. Adding a safety early in the draft is also a possibility, and Todd McShay of ESPN.com recently mocked LSU’s Jamal Adams to the Jaguars at fourth overall.