Jaguars Not Shopping Gardner Minshew “At This Point”
The Jaguars are widely expected to draft Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 overall pick, which would take Gardner Minshew out of the starting lineup. Minshew is reportedly drawing trade interest, but head coach Urban Meyer says he’s not looking to deal the quarterback — at least, not right now (via NFL.com). 
“At this point, no,” Meyer responded. “At this point, I know Gardner a little bit. He came in yesterday. We had a good visit. That’s the second time I’ve spent time with him. This is all kind of new to me. I’m used to spending about five, six hours a day with our quarterbacks — that’s January, February, to get your quarterback ready to go, and you can’t do that in the NFL.”
“But there is a lot of anticipation about the first pick, and I understand there is a lot of conversation out there. But there has been no decisions made. Gardner has done some very good things here in Jacksonville. And he’s a competitive maniac, which I really appreciate that about him. So there have been no decisions made. Yesterday was the first lengthy meeting we’ve had, and we’re going to continue that here for the next few weeks.”
In 2019, Minshew went 6-6 as the Jaguars’ starter while setting franchise records in yards (3,271) and touchdowns (21) for rookie QBs. Last year, he flip-flopped with Mike Glennon amidst the Jags’ 15-game losing streak. All in all, he was 1-7 in his starts with 2,259 yards and 16 touchdowns against five interceptions. Of course, the Jaguars’ woes cannot be pinned solely on Minshew and he still has a 37-11 TD-INT ratio for his career. With the better QB2s already off the board, it stands to reason that teams will be willing to give up decent draft capital for Minshew. Meanwhile, with Lawrence likely en route to Jacksonville, it would be surprising to see him stay.
Jaguars OL Cam Robinson Signs Franchise Tender
Cam Robinson is locked in on a one-year deal. The Jaguars offensive tackle has accepted his franchise tag, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). The 2021 franchise value for offensive linemen is $13.754MM.
It was a bit of a surprise when the Jaguars slapped Robinson with the franchise tag earlier this month. The organization was expected to let the lineman test the open waters, but they changed course and decided to retain him at the top-five average for his position.
The 2017 second-round pick has spent his entire career with the Jaguars, starting each of his 37 games. He started 16 games for the first time in his career in 2020, appearing in a career-high 94 percent of his team’s offensive snaps. However, Pro Football Focus assigned him an overall grade of 61.7, which placed him in a tie for 59th in the NFL.
Considering the fact that Robinson is only 25, there’s a good chance that the Jaguars franchised the lineman based on potential, not production. Plus, the team may simply be looking for some continuity on the offensive line as they welcome in presumed number-one pick Trevor Lawrence under center.
Ravens Acquire TE Josh Oliver From Jaguars
The Jaguars have agreed to trade tight end Josh Oliver to the Ravens in exchange for a conditional draft pick, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (via Twitter).
Jacksonville selected Oliver in the third round of the 2019 draft, so the club had reasonably high hopes for him. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to shake the injury bug. He got his first start as a pro in Week 11 of the 2019 campaign, but he sustained small fractures in his back during that game and missed the rest of the season. Then, last August, he underwent surgery on a broken bone in his foot and missed all of 2020.
So the San Jose State product has played a grand total of four games in his NFL career and has three catches to his credit. Still, he turns 24 in just a few days and is controllable through 2022, and his size, athleticism, and upside make him an intriguing buy-low candidate for the Ravens.
Baltimore relies heavily on its tight ends, so even with Mark Andrews and Nick Boyle ahead of him on the depth chart, Oliver should have some opportunities in the Ravens’ offense. Boyle has developed a reputation as one of the best blocking TEs in the game, but he has also become a reliable target for quarterback Lamar Jackson, and his presence was sorely missed when a knee injury knocked him out for the season in November. So, if nothing else, Oliver will be worthwhile depth.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/17/21
Today’s “minor” moves:
Chicago Bears
- Re-signed: S Deon Bush
Cincinnati Bengals
- Re-signed: CB Tony Brown
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB Tae Davis
Indianapolis Colts
- Claimed off waivers (from Texans): DT Andrew Brown
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Released: DT Gabe Wright
Miami Dolphins
- Re-signed: OL Adam Pankey
- Signed: WR Robert Foster
New England Patriots
- Re-signed: DL Cody Davis
New York Jets
- Re-signed: RB Josh Adams
Philadelphia Eagles
- Re-signed: RB Adrian Killins
San Francisco 49ers
- Re-signed: CB Briean Boddy-Calhoun, TE Daniel Helm
Tennessee Titans
- Re-signed: TE Anthony Firkser
Gardner Minshew Drawing Trade Interest
The Jaguars are fielding calls on Gardner Minshew. Expected to be replaced by presumptive No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence, the Jaguars’ primary starting quarterback over the past two seasons has drawn interest, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
A run of bridge QBs/high-end backups have signed already. Cam Newton, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Andy Dalton, Jameis Winston and Jacoby Brissett agreed to deals recently. Minshew profiles as a player who could start for a team while it figures out a longer-term strategy.
While the popular sixth-round pick was at the helm for part of Jacksonville’s 15-game losing streak last season, he has flashed since becoming an unexpected starter as a rookie. Minshew has thrown 37 touchdown passes compared to 11 interceptions. Despite the Jags having given Nick Foles a lucrative deal in 2019, Minshew has been the team’s most productive QB over the past two years.
Two years remain on Minshew’s rookie contract. A team that acquires the former Washington State standout would have him under contract on base salaries of $850K and $965K. That would be quite the bargain, given what the other bridge-type quarterbacks have signed for thus far this week.
Minshew could also serve as Lawrence’s backup, but the Jags do have Jake Luton on the team as well. Urban Meyer also could seek to bring in his own QB2, and Minshew may well fetch a price better than the sixth-round cost the Jaguars initially paid.
Jaguars Cut Rashaan Melvin
The Jaguars are releasing Rashaan Melvin (Twitter link via PFT). The veteran cornerback opted out of last season, so he’ll look to suit up for the first time since 2019. 
[RELATED: Jaguars Sign Shaq Griffin]
Melvin has spent time with eight different NFL teams. He joined the Jaguars in free agency after spending 2019 with the Lions. His one-year deal – worth $2.25MM – tolled into 2021, before it was shredded.
The former UDFA started 12 games for Detroit in 2019. The Jaguars could have used him last year to support D.J. Hayden and first-round pick C.J. Henderson. This year, they’ve got ex-Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin to bolster the secondary.
Melvin’s best seasons came with the Colts. After his breakout year in 2016, Melvin delivered 36 tackles, three interceptions, and 13 passes defended. Pro Football Focus ranked him 17th among 120 eligible cornerbacks that year, but he’s now years removed from his best work, or even suiting up.
Contract Details: Patriots, Moseley, Golden, Bills, Hyde
Some assorted contract details from around the NFL:
- LB Matt Judon, Patriots: $18MM signing bonus. Salaries: $1MM (2021), $11MM (2022), $11MM (2023), $9.5MM (2024). Up to $1MM in per-game roster bonuses, $500K All-Pro incentive between 2022 and 2024. Via ESPN’s Field Yates on Twitter.
- TE Jonnu Smith, Patriots: $15MM signing bonus. Salaries: $1MM (2021), $9MM (2022), $10MM (2023), $11MM (2024). Up to $1MM in per-game roster bonuses. Via Yates on Twitter.
- CB Emmanuel Moseley, 49ers: $500K per-game active roster bonus in 2022. Up to $750K play-time base salary escalator in 2022. Via Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson on Twitter.
- LB Markus Golden, Cardinals: two years, $5MM, $2.5MM guaranteed. $1.5MM signing bonus. Salaries: $1MM (2021, guaranteed), $2MM (2022). Up to $250K in annual per-game roster bonuses, up to $2MM in annual sack incentives. Via Wilson on Twitter.
- OT Daryl Williams, Bills: $13.75MM guaranteed, $5.4MM signing bonus. Salaries: $1MM (2021), $6.725MM (2022), $5.475MM (2023). $3MM roster bonus in 2021, $1.25MM roster bonus in 2023. Per-game roster bonuses: $250K (2021), $300K (2022-2023). $100K annual workout bonuses. $2.2MM in additional annual incentives. Via Yates on Twitter.
- RB Carlos Hyde, Jaguars: Two years, $4.5MM. $1.25MM base salary in 2021 is fully guaranteed. $900K signing bonus. Via TheMMQB’s Albert Breer on Twitter.
Saints Trade Malcom Brown To Jaguars
The Saints have found a trade partner for Malcom Brown after all. New Orleans is sending the defensive lineman to the Jaguars, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).
We first heard about two weeks ago that the team was shopping Brown. Then we heard last week that they were planning on releasing him after apparently finding no takers. The Jags seemingly swooped in at the last minute to avoid a release, and Saints GM Mickey Loomis was rewarded for his patience.
Brown had been set to make about $5MM with the Saints in 2021, but now after this deal the Jags are giving him a new two-year contract worth $11MM with $8MM guaranteed, Rapoport tweets. Brown went from almost getting cut, to now getting a new team, a raise, and some more security.
New Orleans signed Brown to a three-year deal worth $15MM in March of 2019. The last pick of the first-round by the Patriots back in 2015, Brown was solid enough but never lived up to his draft pedigree, and New England declined his fifth-year option. He started 29 games for the Saints the past two years, and will likely be a big part of Urban Meyer’s run defense in Jacksonville.
It’s yet another veteran addition for the Jaguars, who have been busy the past 24 hours. They just signed receiver Marvin Jones Jr, and have already added guys like cornerback Shaquill Griffin, defensive tackle Tyson Alualu, and safety Rayshawn Jenkins to the defense.
Jaguars, WR Marvin Jones Agree To Deal
Marvin Jones indicated he wanted to join a contending team in free agency. But the former Bengals and Lions wideout will instead join a rebuilding project in Jacksonville.
The Jaguars are signing the nine-year veteran wide receiver, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. It’s a two-year, $14.5MM deal that includes $9.2MM fully guaranteed, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
We heard back in mid-February that Jones was interested in joining the Jaguars. A coaching hire may have made a difference in bringing the veteran target to north Florida. Jones will follow former Lions assistant Darrell Bevell to Jacksonville. The Jags hired the ex-Detroit interim HC as its offensive coordinator earlier this year.
This week has not featured an aggressive wide receiver market, and Jones will fall short of the $8MM-per-year deal he inked with the Lions in 2016. Jones will join Phillip Dorsett in trekking to Jacksonville, though the former should be expected to start. Jones, Dorsett and other Jaguars are expected to be joined by Trevor Lawrence soon.
In three of Jones’ five seasons with Detroit, he exceeded 900 receiving yards. His best season came in 2017, when the Lions featured he, Golden Tate and then-rookie Kenny Golladay. Even at age 30 last year, Jones reached 978 yards. He totaled nine receiving touchdowns in each of the past two seasons and will add a proven target for the Jaguars, who exited last season without much in the way of those.
Jacksonville has D.J. Chark under contract for one more season, with receiver/occasional backfield cog Laviska Shenault showing flashes last year. The team that entered this week with the NFL’s most cap space may not be done at receiver, but Jones represents a nice addition who will stand to help a rookie quarterback assimilate.
NFL Contract Details: Bolts, Griffin, Broncos
With the tampering period in full swing, here are some of the latest contract details to emerge:
- Chargers C Corey Linsley: Five years, $62.5MM. $26MM guaranteed, $13MM signing bonus. Linsley is due $26MM through 2022, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets. Linsley’s 2021 base salary ($4MM) is fully guaranteed. His 2022 base salary ($9MM) is guaranteed for injury at signing; it becomes fully guaranteed if he is on the Bolts’ roster on Day 2 of the 2022 league year, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets.
- Jaguars CB Shaquill Griffin: Three years, $40MM. $23.5MM fully guaranteed, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets. $12MM signing bonus, base salaries of $1MM, $11.5MM and $11.5MM. Griffin is due a $1MM roster bonus in 2023, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
- Lions DE Romeo Okwara: Three years, $39MM. $14MM signing bonus, $20MM fully guaranteed. Another $5MM will be guaranteed by next March, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter).
- Broncos DL Shelby Harris: Three years, $27MM. $9MM signing bonus. Harris’ $1MM 2021 base salary and $5.5MM of his $7.5MM 2022 base are guaranteed, Wilson tweets.
- Patriots DB Jalen Mills: Four years, $24MM. $2.5MM signing bonus, $3MM base salary in 2021, $4.5MM in ’22. Williams will have $3.5MM of his 2022 base salary fully guaranteed, Breer tweets.
- Panthers OL Cameron Erving: Two years, $10MM. This contract includes base salaries of $990K and $2.01MM, with Wilson tweeting a March 2022 roster bonus of $2.5MM is guaranteed.
- 49ers CB Jason Verrett: One year, $5.5MM. $2MM signing bonus, $2.5MM base salary, $1MM in per-game roster bonuses. Another $1MM is available via incentives, Yates tweets.