Jaguars To Sign Tyson Alualu
Tyson Alualu is headed back to where his career started. The veteran defensive tackle is signing with the Jaguars, his agent Kenny Zuckerman announced on Twitter.
It’s a two-year deal worth $6MM for Alualu, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network tweeted. It’s a nice payday for a player that will turn 34 in May. It’s a familiar rate for Alualu, as each of his last three contracts signed have been two-year deals for about $6MM. The Cal product was the 10th overall pick of the Jags way back in 2010, and although he’s been a solid player he never really lived up to his draft status.
Alualu had a bit of a late career resurgence in Pittsburgh, and was widely praised for his work with the Steelers last year. He played about 44 percent of the defensive snaps in 2020 (on arguably the league’s best defense), and finished with 38 tackles, two sacks, and five passes defended. He received very strong marks from Pro Football Focus for his work as a run defender.
The big fella will now help man the middle of Urban Meyer’s first defense in Jacksonville. The Jags have been busy so far, and they just signed Shaquill Griffin to a big contract earlier this afternoon to anchor the secondary.
Jaguars To Sign Shaquill Griffin
Shaquill Griffin is heading to the Jaguars. The former Seahawks cornerback has agreed to a three-year, $40MM deal, as NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets.
It’s actually a three-year, $45MM deal with $29MM guaranteed, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Shortly before the news broke Rapoport tweeted that the Seahawks were making a “hard push” to retain Griffin, so they didn’t just let him walk out the door. A lot of people thought Seattle might tag their top corner to keep him in the fold but they of course did not.
Griffin had previously said he’d like to return to the Seahawks if the business side worked out, which likely means the Jags simply beat them out financially. This will be a bit of a homecoming for the Florida native, as Griffin was born in St. Petersburg and went to UCF for college.
A third-round pick of the Seahawks back in 2017, Griffin just wrapped up his rookie deal and is still only 25. He became an immediate starter in Seattle, and made the Pro Bowl in 2019. Last year he had 12 passes defended and three interceptions in 12 games.
He’ll now join a Jaguars secondary that has some promise, but is still very young. The team is likely hoping Griffin’s presence will help 2020 ninth overall pick C.J. Henderson take the next step.
Jaguars To Sign Jihad Ward
The Jaguars have agreed to sign former Ravens defensive end Jihad Ward (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The deal will reunite Ward with ex-Baltimore position coach Joe Cullen who now serves as the Jaguars’ defensive coordinator.
Ward will join former Bears standout Roy Robertson-Harris on the Jags’ revamped defensive line. The Jaguars also re-upped Dawuane Smoot earlier this week to maintain consistency and flexibility as they adjust their scheme.
Ward, a 6’5″, 290-pound lineman, entered the league in 2016 as a second-round pick of the Raiders. In 2018, he was traded to the Cowboys, but he missed their final cut. That led him to the Colts, where he was used sparingly over two seasons. Ward joined up with the Ravens in mid-2019 and cracked the starting lineup in 2020. Last year, he notched three sacks, four tackles for loss, and eight quarterback hits.
Jaguars To Sign Chris Manhertz
The Jaguars are staying busy. On Tuesday, tight end Chris Manhertz agreed to sign with Jacksonville on a two-year, $7.25MM deal (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). 
Manhertz is primarily a blocking tight end. After stops with the Bills and Saints, he found his way to the Panthers in 2016. In 2017, he found a regular role in the offense and got even more playing time while Greg Olsen was out with injuries. For his career, he has 70 starts with just 12 catches for 142 yards and one touchdown.
Manhertz’s deal will become officially official later this week, once the legal tampering period ends and free agency begins in earnest.
Jaguars To Re-Sign Sidney Jones
The Jaguars are re-signing cornerback Sidney Jones (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Terms of the deal are not yet known.
Jones was on track to be a first-round pick in 2017 before an Achilles tear at Washington’s pro day. The Eagles nabbed him at No. 43 overall, but he’s struggled to stay healthy ever since. After three seasons with the Birds, Jones joined the Jaguars last year.
Jones became one of the early standouts of Jacksonville’s secondary before injuries got in the way. Unfortunately, he’s yet to play a full pro season.
\Still, new head coach Urban Meyer sees Jones as a part of the solution in 2021 and possibly beyond. Through the first four weeks of the 2020 season, Pro Football Focus had him ranked as the very best cornerback in the NFL. He also enjoyed one of his best performances against the Texans in Week 5, including an interception off of Deshaun Watson. Then, he notched another INT against Aaron Rodgers.
All in all, Jones finished 2020 with 26 stops, two INTs, and nine passes defensed.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/15/21
Today’s “minor” moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Re-signed: P Andy Lee
Buffalo Bills
- Re-signed: LB Tyler Matakevich
Carolina Panthers
- Released: DT Zach Kerr
Dallas Cowboys
- Re-signed: WR Noah Brown
Houston Texans
- Signed: S Terrence Brooks, G Justin McCray, DT Vincent Taylor, CB Tremon Smith
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: S Rudy Ford
New England Patriots
- Re-signed: DT Carl Davis
New York Giants
- Re-signed: DT Austin Johnson
Minnesota Vikings
- Re-signed: Rashod Hill
Jaguars To Sign Carlos Hyde
The Jaguars have agreed to sign Carlos Hyde (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The former Seahawks running back will get a two-year, $6MM deal.
The veteran’s one-year stint with the Seahawks apparently improved his chances of securing a multiyear deal this time around. Hyde ultimately appeared in 10 games (one start) for Seattle, compiling 449 yards from scrimmage and four offensive touchdowns. The veteran was a 1,000-yard rusher as recently as 2019, when he ran for a career-high 1,070 yards with the Texans.
The Jaguars appear to have their long-term answer at running back in James Robinson, who ran for 1,070 yards during his rookie campaign. The 30-year-old Hyde will slide behind Robinson on the depth chart, although the Jaguars could turn to a variety of options at the position; the team is also rostering Ryquell Armstead, Devine Ozigbo, Craig Reynolds, and Nathan Cottrell.
As Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com observes, this move will reunite Hyde with his college coach, Urban Meyer. Hyde was a first-team All-Big Ten running back during his time at Ohio State.
Jaguars Sign S Rayshawn Jenkins
Rayshawn Jenkins is heading to Jacksonville. The veteran safety is signing a four-year deal with the Jaguars, according to ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio (via Twitter).
The 2017 fourth-round pick out of Miami (FL) had spent his entire four-year career with the Chargers. After playing as mostly a backup and special teamer during his first two years in the NFL, Jenkins emerged as a starter in 2019. He’s started each of his 31 regular season games over the past two years, compiling 92 tackles, eight passes defended, and five interceptions. The Chargers made an effort to retain the 27-year-old, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (on Twitter).
The Jaguars were reportedly hunting for safeties. We learned earlier today that the team was a suitor for John Johnson before the veteran signed with the Browns.
Despite striking out of Johnson, the Jaguars have had a busy day. The team signed defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris, wideout Phillip Dorsett, and return man Jamal Agnew.
Jaguars To Sign Phillip Dorsett
The Jaguars are set to sign Phillip Dorsett (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler). Terms of the deal are not yet known, but it’s likely of the low-cost, short-term variety. 
The former Patriots receiver made two trips to the Super Bowl (including a victory in Super Bowl LIII) during his time in New England. However, he struggled to climb the depth chart, as he hauled in only 73 total receptions for 881 yards and eight touchdowns in 45 games for the Patriots. In March of last year, he hooked on with the Seahawks, but lost the year to injury.
His most productive year came in 2016. In 15 games with a career-high 7 starts, Dorsett caught 33 receptions for 528 yards and a pair of touchdowns with the Colts. If he’s healthy, he’ll have a chance to support D.J. Chark, Laviska Shenault, Collin Johnson, and the rest of the group in Jacksonville.
Jaguars Re-Sign Dawuane Smoot
The Jaguars will re-sign defensive lineman Dawuane Smoot, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. It’ll be a two-year deal worth $10MM, including $5.25MM guaranteed (per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle on Twitter).
The Jaguars inked Roy Robertson-Harris earlier in the day but still found room to keep one of their own. Though he’s not a marquee name, new head coach Urban Meyer apparently liked Smoot’s ability to move around the line. Robertson-Harris is similarly versatile, but flexibility will help as the Jaguars will shift more towards a 3-4 set.
Smoot, a 2017 third-round pick, has appeared in 56 games for the Jaguars. In 2020, he was first-string for the first time as he made seven starts . For his career, he’s totaled 66 stops with 14 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks.