Jaguars Sign Allen Hurns To Extension
6:21pm: The Jags made Hurns’ deal official, Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union tweets.
4:28pm: The Jaguars and wide receiver Allen Hurns have agreed to a contract extension that will average more than $10MM per season, according to Pro Football Talk (on Twitter). With escalators, Hurns can earn as much as $11MM per year, Mike Florio of PFT reports.
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com confirms the $40MM+ pact for Hurns, tweeting that it is a four-year deal for the Jags’ No. 2 wideout that contains four new years an $20MM in guarantees. Although he came into the league with the same draft class as receivers who aren’t yet allowe
d to sign long-term extensions, Hurns can because those rules do not apply to undrafted players. So, this loophole will oddly give the UDFA gem financial security before the rest of the star-studded 2014 receiver class, which included Odell Beckham, Jarvis Landry, Sammy Watkins and Jacksonville’s No. 1 receiver, Allen Robinson.
The 24-year-old wideout wasn’t set to become an RFA until March of 2017 and, under the terms of his previous agreement with the north-Florida franchise, would not have been a UFA until the following spring.
So, it’s an early payday for Hurns after he enjoyed a breakout season in 2015 in joining Robinson in compiling 1,000-yard slates. After quickly establishing himself as a key performer in a rebuilding Jags offense in ’14 with 677 yards, Hurns exploded for 1,031 and 10 touchdown receptions in 2015.
Jacksonville came into Thursday with a league-most $49.3MM in cap space, with Hurns’ previous rookie deal set to take up barely $600K of it going into his third and final season of a contract he signed as a UDFA. Hurns’ new deal will not only vault from from a status that saw him as the Jaguars’ lowest-paid starter to one that will place him high in the receiver hierarchy in terms of AAV. Only 10 receivers earn more than $10MM annually, with the line of demarcation residing between Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson.
So, a clear bar has been set for Robinson, assuming he can continue on course as Jacksonville’s No. 1 target, and potential 2017 free agent Emmanuel Sanders, himself a No. 2 wideout.
The Jaguars now have multiple pieces of their talented skill-position corps locked into long-term deals, with Julius Thomas set for Year 2 of the five-year pact he signed in 2015. Robinson and Blake Bortles will become eligible to negotiate extensions after their third campaigns conclude.
Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/2/16
Here are today’s minor moves.
- The Steelers have signed fourth-round offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins, as Teresa Varley of Steelers.com writes. Hawkins offers experience at both left and right tackle but he’s expected to play on the left side for Pittsburgh. “He can come in here and help right away by competing and pushing the guys and making them better,” said offensive line coach Mike Munchak. “It just makes the group better when you can bring in a good athlete and a good player that has the ability to compete and help us become better. “We feel this guy can come in and learn from the guys we have, push the guys that we have and now it’s just a matter of how quickly we feel he can contribute.”
- The Cardinals signed wide receiver Marquis Bundy, safety Tyrequek Zimmerman, and guard Jake Bernstein to return to the 90-man roster limit, Kyle Odegard of AZCardinals.com tweets.
- The Chargers have agreed to sign guard/tackle Brett Boyko, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
- To make room, the Chargers waived offensive lineman Zeth Ramsay, as Eric Williams of ESPN.com tweets. The Bolts now have 17 offensive linemen on their 90-man roster.
- The Lions announced that they have signed UDFA kicker Devon Bell and waived punter Kyle Christy. Bell, a Mississippi State product, played in all 13 games last year and averaged 62.1 yards per kickoff, while also punting nine times for 370 yards (41.1 avg).
- The Jaguars have signed guard Patrick Omameh and released offensive lineman Patrick Miller, as Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com tweets. Omameh has played in 30 games over the course of his NFL career.
- The Redskins signed UDFA wide receiver Jarvis Turner, Master Tesfatsion of The Washington Post tweets.
- The Seahawks signed fullback Kyle Coleman, as Wilson tweets. A rookie with tight end experience who played at Arkansas State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Coleman will possibly audition at multiple spots in Seattle, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times writes.
- The Jets announced that they’ve signed guard Mike Liedtke, while adding that they’ve cleared a roster spot by waiving tackle Luke Marquardt.
Jaguars Rumors: Jack, Posluszny, Henne
Here’s the latest coming out of north Florida during the OTA portion of the NFL calendar.
- Although Myles Jack‘s role could be on passing downs as he acclimates to the NFL after a damaging knee injury ended his UCLA career, Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union projects the Jaguars second-rounder’s future to be at middle linebacker, where Paul Posluszny has lined up for the past three seasons. This would leave Dan Skuta untouched on the strong side if Telvin Smith is indeed going to resume his work opposite him. If healthy, Jack possesses the speed to play anywhere at linebacker but played mostly on the outside with the Bruins during his two healthy seasons, when he wasn’t moonlighting as a running back.
- The 31-year-old Posluszny, whose 725 solo tackles since 2008 lead the NFL, has been a three-down linebacker during his three-year Jags tenure. But if Jack can prove adept, he could well join Smith in nickel settings. A former second-round pick, Posluszny sees a demotion out of a third-down role as a ticket out of the league, given teams’ reliance on sub-packages. “When teams see you as a two-down player, to me, that means it’s over for you,” Posluszny said. “And what if I’m playing at a high level on first and second downs? Does that mean I get to stay here next year? I don’t know. I just have to continue to do everything I’ve done and when it’s time to compete, I have to play at a high level.” Posluszny, who has started all 113 games he’s played with the Bills and Jags, signed an extension to remain with the Jags until 2017 last April. His cap hits drop, however, from the his peak earnings seasons the past two years. He’s set to occupy $5.17MM of the Jags’ cap this season, and although he can be cut for less than $500K of dead money, cap space isn’t something the Jags are sweating right now. Their $49.3MM available leads the league.
- Chad Henne did not opt to test the free agent market this year, instead agreeing to another two-year contract in Jacksonville, one that will pay him $8MM in that span. Entering his age-31 season, the former second-round pick of the Dolphins’ prefers the comfort his current role behind Blake Bortles provides as opposed to trying to procure another starting job. “I was hoping it would happen like this just because I enjoy it here … and being in the same system for two years and not having to learn a new one is beneficial,” Henne told media, including O’Halloran. Aside from Chase Daniel‘s $7MM-per-year wages, Henne resides in the top bracket of backup signal-callers in terms of AAV.
- As is the case in third-round negotiations, Yannick Ngakoue will have some flexibility regarding his rookie contract with the Jaguars. O’Halloran reports Ngakoue will earn at least a $540K salary in 2016 and an $856K signing bonus as part of being selected No. 69 overall. But according to cap expert J.I. Halsell, the Jags rookie pass-rusher can earn up to $456K in additional compensation spread out over the deal’s four years. With the CBA containing no language of what third-rounders will earn precisely, more extensive negotiations are commencing. “It’s just a weird round,” a veteran agent told O’Halloran. “I called the [NFLPA] a couple weeks ago to ask about it, and they said, ‘It’s the wild, wild West.’” Last year’s No. 69 pick, the Texans’ Jaelen Strong, received 62% of that additional compensation figure ($249K of an available $402K), O’Halloran reports, while three picks later, Jaguars guard A.J. Cann booked 75% ($311K) in his rookie pact. It’s a strange financial matrix these third-rounders enter compared to the players slotted above and below them.
Luke Joeckel Could Shift To Guard
- Like Thomas, Jaguars left tackle Luke Joeckel is glad he’s still with his current club. “I love Jacksonville. I’d love to stay here. It all comes down to my play. I’m only focused on myself and me playing football, getting better at left tackle,” he said (link via Mike DiRocco of ESPN.com). While Joeckel’s goal is to improve at tackle, there’s a good chance he’ll shift inside to guard if free agent pickup Kelvin Beachum wins the LT job, as expected, per DiRocco. Since the Jags used the second pick of the 2013 draft on Joeckel, the former Texas A&M standout has been a disappointment. Joeckel’s struggles led Jacksonville to decline his fifth-year option for 2017 and sign Beachum.
O'Halloran: No Surgery For Ramsey Would Have Been Best
- The Jaguars are relieved that Jalen Ramsey only needs minor surgery, but the best outcome would have been no surgery at all for the rookie cornerback, Ryan O’Halloran of The Florida Times-Union writes. The belief is that Ramsey will not have to miss any regular season time as a result of his procedure.
Jalen Ramsey Expected Back By Training Camp
Jalen Ramsey underwent successful surgery to repair the meniscus in his right knee and he is expected to return by training camp, the Jaguars have announced. The Jaguars were hoping that the No. 4 overall pick would be back on a 4-6 week timeline but there was a possibility of a longer recovery depending on the severity of the injury. Now, barring any unforeseen setbacks or complications, the defensive back should be on the field Week 1 for Jacksonville. Doctors told Ramsey that this surgery on his right knee is expected to sideline him six weeks in all, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. 
Last week’s news came as a big scare for Jaguars fans as this marks the second straight year in which a Jaguars’ first-round pick suffered an injury before taking the field. Now, the Jags should be able to trot out the FSU product alongside pass-rusher Dante Fowler Jr., who missed all of the 2015 season after tearing his ACL in a minicamp practice.
Ramsey was highly coveted by the Cowboys who were selecting at No. 4, but they opted instead to take Ohio State product Ezekiel Elliott. The Ravens, who held the No. 6 overall selection in the draft, also tried to nab Ramsey by swapping picks with Dallas, but the two sides could not agree on a deal. Once things fell into place, the Jaguars pounced on the opportunity to grab the top defensive back in this year’s draft at No. 5. At least one team, the Dolphins, had Ramsey rated as the best player in the draft. Ramsey has a sky-high ceiling and his ability to play either safety or cornerback makes him even more valuable.
Ramsey received considerable hype prior to the draft, with the only real knock on his game being a general lack of playmaking statistics. In his time at FSU, Ramsey racked up only three interceptions, although that could be explained by the fact that opposing quarterbacks simply did not throw in his direction that often. Overall, Ramsey allowed a completion rate of just 38.5%.
Photo via Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.
Jonthan Woodard Tears ACL, Will Miss Season
The injury bug continues to bite the Jaguars, as 2016 seventh-round defensive end Jonathan Woodard will now miss the entirety of the season after tearing his Achilles, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Woodard probably wasn’t going to play a significant role in a Jacksonville edge rotation that includes Malik Jackson and Dante Fowler Jr., but the injury will obviously set him back in his development. The Jaguars, of course, are waiting for a status update on fifth overall pick Jalen Ramsey‘s knee, while last year, the club missed out on Fowler’s rookie season after he tore his ACL in camp.
Jaguars Sign Jalen Ramsey
The Jaguars have signed first-round draft pick Jalen Ramsey, according to John Oesher of Jaguars.com, and Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com reports that it is a four-year, $23.5MM deal, with a $15.1MM signing bonus. Ramsey, one of the most dynamic defensive players in this year’s class, is the sixth Jacksonville draft choice to put pen to paper, leaving third-round pick Yannick Ngakoue as the team’s only unsigned selection. There are now just 11 first-round picks who have yet to sign their rookie contracts, as our tracker shows.
Ramsey received considerable hype prior to the draft after a standout collegiate career with Florida State, with the only real knock on his game being a general lack of playmaking statistics (he mustered just three interceptions during his tenure with the Seminoles, although that could be explained by the fact that opposing quarterbacks simply did not throw in his direction that often, as Ramsey allowed a completion rate of just 38.5%). Ramsey is remarkably athletic, and he has the ability to play either safety or cornerback at the next level. The Ravens, who held the No. 6 overall selection in the draft, tried to nab Ramsey by swapping picks with the Cowboys, who held the No. 4 overall selection, but the two sides could not agree on a deal. As a result, Jacksonville was able to land the heralded defensive back with the No. 5 pick. At least one team, the Dolphins, had Ramsey rated as the best player in the draft.
However, Ramsey suffered a right knee injury earlier this week, a disturbing bit of deja vu for a team that lost last year’s first-round pick, Dante Fowler, for his entire rookie season after Fowler tore his left ACL on the first day of minicamp. Ramsey’s injury is being characterized as a small meniscus tear, and as ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets, Ramsey will visit Dr. James Andrews this week for a second opinion. Ramsey is expected to require surgery, but as of now, Schefter says, the team plans to have him back prior to the beginning of the regular season. However, even a player with Ramsey’s ability and upside will need some time to adjust to the professional game, so he will be at a disadvantage if he is forced to miss a significant portion of training camp.
Jacksonville’s second-round selection, Myles Jack, has major knee concerns of his own, which caused him to plummet from a surefire top-10 pick to the No. 36 overall pick. All the Jaguars can do at this point is remain optimistic about the prognosis of their prized young defenders, and as of now, there is no reason for them not to be.
Mailbag: Did Ravens Luck Out Not Drafting Ramsey?
At the league meetings in March, the Ravens presented a proposal that would allow most plays to be reviewed by replay, with the exception of just eight judgment calls. However, for one reason or another, they are backing off of that suggestion, as CSNMidAtlantic.com’s Clifton Brown writes. The Ravens were robbed of a win over the Jaguars in 2015 and their proposal was likely fueled by that fateful call.
Details On Jeff Linkenbach's Contract
- Jeff Linkenbach‘s contract with the Jaguars is for one season and will pay $810K, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. The guard/tackle has 86 appearances and 36 starts on his NFL resume.
- The Jaguars got some bad news on Thursday when they learned that first-round pick Jalen Ramsey will have to undergo surgery to fix a knee injury. Depending on the second opinion and the treatment option he goes with, Ramsey could reportedly miss 4-6 weeks or 4-6 months. If all goes well, however, he’ll be ready for the start of training camp.