Jacksonville Jaguars News & Rumors

Jaguars Select OT Anton Harrison At No. 27

April 27th, 2023 at 10:25pm CST by Ben Levine

After moving back twice, the Jaguars have finally made their first selection of the draft. With the No. 27 pick, Jacksonville has selected Oklahoma offensive tackle Anton Harrison.

The rookie started at left tackle for Oklahoma for each of the past two seasons. After earning a second-team All-Big Ten nod in 2021, he was first-team All-Big Ten in 2022. He was also a consensus All-American pick this past year.

Harrison’s pedigree helped make him a projected first- or second-round pick in the draft. While Harrison endured knocks for his lack of athleticism, he has elite size (6-foot-4, 315 pounds) and length. His ability to play to his owns strengths made him one of the safer offensive line prospects in the draft, although his ceiling might be somewhat limited.

Harrison was ultimately the fifth offensive lineman to hear his name called during the first round, with the Jaguars trading back a handful of times before landing on their preferred prospect. It comes after a rocky offseason for the Jags at tackle.

Starting left tackle Cam Robinson is facing a PED suspension, perhaps forcing the front office’s hand at the position. The team let four-year right tackle starter Jawaan Taylor walk in free agency; Taylor signed a whopping four-year, $80MM deal with the Chiefs. The organization used a 2021 second-round pick on tackle Walker Little, but the Jaguars will surely find a way to get their 2023 first-round selection in the lineup.

Bills Trade Up For Utah TE Dalton Kincaid

April 27th, 2023 at 10:11pm CST by Adam La Rose

After moving from No. 24 to No. 25, the Jaguars are sliding back once again. This time, they’re trading with the Bills, sending No. 25 to Buffalo for picks No. 27 and No. 130, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). Buffalo made the trade to select the draft’s first tight end in Utah’s Dalton Kincaid.

With the Cowboys — a team frequently linked to drafting a seam-stretcher on Thursday — set to pick at No. 26, this slot represents a logical trade-up spot for the Bills. Buffalo was named as a team to watch with respect to a receiver addition, but the recent run at that position left Kincaid available. That development could pay significant dividends for Buffalo.

Kincaid emerged as a red zone threat in 2021 by scoring eight touchdowns. He matched that figure last year, while taking on a larger role in the team’s offense. The 6-3, 246-pounder recorded 890 yards on 70 receptions in 2022, making a strong case as the top pass-catching tight end in the 2023 class, one which has been the source of considerable praise during the pre-draft process.

Michael Mayer has often been listed as the most well-rounded TE available, but the Notre Dame product remains on the board. Kincaid thus has the distinction of the top player at the position but also finds himself entering an enviable situation with respect to the offense he will now be joining.

The Bills boast one of the league’s most productive passing attacks, but much of their success comes from the receiver position. Kincaid will provide the team with a complimentary option to veteran Dawson Knox in the middle of the field, and should be able to form a formidable tandem with him for many years to come. With the Bills still searching for a consistent No. 2 option on the perimeter, they have at least exited Day 1 with a noteworthy addition to their offense.

Giants Trade Up For CB Deonte Banks

April 27th, 2023 at 10:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Giants are moving up one spot. New York has acquired pick No. 24 from the Jaguars for pick No. 25, No. 160 and No. 240, per ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter). The Giants will use their selection on Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks.

Although the Giants were perhaps the team most closely tied to the top wide receivers in this draft, cornerback has been a need in New York for a bit. The team whiffed on 2019 first-rounder Deandre Baker and released James Bradberry last year. The Giants did not make much of an effort to replace Bradberry and entered the draft with a hole opposite Adoree’ Jackson, who is going into a contract year.

Banks drew extensive attention during the pre-draft process, charting a busy course across the country. Nearly half the NFL’s 32 teams met with Banks; the Giants were among that contingent. Our Ely Allen covered Banks’ pre-draft profile, and despite Joey Porter Jr. receiving a bit more acclaim during the leadup to the draft, the Giants went with another Big Ten cover man. In a major surprise, Porter remains on the board heading into Round 2.

Banks bounced back from a shoulder injury that cut his 2021 season off after two games. Excelling in press coverage and running a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, Banks brings a 6-foot, 197-pound frame to the Giants. New York selected slot hopeful Cor’Dale Flott in the third round last year, but it should be expected Banks has a quicker avenue to regular duty as a rookie.

Don Martindale received praise for his work in New York last season, and while the team ranked 25th defensively, it fared better against the pass (14th). The Giants accomplished that upper-half pass defense ranking despite Jackson missing a chunk of the season with an MCL sprain and would-be No. 2 corner Aaron Robinson missing almost all of it because of a worse knee injury earlier in the season. The Giants signed Amani Oruwariye from the Lions, but he took a big step back in his contract year. As such, Banks should be expected to join Jackson as the Giants’ top corners during his rookie year.

Jaguars LT Cam Robinson Facing PED Ban

April 27th, 2023 at 8:29am CST by Sam Robinson

The Jaguars finished last season without their starting left tackle. They will need to start the 2023 slate in the same position. Cam Robinson is facing a performance-enhancing drug suspension, according to SI.com’s John Shipley.

It is not yet known how many games Robinson will miss as a result of this ban. The CBA calls for varying punishments for certain types of PEDs, or for tampering with a drug sample; the Jags will be without Robinson for a minimum of two games.

Jacksonville has used Robinson as its Week 1 blindside starter since his rookie season in 2017. Robinson missed the conclusion to the 2018 and 2022 seasons due to injury, but the Alabama product — now the Jags’ longest-tenured offensive lineman — has taken his place on the left side for the past six seasons. In total, Robinson has started all 75 games he has played since entering the league as a second-round pick.

Although the Jags navigated a Robinson absence in their final five games last season, they still employed Jawaan Taylor at that point. The 2019 second-round pick did not miss a game during his four-year Jags run. The Chiefs signed Taylor on Day 1 of the legal tampering period last month. Robinson’s suspension now complicates matters. Walker Little, a 2021 second-round pick who filled in for Robinson to close last season, will likely be asked to begin the season as a starter.

Little (six career starts) stood to factor into the Jags’ equation regardless of Robinson’s suspension, but the team has also been connected to starting its draft with an O-line investment. Jacksonville holds the No. 24 pick Thursday night. The team brought back Josh Wells in free agency, but the former Jags backup-turned-Buccaneers swingman is recovering from a torn patellar tendon. Robinson was expected to be healthy after suffering a meniscus tear; he will have additional time to complete his recovery now.

Robinson, 27, is tied to the three-year, $52.75MM extension he signed in 2022. The Jags franchise-tagged the former Crimson Tide standout for a second time last year, leading to the lucrative re-up. While Robinson’s 2023 base salary ($16MM) is guaranteed, this suspension threatens to void the remaining guarantees on the deal. The contract runs through the 2024 season.

Jaguars DT DaVon Hamilton Signs Three-Year Extension

April 26th, 2023 at 7:56pm CST by Ely Allen

For the second year in a row, the Jaguars have reported another big extension just before the NFL Draft. This year’s recipient is fourth-year defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the new contract is essentially a three-year deal worth $34.5MM. He’ll get a fully guaranteed amount of $23MM and have an opportunity to push the maximum value of the contract to $36MM through incentives.

Hamilton is being rewarded for an extremely strong season after his third year in the league. The former third-round pick out of Ohio State had found starting opportunities over his first two years in the league but took over as a full-time starter in 2022. With an increased snap percentage, Hamilton recorded career-highs in total tackles (56), tackles for loss (5), sacks (2.5), quarterback hits (6), and forced fumbles (1).

Hamilton is regarded as one of the better pass rushing interior lineman in the NFL, grading out with the 20th-best pass rush grade among the position, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He graded out as the 26th-best interior defender overall for 2023.

Jacksonville has worked hard to keep last year’s defense line intact, extending starter Roy Robertson-Harris in February, re-signing rotation lineman Adam Gotsis, and signing another rotation piece, Nick Thurman, to a reserve/futures contract at the end of the season. They also return a regular contributor in Folorunso Fatukasi, who signed with the team last year.

With a three-man defensive line, the Jaguars are expected to field Hamilton in the center with Robertson-Harris and Fatukasi on the ends. They may explore some depth options at the position in the draft or free agency, but their top contributors for the next two years, at least, have been established with today’s deal.

AFC South Notes: Colts, QBs, Texans, Titans

April 26th, 2023 at 3:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

While the Texans may be torn on a quarterback pick, the Colts are a near-lock to select a passer with their first choice. It is now possible every passer but Bryce Young will be available for Indianapolis at No. 4, which would put the retooling team to a decision. The Colts-Will Levis connection may be this draft’s second-strongest tie — after the Panthers-Young match — but Albert Breer of SI.com notes assistant GM Ed Dodds is high on C.J. Stroud. Dodds has been with Indy since 2017, becoming Chris Ballard‘s top lieutenant soon after the GM’s arrival.

Ballard, whom Breer adds was high on Levis beginning back in the fall, also is believed to place value on the increasingly popular S2 cognition test; Stroud’s low score has been leaked. Another team moving into the Texans or Cardinals’ spots could end up making the decision for the Colts, but if no trades emerge, Indy might have a fascinating Stroud-or-Levis decision on its hands. The two seem to be trending in opposite directions, but the Ohio State prospect has received higher grades — by scouting outlets and anonymous evaluators — as a prospect.

Here is the latest from the AFC South:

With the Texans set for a complex call at No. 2 overall, not much has emerged regarding their No. 12 choice. But Houston, in the wake of the latest Brandin Cooks trade, may be targeting receiving help. Of the receivers, the Texans prefer Jaxon Smith-Njigba, per the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora. Despite missing almost all of his junior season, Smith-Njigba has regained momentum and has the best chance to be the top wideout of the board. With the Packers (No. 13) and Jets (No. 15) connected to the one-year Buckeyes wonder, the Texans could outflank their potential competition. John Metchie is back at work for the Texans, after missing 2022 following a leukemia diagnosis, but the team dealt Cooks to the Cowboys and did not do too much — the Robert Woods pickup notwithstanding — to replace him. The Texans are also considering moving down from No. 12, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who adds teams are not too interested in moving to 2.
One of the teams lurking as a trade-up candidate to outflank the Colts, the Titans are now being linked to trading back and accumulating picks. Both La Canfora and ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler indicate buzz has emerged tying Tennessee to a trade-down effort from No. 11. Yes, with a few exceptions, most teams are willing to move up or down in each draft. But the Titans do have a decision to make regarding their QB future. The team toured prospects’ pro days but did not exhaust “30” visit resources at the position. Stroud is believed to be the Titans’ preference — assuming Young is out of the equation — and La Canfora views Titans trade-down talk as a smokescreen effort. Tennessee is believed to have dangled Ryan Tannehill in trades.
Although Jeffery Simmons staged a minicamp hold-in effort last year and lobbied for a new deal, Breer writes the Titans did not consider trading the standout defensive lineman. Ownership also assured Simmons, who since-fired GM Jon Robinson drafted in the 2019 first round, he was a long-term priority despite Robinson’s ouster, TitanInsider.com’s Terry McCormick tweets. The Titans made Simmons the NFL’s second-highest-paid defensive tackle, at $23.5MM per year, and gave him the highest D-tackle guarantee. Simmons is also coming off ankle surgery; the fifth-year standout said he underwent a cleanup procedure this offseason.
Jimmie Ward‘s issues with a return to cornerback last season became well known, but the longtime 49ers defender — after being moved to nickel corner again in-season — said he told DeMeco Ryans he expected last season to his his San Francisco finale. But Ward said (via KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson) Ryans communicated to him he would be interested in bringing the veteran defender to his HC destination. Ryans followed through on that, with the Texans signing Ward to a two-year, $13MM deal. Ward is back at safety.
Jaguars fourth-year cornerback Chris Claybrooks faces misdemeanor charges of domestic assault with bodily injury and vandalism under $1,000 stemming from an arrest earlier this month in Nashville, Jacksonville.com’s Gerry Smits reports. Claybrooks allegedly grabbed his ex-girlfriend’s arm and threw her cellphone to the ground.

Latest On Jaguars, TE Evan Engram

April 21st, 2023 at 5:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

Evan Engram remains absent from the beginning of the Jaguars’ offseason program amidst talks on a long-term deal. The veteran tight end is currently scheduled to play on the franchise tag, but a multi-year agreement could be coming soon.

Jacksonville used the tag ($11.35MM) on Engram last month to ensure he would remain in the fold for at least one season after a career-best 2022 campaign. The former Giants first-rounder recorded 766 yards and four touchdowns on 73 catches in his debut Jaguars season, making the team’s one-year, $9MM flier on him a worthwhile investment. Engram is now due a raise either on the one-year tender, or a longer-term pact to be agreed upon in the coming weeks or months.

It was reported in March, however, that the two parties were not close to finalizing an extension. Engram would rank ninth in the league in terms of AAV if he were to play out the upcoming season on the tag, but his production (both in the regular season and playoffs) and rapport with quarterback Trevor Lawrence could help him move higher up that list on a new deal. At 28, he should be able to replicate his success from last season for at least the short-term if the inconsistency which dogged his New York tenure were to be avoided.

“There’s up and downs as you go through the process and you’re just trying to come to — a common goal here is to get him signed,” general manager Trent Baalke recently said on the subject of contract talks with Engram. “I think we’re trending that direction, but we’re not there yet. We’ll continue to work to get him signed to a long-term extension and hopefully we can get that done” (h/t Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk).

Jacksonville currently sits at $14.8MM in cap space, and a new Engram contract could lower his hit on the team’s 2023 cap sheet. The parties can continue negotiating until July 17, but urgency could increase if his absence from the team lingers deeper into the offseason. If progress continues to be made as Baalke suggests, however, a deal keeping Engram in Duval County beyond 2023 could be on the horizon.

OL Rumors: Taylor, Jags, 49ers, Cardinals

April 21st, 2023 at 2:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Chiefs‘ previous left tackle blueprint centered around giving up significant assets to move a right tackle to the left side. Andy Reid has confirmed the team’s plans to complete a similar project. After a March report indicated the Chiefs were planning to move Jawaan Taylor to left tackle to replace Orlando Brown Jr., the 11th-year Chiefs HC said the ex-Jaguars blocker will indeed begin his Kansas City run as Patrick Mahomes‘ blindside protector.

“Even though he was on the right side I think he can transfer over to the left side. He’s really a good athlete and I think he’s excited about that,” Reid said (h/t Chiefs Wire’s Charles Goldman) of Taylor. “Now, that doesn’t mean he can’t play the right side. If we got another left tackle, he could play the right side. He gives you flexibility. He could probably jump in at guard. He’s smart. He could probably play center.”

Taylor signed a monster contract — four years, $80MM, with $60MM guaranteed by March 2024 — to join the Super Bowl champions. If the four-year Jaguars right tackle starter stayed at that position, he would be the NFL’s second-highest-paid right-sider. Taylor primarily played right tackle at Florida as well. The Chiefs following through with their Taylor position switch gives them a need at Andrew Wylie‘s former spot; Kansas City’s 2022 right tackle is now in Washington.

Here is the latest O-line news from around the league:

Taylor’s former team has its top tackle coming off a season-ending injury. The Jaguars faced the Chiefs in January without left tackle Cam Robinson, who suffered a meniscus tear in December. As expected, the Jags have Robinson on track to be ready by training camp, James Palmer of NFL.com tweets. Robinson will be readying for his seventh season as the Jags’ primary right tackle.
Rather than move Taylor to left tackle last year, the Jags plugged in 2021 second-rounder Walker Little to replace Robinson. While Little would be poised to start opposite Robinson, seeing as he picked up some starts after losing a training camp battle to Taylor last year, Adam Caplan of ProFootballNetwork.com pegs the Jags as being most likely to pick an O-lineman or cornerback in Round 1. Caplan mocks Tennessee tackle Darnell Wright to Jacksonville.
Colton McKivitz is the not only the clubhouse leader to replace Mike McGlinchey as the 49ers‘ starting right tackle, Matt Barrows of The Athletic notes the team views the career backup as having a chance to provide a pass-blocking upgrade (subscription required). McGlinchey steadily received more praise for his run-blocking chops compared to his pass-pro work, though McKivitz has made five career starts. Then again, the 49ers got by with three interior O-linemen — Aaron Banks, Jake Brendel, Spencer Burford — that brought little experience to the mix. Second-year blocker Jaylon Moore should not be considered out of the mix, per Barrows, who ranks right tackle as the 49ers’ top position of need. But the recently re-signed McKivitz is the favorite. McGlinchey signed a five-year deal with the Broncos during the legal tampering period’s early hours.
While Jonathan Gannon did not seem to view center as a must-augment position, via ESPN.com’s Josh Weinfuss (on Twitter), the Cardinals seem likely to add an outside snapper after releasing Rodney Hudson. Arizona will add a center to the mix, Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com writes. Billy Price started 11 games for the Cardinals last season; the ex-first-rounder-turned-journeyman is no longer on the roster. The Cardinals do feature some continuity up front; they re-signed Will Hernandez and have starters D.J. Humphries, Kelvin Beachum and Josh Jones back ahead of OC Drew Petzing‘s first season at the helm.

Draft Notes: Porter, Jones, Washington, Murphy, Anudike-Uzomah, Banks, Branch

April 20th, 2023 at 3:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

Pre-draft visit season wrapped up this week, but teams squeezed in several meetings before the deadline. A few booked Joey Porter Jr. visits. The Penn State cornerback met with the Eagles, Giants, Saints and Panthers before Wednesday’s deadline, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. Porter also visited the Steelers, Ravens and Raiders previously. Graded as a first-round talent, Porter stands to follow Devon Witherspoon and Christian Gonzalez off the board at some point on the draft’s first night.

Here is how other prospects’ visit itineraries wrapped up:

The Steelers closed their visit schedule by meeting with both tackle Broderick Jones, tight end Darnell Washington and edge rusher Felix Anudike-Uzomah, according to ESPN.com’s Brooke Pryor and The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly (all Twitter links). Jones, whom ESPN’s Scouts Inc. and NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah rate as a top-20 prospect, met with the Chiefs, Jets, Patriots, Bears and Cardinals during the visit window. The Steelers briefly considered Orlando Brown Jr., and Mike Tomlin indicated he was comfortable with the team’s current Dan Moore–Chukwuma Okorafor tackle setup.
Anudike-Uzomah and Washington also met with the Buccaneers, per Wilson and NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter links). One of two high-level Georgia tight end prospects, Washington will enter the draft at least a year ahead of standout pass catcher Brock Bowers. After two sub-200-yard years, Washington totaled 454 and two touchdowns as a junior. Going 6-foot-6 and 264 pounds, Washington profiles as an in-line tight end with some receiving upside. Anudike-Uzomah totaled 19.5 sacks over the past two seasons at Kansas State. Both players profile as fringe first-round talents, with Jeremiah ranking Washington as the third-best option in this year’s deep tight end class.
Scouts Inc. rates Clemson’s Myles Murphy a few spots ahead of Anudike-Uzomah, at No. 23 overall, and the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala notes (via Twitter) the Commanders took a recent look at the edge defender this week. After extending Daron Payne, Washington still rosters its four first-round D-linemen. But only one of the four (Chase Young) arrived during Ron Rivera‘s tenure.
Much of the NFL wanted to meet with Deonte Banks. The Maryland cornerback spent extensive time in two of the country’s time zones. In addition to his meetings with the Raiders, Ravens, Commanders and Steelers, Banks visited 10 more teams — the Saints, Titans, Vikings, Texans, Giants, Buccaneers, Eagles, Jaguars, Bears and Bills — before the pre-draft meeting buzzer sounded, Rapoport tweets. Jeremiah slots Banks 24th overall, ranking the ex-Big Ten cover man as this year’s fourth-best corner. A former three-star recruit, Banks earned a starting job as a freshman. A shoulder injury halted his junior year after two games, but the 6-foot defender bounced back last season to close his career on the first-round radar.
The Giants also huddled up with safety/slot defender Brian Branch this week, Wilson tweets. The Alabama contributor had previously met with a host of teams. New York expected to re-sign Julian Love this offseason but lost the safety to Seattle. The team, which selected slot corner Cor’Dale Flott in last year’s third round, signed veteran Bobby McCain to a low-level contract and has Xavier McKinney returning from an injury-marred season.

DL Notes: Reed, Donald, Colts, Steelers, Cards, Jags, Jets, Bucs, Panthers, Texans

April 19th, 2023 at 4:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jarran Reed‘s initial Seahawks tenure ended strangely, with the team’s attempt at a restructure leading to a communication breakdown that ended with the defensive tackle’s release. After Reed sought a Seahawks extension during the offseason in which the COVID-19 pandemic led to a salary cap reduction, he ended up signing a one-year deal with the Chiefs. That preceded a 2022 Packers pact. Reed is now back in Seattle, having signed a two-year, $9MM deal.

The veteran D-lineman said, via the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta, neither side wanted to part ways in 2021 and that he remained interested in a potential return while away. The Seahawks called Reed early in free agency, and the sides agreed to terms on what is a less lucrative contract compared to the one the team removed from its payroll two years ago (two years, $23MM). Reed, 30, will join Dre’Mont Jones as Seattle D-tackle additions.

Here is the latest from the D-line scene:

The Cardinals met with Georgia edge rusher Nolan Smith on Wednesday, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter), squeezing in a final visit before the deadline. They also recently brought in Texas Tech edge Tyree Wilson, Albert Breer of SI.com notes, adding the Jaguars also met with the former Big 12 dynamo for a late visit (Twitter link). The Cardinals hold the No. 3 overall pick. While Arizona has dangled it in trades, the team not receiving a viable offer opens the door to a best-defender-available pick. Wilson would qualify as an option at 3, though Smith — No. 17 on ESPN’s big board; No. 18 on Daniel Jeremiah’s — would seemingly enter Arizona’s equation after a trade-down maneuver.
BJ Ojulari resides as a possible option for a team late in the first round or in the early second, and a few teams brought in the LSU alum recently. The Jets, Buccaneers, Panthers and Texans met with Ojulari, Rapoport adds (on Twitter). The younger brother of Giants outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari, BJ profiles as a speed rusher. He combined for 12.5 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss over the past two seasons with the Tigers, declaring for the draft after his junior year. Azeez Ojulari went 50th overall in 2020.
Both the Colts and Steelers have met with Clemson defensive lineman Bryan Bresee, per Rapoport and ESPN.com’s Brooke Pryor (Twitter links). Bresee is in Indianapolis today. A former top-five recruit, Bresee is not a candidate to go in the top five of this draft. But the multiyear Clemson starter joins Myles Murphy as Tiger D-linemen on the Round 1 radar. The Steelers came up regarding Bresee last month, and while the team recently re-signed Larry Ogunjobi, Cam Heyward is going into his age-34 season. The Colts, who added former first-rounder Taven Bryan in free agency, have DeForest Buckner signed for two more seasons.
Buckner recently revealed he played all of last season with a UCL tear in his left elbow. Indicating he’s “not a quarterback or a pitcher,” Buckner said (via the Indianapolis Star’s Joel Erickson) his injury will not require surgery. Buckner finished with eight sacks and a career-high 74 tackles in 2022. Although the Colts are at a crossroads after a wildly disappointing season, Erickson adds the team still views Buckner as a cornerstone. The former 49ers first-rounder is going into his age-29 season.
Aaron Donald saw an injury sideline him for the first time as a pro. A high ankle sprain led the Rams superstar out of action, and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic notes the all-time great underwent a tightrope procedure to repair the injury (Twitter link). This is not an uncommon procedure; Tony Pollard underwent the same surgery in January. Donald, 32 next month, has also returned to full strength, per Rodrigue. Two years remain on Donald’s record-setting contract.

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