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| (photo credit: sportsworldnews.com) |
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| (photo credit: todayspigskin.com) |
The Jacksonville Jaguars have come out firing at the start of this free agency period. Combine the signings of Malik Jackson and Chris Ivory with the tender offers inked by Nic Jacobs, Abry Jones and Ryan Davis, and it is clear to see that Jacksonville intends to use their league-high cap space aggressively.
Entering the market with more than $80 million in cap room,
Jacksonville made the biggest splash of the day by pulling defensive end Malik
Jackson away from the Broncos with a six-year, $90 million contract. The deal
makes him one of the highest paid defensive linemen in the NFL for the next
couple years, and significantly boosts the profile of Jacksonville’s defensive
front four. Jackson, ranked as NFL.com’s top available free agent, has spent
four years in the league, anchoring the Broncos league-leading defense with a
total of 14.5 sacks over the last three years.
Jackson reacted to the news with the following comment on
his Instagram account:
“God is good.. I can't wait to start the
next chapter of my football life. Thank u Denver for everything it's been real.
WHATS GOOD JACKSONVILLE let's get theses dubs and start to change the culture
in Jacksonville”.
Additionally, former Jets running back Chris Ivory is
expected to sign with the Jaguars, becoming a dangerous backfield complement to
current Jags starter T.J. Yeldon. Ivory has spent six years in the league since
being signed as an undrafted free agent by the New Orleans Saints in 2010.
After three years in New Orleans as a serviceable backup, he was traded the to
New York Jets in 2013. Two productive years led to his role as a featured back
for the first time last year.
He rewarded the Jets with a 1,000 yard season and his first Pro Bowl appearance. Yeldon’s rookie year saw him gain over 1,000 yards from scrimmage despite playing in only 12 games. Yeldon and Ivory give Jacksonville a strong pair of options in the run game, which has become a growing necessity in the league in recent years.
He rewarded the Jets with a 1,000 yard season and his first Pro Bowl appearance. Yeldon’s rookie year saw him gain over 1,000 yards from scrimmage despite playing in only 12 games. Yeldon and Ivory give Jacksonville a strong pair of options in the run game, which has become a growing necessity in the league in recent years.
Defensive end Ryan Davis, defensive tackle Abry Jones, and
tight end Nic Jacobs all signed their one-year tender offers.
Davis, a fifth-year backup out of Bethune-Cook, brings his
10 sacks over the last two years back to Jacksonville, along with his renewed
spirit: “It means a great deal to me that they thought highly enough to include
me in the plans… I’m just ready to go out and do my thing and get this thing
rolling… Me working hard, really embodying what (the coaches) were looking for,
then keeping me around.. I’m really thankful for that.”
Jones, going to his fourth year with the Jags out of the
University of Georgia, continues the trend of stabilizing the defensive front. Returning
to the team, Jones gushed with positivity: “I couldn’t find a better place than
Jacksonville. It’s close to home and my family comes to every home game… The
Jaguars took me under their wing and showed me the hard work necessary to get
to this point. I’m just happy they want to keep me here. They showed me how
much they appreciate what I do for them. I’m just happy this day has come.”
Jacobs, a 6’5”, 295-pound tight end entering his third year
from McNeese State, stays in Jacksonville to provide a large target in red zone
situations (of his three career receptions, one was a two-yard touchdown) while
being another blocker at the end of the line in running situations.
Free agency officially opens Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, when
the new league year begins.
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