Jaguars Mailbag: Which Free Agents Should Jacksonville Retain?

In this week's mailbag, we take questions on how the Jaguars should address their impending free agents.

Throughout the offseason, we will be taking questions on the biggest questions facing the Jacksonville Jaguars.

You can submit your questions every week by tweeting them to the Jaguar Report Twitter handle or by submitting them here.

This week we take questions on pending free agents, the front office and coaching staff dynamic, and more.

Q: What do you think would cause Shad to completely reset the organization/coaching?

A: I think a losing season. Shad Khan is a good owner, in my opinion, because he is willing to let his people do their jobs. And while the Jaguars' season was disappointing, I don't think he is the kind of owner who sees 9-8 -- technically a winning season -- as full reason to clean house. I think something like a third-place finish in the AFC South would have to happen. 

Q: Should the Jags try to lock up K'Lavon Chaisson before free agency, or risk losing him by letting him test the market?

A: I think that is a risk worth taking.

Q: Trent Baalke doesn't have a history of drafting good receivers - and neither did the Eagles when Doug Pederson was there - but should we be optimistic this year? There are some decent prospects like Jacob Cowing, Luke McCaffrey and others who could be there in the 3rd round or day 3 who could provide some depth and have the potential to develop.

A: I think so. Parker Washington looks like a strong sixth-round pick, and it honestly is easier to pick wide receivers when you pick at a higher volume. If the Jaguars take a few more shots instead of just one every two years, then they have a chance. 

Q: Uniforms, John. When are we getting new ones?

A: The Jaguars were eligible to change uniforms last season but stood pat, so perhaps it is revisited again this year. I would expect for retro uniforms to make an appearance in a game this season, so perhaps a full-on change comes later down the road. 

Q: Defense is seeing a ton of change organizationally. Is the hope for the offense that it just gets better

A: I think that is a big part of it. The Jaguars will obviously make some moves along the offensive line to try to produce better results, but most of the key skill position players and depth should be back. The Jaguars made most of their self-inflicted mistakes on offense when you consider the missed assignments, turnovers, and pre-snap penalties. The Jaguars need to execute and coach better on offense and that should fix most of their issues. That, obviously, is a pretty broad strokes solution, but its the truth. 

Q: Odds on Fortner being the starter in September? If not, a new FA or a rookie replacement?

A: I really do not think it is a sure thing that Fortner is starting in 2024. General manager Trent Baalke's and head coach Doug Pederson's post-season comments on Fortner feel more like generalized coach-speak than anything. The Jaguars know that Fortner is a big reason they struggled running the ball, so the foregone conclusion should be that Fortner gets competition in some form this offseason. My bet is they bring in a veteran who beats Fortner out in training camp. 

Q: What level of aggression do you sense we see from the front office this offseason? They SHOULD take a few big swings in the draft and FA, but I would assume Baalke (and all GMs really) would prefer not to take the risk of a huge money contract or high-risk draft pick and open themselves up to obvious speculation, especially when they’ve got the owner’s ear like Baalke does. On the other hand, I would expect Shad (and Trevor) to want to see some aggression to hopefully not repeat the mistakes of last year. Do you think there’s a lot of roster turnover or mostly try to run it back and stay healthy?

A: I think you see their moves fall between what they did in 2022 and what they did in 2023. I wouldn't expect a wild spending spree like when they first hired Pederson, but the expectation is that they are aggressive in upgrading the trenches. I think they make some notable moves, but aren't one of the highest-spending teams either. I think they run it back in a lot of areas, but not in all of them.

Q: After visiting some big boards, I have 6WR, 6CB, 5OT, 5DE, 2S, 1TE, and 1DL. There's no G or C that deserves 1st round consideration. I agree that CB could be our best option for the 1st pick. Having our 2nd pick attached to WR (Ridley or his replacement), what are the options in FA and 3rd round to improve our Inside OL?

A: I think the Jaguars will have plenty of options in free agency to improve the interior offensive line without having to pay an Andrew Norwell or Brandon Scherff type of contract. I think there is a chance the Jaguars only have to give up a third for Ridley, too. Some free-agency names I think make sense are Jonah Jackson, Damien Lewis, and Jon Runyan. In the draft, I would think guys like Duke's Graham Barton, Kansas State's Cooper Beebe, Michigan's Zak Zinter, and Texas A&M's Layden Robinson.

Q: Do you predict any impending free agents from the Falcons defense being possible acquisitions?

A: I pointed out a few guys who make sense here. I think Kentavius Street is the most likely option, followed by Calais Campbell, Bud Dupree, and Jeff Okudah, though I think all four will be considered. 

Q: Of pending FAs (UFA, RFA, ERFA) who do you see coming back? How much of the 53 next year do you see being returning players?

A: I think Josh Allen and Calvin Ridley will return. I also think Ezra Cleveland, Caleb Johnson, Daniel Thomas and Gregory Junior will all be back. The first three players are all starters while I think the next three will be key depth.

I would put players like Dawuane Smoot, D'Ernest Johnson, Blake Hance, Shaq Quarterman, and Cole Van Lanen in the maybe category. All make sense as potential depth options, but the Jaguars could look to upgrade too. 

The players I do not think return: Brandon McManus, Jamal Agnew, Tyler Shatley, Angelo Blackson, Jeremiah Ledbetter, Tre Herndon, or K'Lavon Chaisson.

Q: Do you trust Baalke to make moves that are likely to be best for the franchise but could reflect poorly on himself? IE going a different direction with Ridley or cutting someone he has formerly tied his fate to like Cam Robinson.

A: I do. The best way to think about it, I think, is that most decision-makers in the NFL make moves based mostly on self-preservation. Baalke can save his job by hitting the right buttons to improve. If he does that, then it is unlikely it really matters what other moves he has made in the past. 

Q: Let's say that the jaguars get a couple OL pieces and a press man corner in free agency. Additionally, let's say MHJ falls to the 5th pick somehow. Would you entertain the thought of giving up what the Texans gave up to draft Anderson last year? Is this a team in position to move that aggressively?

A: If the Jaguars had a better roster with fewer question marks moving into the offseason, I would say go for this. Marvin Harrison Jr. is a special receiver prospect and would obviously give the Jaguars the potential No. 1 receiver that they have been missing for a few decades now. With that said, just looking at how many players the Jaguars might move on from this offseason inc combination to an already lengthy list of needs, and it is hard for me to say the Jaguars can afford to be that aggressive.