2023 Free Agency: 5 Under the Radar Options For the Jaguars
For the first time in a long time, the Jacksonville Jaguars aren't entering free-agency with an eye on spending big.
Even in past offseasons that looked like strict cap years such as 2018 and 2020, the Jaguars have always found a way to spend to bring in at least one name. Those names being Andrew Norwell and Joe Schobert haven't helped in recent years, but could this year be different?
"I think last year was a big step in the right direction with free agency, right? Because we brought guys that we can lean on. Now they're a part of us. They're not the one-hit-wonder type of free agent guys," Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said at last week's NFL Scouting Combine.
"And you know, now it's about let's focus on the draft. Let's dive into that and build your roster, you know, from that, and not pour everything you got into free agency."
But while the Jaguars are not slated to be big spenders this offseason, there are still players who will be available on March 15 who can help the Jaguars win games next fall. Most of those names will be cost-controlled ones, but that doesn't mean the Jaguars can't improve the roster next week.
With this in mind, here are five free agents who we believe make sense for the Jaguars on March 15.
CB Sean Murphy-Bunting
A former second-round selection, it seems just yesterday that Sean Murphy-Bunting was a blossoming young cornerback in the NFL. But injuries have limited the versatile cover man to just 21 games over the last two seasons, leading to him recording just two interceptions and 10 pass breakups in that span after four interceptions and 11 pass breakups in his first two seasons.
Considering Tampa Bay's own cap issues, it seems likely Murphy-Bunting will hit free-agency. For a player who will be just 26 in the fall, Murphy-Bunting's experience in the slot and on the outside could make him a valuable pickup. The Jaguars have multiple defensive coaches who have experience with him from their Tampa Bay days in defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell and safeties coach Cody Grimm, and Murphy's athleticism and upside make him an easy sell to add to the secondary, while also not ruling out any options in the 2023 NFL Draft.
DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches
The Jaguars have made big investments in the middle of their defense under Trent Baalke in the form of Roy Robertson-Harris and Foley Fatukasi, but the Jaguars could use more depth upfront considering they have impending free agents in Adam Gotsis and Corey Peters. In terms of reasonable depth and price, Rakeem Nunez-Roches makes a lot of sense.
Nunez-Roches, who also has Tampa Bay ties, has never been a pass-rusher; his career-high in sacks was two last year. But he is an experienced veteran (110 career games) who is a proven run-stopper and decent interior pressure player when used in a true rotation. He is the type of play the Jaguars need to give themselves insurance against the run.
DL Poona Ford
There is a serious question today about the type of interior pressure the Jaguars can get in 2023. Extending Roy Robertson-Harris is one solution, but the Jaguars' two best interior rushers in 2022 (Arden Key, Dawuane Smoot) are set to be free agents on March 15. For the Jaguars to enter 2023 without completely relying on Travon Walker and Josh Allen to get pressure, they will need to find more pressure players.
This is where Poona Ford would come in. Ford has seven sacks and 22 quarterback hits over the last three seasons, along with 83 pressures. He has been a consistent nickel pass-rusher inside for the Seahawks over the last several years and would fill a niche role for the Jaguars that would allow him room to still grow.
S Marcus Epps
The Jaguars are going to want to improve their safety depth this offseason, whether through the draft or free agency. With Andrew Wingard set to hit free agency, the Jaguars need a true No. 3 safety who could step in as a starter in a pinch while also giving them production on special teams.
Marcus Epps started five games for Doug Pederson's 2020 Eagles team, so he is a young player who Pederson should have plenty of familiarity with. The former sixth-round pick started every game for last year's NFC Championship Eagles team, recording 94 tackles, four tackles for loss, six pass deflections, and a forced fumble. He isn't a star, but he is a reliable and heady veteran in the backend.
TE Drew Sample
Drew Sample hasn't exactly lit the NFL on fire since the Bengals made him a surprising second-round selection in 2019. The Bengals more or less moved on from him last year as he appeared in just two games, and in 42 games (23 starts) in his first three years, he produced just 56 catches for 460 yards and one touchdown.
With that said, Sample could give the Jaguars cheap depth at the tight end position. They have just two tight ends left over from last year's roster in Evan Engram and Luke Farrell, and a blocking tight end like Sample could give them a cheap replacement for impending free agent Chris Manhertz.
