Welcome to Massive Cat Nation’s employees roundtable!
With the 2025 NFL Free Company negotiation (tampering) interval set to kick off on Monday, March tenth, the BCC employees took just a few moments to debate their predictions on the place this Jacksonville Jaguars’ free agent class could land.
Query 1: What place group(s) would you are expecting the Jaguars to focus their consideration on within the early days of free company?
Dillon Appleman: Contemplating early indicators that the Jaguars are prone to prioritize the trenches early within the 2025 NFL Draft, I feel it’s secure to say the secondary is the place the early consideration will go in free company. It’s a fairly good market at each nook and security, and Jacksonville might use a few dependable veterans at each spots to assist patch up the league’s worst move protection.
Simon Carroll (Si): With little in the way in which of precedent to go on with regard to entrance workplace tendencies, it’s tough to make sure. That being mentioned, any reinforcements on the offensive line or within the secondary – two areas of the sector the place the Jaguars have notoriously struggled to remain wholesome, can be welcomed.
Caitlin Connor: I hope the Jaguars focus their consideration on the offensive line and the secondary. All of us noticed how each place teams struggled in the course of the earlier season, so with this 12 months’s free company market and solely two gamers being franchise-tagged, the entrance workplace has a possibility to search out veterans to fill these roles.
Travis Holmes: I’ve a robust perception that that is the Jaguars entrance workplace that may lastly make the mandatory heavy investments into the secondary room. I foresee the staff bringing in each a day-one free agent cornerback and at the least security to construct up Anthony Campanile’s revamped protection. In Inexperienced Bay, the Packers’ protection was identified to be extraordinarily versatile of their protection appears to be like, with a reasonable lean in the direction of zone coverages over man. This might be a major about face from Ryan Nielsen’s primarily press-man protection in 2024.
Gus Logue: The offensive and defensive strains can be a very good place to begin, although the Jaguars would even be smart to shore up their roster at comparatively undervalued positions in free company. Have a look at what the Eagles did final offseason after they signed RB Saquon Barkley, RG Mekhi Becton, LB Zach Baun, and S C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Jacksonville ought to look to signal a starting-caliber guard and security firstly of free company this 12 months.
Henry Zimmer: After the purge of talent place gamers that occurred Wednesday, I feel vast receiver goes to be a bunch the Jags can spend cash on. We’re again to Trevor Lawrence not having many choices to throw to outdoors of Brian Thomas Jr., so he’s going to wish an enormous title or two so as to add to that room. A sure former Ram is in the marketplace, and a sure former Ram is working this staff. I’d begin there.
Query 2: Who’s one free agent you are expecting will land in Jacksonville someway, someway?
Dillon: S Tre’Von Moehrig: Jaguars DC Anthony Campanile’s defensive philosophy is predicted to have loads of affect from his previous stops with Jeff Hafley in Inexperienced Bay and Brian Flores in Miami. Each of these revered defensive minds worth a field security that may function close to the road of scrimmage and match the run, whereas providing worth as a blitzer. Moehrig suits that invoice higher than anyone else in the marketplace.
Si: WR Chris Godwin: The Buccaneers’ productive receiver solely performed in seven video games final 12 months because of a dislocated ankle, however shall be very acquainted with Liam Coen’s system. The Jags have some huge cash sunk into weapons for Trevor Lawrence, however another wouldn’t damage, certainly?
Caitlin: G Will Fries: ESPN’s Ben Solak described Fries as “fast” and “technically sound,” which the offensive line has been missing. He’ll solely be 27 when the 2025 season begins, so he might be price the long run funding to improve the road.
Travis: CB Byron Murphy Jr: Minnesota’s Professional Bowl cornerback is searching for his third contract after enjoying out his prior two-year, $17.5 million deal. Coming off a 6-interception season the place he performed the position of versatile chess piece in Brian Flores’ simulated stress protection, I’d search for Campanile to herald the 27-year-old defensive again to pair with Tyson Campbell and Jarrian Jones.
Gus: OL Ben Bredeson: The 27-year-old spent final season on a one-year prove-it take care of Liam Coen’s Buccaneers. He ended up successful the beginning job at left guard and serving to Tampa Bay set a number of franchise information on offense. I’m personally an enormous fan of RG Will Fries from Indianapolis, however given Bredeson’s 2024 efficiency and his reference to Coen, I’d not be shocked to see him come to Jacksonville.
Henry: WR Chris Godwin: Let’s see if Kupp performs out to Jax. If not— or even when it does— Godwin would appear like a very logical pickup. He performed for Liam Coen and might at all times be a risk. Positive, he’s coming off an ankle damage however with Christian Kirk now gone together with Evan Engram, Lawrence wants a goal. Godwin makes loads of sense.
Query 3: Who’re your private favourite free agent targets you’re feeling the Jaguars ought to goal?
Dillon:
- Carlton Davis, CB, Detroit Lions
- Tre’Von Moehrig, S, Las Vegas Raiders
- Jedrick Wills, OT/OG, Cleveland Browns
Regardless of their struggles in 2024, the Jacksonville protection isn’t devoid of expertise by any stretch. A lot of final season’s points might be blamed on the scheme, however maybe a good larger issue was the intense lack of “dawg” throughout the board. That’s why prioritizing veterans within the secondary like Carlton Davis and Tre’Von Moehrig would go a great distance. Each play with a ton of power and physicality and would deliver a sure mentality that’s a lot wanted because the staff appears to be like to develop a brand new defensive tradition below Anthony Campanile. Talking of dawgs, Jedrick Wills might be a comparatively cheap veteran addition to a really skinny offensive line. Wills continues to be solely 26, and a change of surroundings might be simply what he requires. He’d be an instantaneous swing deal with improve.
Si:
- Asante Samuel, CB, Los Angeles Chargers
- Dan Moore, OT, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Jevon Holland, S, Miami Dolphins
The important thing in free company is to keep away from overpaying getting old expertise. With that in thoughts, the Jaguars can be finest served specializing in positions of want in the course of the ‘second wave’ the place worth for cash is far more prevalent. Asante Samuel had a sluggish begin with the Chargers however has proven development 12 months after 12 months and can solely be 25 when the season begins. Equally, Jevon Holland has been an affect participant in Miami, however must be greater than reasonably priced at a place that’s criminally underpaid right now of the 12 months. Coming off a down season with the Dolphins, he might show to be an actual discount. And regardless of not getting a lot love from the Steelers fan base, Dan Moore has 66 begins at left deal with below his belt and was far more polished in move safety in 2024. With Walker Little struggling to remain on the sector, having choices on the blind aspect of the offensive line is sensible.
Caitlin:
1. Jevon Holland, S, Miami Dolphins
2. Carlton Davis lll, CB, Detroit Lions
3. Mekhi Becton, G, Philadelphia Eagles
There may be loads of expertise that would match within the offensive line within the draft, so I feel the Jaguars might work on enhancing the secondary. Davis lll is seemingly able to take a look at the free company market, so including his expertise together with Holland’s might assist out the Jaguars’ protection.
Travis:
1. Patrick Mekari, OG/OT, Baltimore Ravens
2. Byron Murphy Jr, CB, Minnesota Vikings
3. Tre’von Moehrig, S, Las Vegas Raiders
Whereas the Jacksonville Jaguars are in want of a number of offensive linemen and a number of secondary additions, I consider that they are going to fill out the defensive backfield primarily by way of free company whereas grabbing a middle within the draft. Mekari has been a foundational Swiss-army knife up entrance for the Baltimore Ravens, enjoying over 500 snaps at proper and left deal with in prior seasons whereas beginning at left guard all of 2024. Moreover, I consider the Jaguars shall be out there for not one however two beginning safeties between free company and the draft because of their change away from a primarily man protection scheme. Moehrig supplies a versatile field security who’s capable of each man up, blitz, or just make performs on the ball whereas in zone.
Gus:
1. Will Fries, RG, Indianapolis Colts
2. Tre’von Moehrig, S, Las Vegas Raiders
3. B.J. Hill, DT, Cincinnati Bengals
The Jaguars needn’t one however two new starters on its offensive line to switch Brandon Scherff and Mitch Morse. This 12 months’s middle class in free company is fairly dry, so the Jaguars could look to the draft to fill Morse’s void, however they need to search for a direct inheritor to Scherff at guard this month. Indianapolis’ Will Fries is predicted to totally get well after he broke his tibia in Jacksonville final season. His tough-nosed run-blocking can be warmly welcomed in Duval County. The Jaguars additionally want to switch security Andre Cisco; Las Vegas’ Moehrig is a flexible playmaker who would immediately elevate the ground of the move protection. And, although much less horny, Cincinnati’s B.J. Hill can be a reliable veteran at defensive deal with.
Henry:
1. Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams
2. Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3. Carlton Davis, CB, Detroit Lions
The Jags need assistance at each receiver and defensive again. You actually might go both method by way of whom to prioritize, however let’s say the Jags decide to present Lawrence some extra assist. It will not damage to get Matthew Stafford’s favourite goal and the 2021 Offensive Participant of the 12 months. The dude is “solely” 31 years outdated. He can nonetheless get a few years completed in Jax. Godwin is similar method and is barely 29. Whereas sure he too has been injured just lately, this staff simply actually wants receivers. With cash to spend, it makes loads of sense for Coen to focus on a former participant. Carlton Davis fills the identical want, below the identical circumstances, simply on the defensive aspect of the ball. He’s a person protection nook however can’t be worse than Ronald Darby. Proper? Proper??
Who’re your favourite free agent prospects, Jaguars followers? Tell us within the feedback beneath!