JACKSONVILLE, Fla. –- NFL free agency kicked off March 14, and we're keeping track of every major signing, trade and release of the 2022 offseason, with analysis from our NFL Nation reporters and grades from our experts. The first round of the 2022 NFL draft begins April 28 on ESPN.
The Jacksonville Jaguars entered free agency with the second most cap space available ($56 million), and general manager Trent Baalke said he’s going to be “very aggressive” in free agency. That doesn’t necessarily mean he will be going after multiple big-ticket players.
The Jaguars are in the same spot as last year (lots of money, lots of needs), when Baalke stressed he was looking for value. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him splurge on a receiver, guard or edge rusher and fill the rest of the class with second- or third-tier free agents – guys like Jamal Agnew and Rudy Ford, who became key players in 2021.
Here's a breakdown of every 2022 NFL free-agent signing by the Jaguars, and how each will impact the upcoming season:
Brandon Scherff, G
Scherff plans to sign with the Jaguars, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
What it means: Solidifying the offensive line is a priority this offseason, and the five-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro fills a major hole. Scherff played right guard for the Washington Commanders, and the Jaguars may opt to play him there and move Ben Bartch, who started 11 games last season as an injury replacement for A.J. Cann, to left guard. Andrew Norwell had manned that spot for the past four seasons, but the Jaguars aren't bringing him back.
What's the risk: Scherff is a proven elite player, so there's virtually no risk. If there's anything to be concerned about it's the fact that Scherff has missed 22 games the past four seasons and hasn't played a full season since 2016. But he's been very good when he has been on the field, and he's immediately the team's best lineman.
Foyesade Oluokun, LB
Oluokun agreed to a three-year deal with the Jaguars.
What it means: Oluokun is a tackling machine -- he led the NFL in tackles (192) in 2021 -- and he will pair nicely with Myles Jack. Defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell had a lot of fun and success with Devin White in Tampa Bay, and now he gets one of the league's better young players with a lot of upside. He's played linebacker for only five years because he began his career at Yale as a cornerback and didn't move to outside linebacker until his senior season.
What's the risk: Minimal. Linebacker was a big need for the Jaguars that got overshadowed by receiver, tight end and edge rusher, but the team needed to upgrade the talent there. Oluokun is viewed around the league as a rising star and he gives the Jaguars a thumper to deal with Derrick Henry twice a year.
Folorunso Fatukasi, DT
Fatukasi agreed to a three-year contract with the Jaguars.
What it means: The 6-foot-4, 318-pound Fatukasi will be a prominent part of a rotation at tackle that includes Malcom Brown, Jay Tufele and DaVon Hamilton. Last season, the team traded for Brown, who is now entering the final year of his contract, and Tufele and Hamilton have been up and down, so Fatukasi gives the Jaguars a cornerstone player for 2022 and beyond.
What's the risk: The Jaguars' interior pass rush last season was better than it was in 2020, but it seemed to show up in spurts. Fatukasi doesn't add much there (three career sacks), but the Jaguars aren't signing him for that. It will be interesting to see if the Jaguars move him around a bit like they did Roy Robertson-Harris in 2021.
Christian Kirk, WR
The Jaguars and Kirk agreed to a four-year deal worth up to $84 million, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
What it means: Receiver was the Jaguars' biggest area of need, and signing at least one was a priority. Kirk is coming off career highs in receptions (77) and receiving yards (982), plus he's only 25 years old despite being in the NFL for four years. He played mainly in the slot with the Arizona Cardinals last season, but he also can play outside. He gives QB Trevor Lawrence another reliable target opposite Marvin Jones Jr. The Jaguars led the NFL in drops last season (39, per ESPN Stats & Info). Kirk has just 11 drops in four seasons.
What's the risk: Signing Kirk isn't enough. Lawrence needs more playmakers, and it would be a good idea for the Jaguars to add another receiver and possibly a tight end in free agency if possible. Receiver should be a priority in the draft as well. The Jaguars' offense managed just 31 big plays (runs of 20-plus yards and receptions of 30-plus yards) the past two seasons combined. That's 51 behind the NFL leader Baltimore Ravens (82).
Evan Engram, TE
Engram agreed to a one-year, fully-guaranteed deal worth $9 million that could reach $10 million with incentives, sources told Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler.
What it means: The Jaguars finally have -- for a year, at least -- a tight end that consistently produces in the pass game. The fewest catches Engram has had in a season in his five-year career was 44 in 2019. The Jaguars have had only three tight ends catch more passes in a season in franchise history: Kyle Brady (64 in 2000), Marcedes Lewis (58 in 2010 and 52 in 2012) and Julius Thomas (46 in 2015). Engram evolved into more of a slot tight end in the latter part of his career with the New York Giants, and he'll pair with Dan Arnold, whom the Jaguars traded for last season, as tight ends that can be moved around.
What's the risk: The Jaguars have struggled to find any consistent production at tight end since Lewis was cut in 2018, and everything they've tried has backfired. That doesn't mean Engram won't have success, especially since tight ends have thrived under Doug Pederson. The question is where does this leave Chris Manhertz and Luke Farrell on game days. Manhertz was signed last year as a blocker, and Farrell was a sixth-round pick, and Baalke said at the combine they like Farrell. Don't rule out a tight end in the draft, either. Seeing how the team uses the group will be something to watch early in the season.
Zay Jones, WR
The Jags reportedly agreed to terms with Jones on a three-year deal.
What it means: The Jaguars now have their No. 3 receiver in Jones, which should mean less opportunities for Laviska Shenault, who led the team and finished tied for second in the NFL with eight drops in 2021. Adding Jones and Kirk to go along with Marvin Jones is an upgrade from the top three receivers in 2021, and with Jamal Agnew returning from injury, the Jaguars should feel good about their top five. They'll likely target a receiver in the draft, too.
What's the risk: Jones' touchdown production was low. He caught nine touchdown passes in his first two seasons (2017-18) but has just two since on 115 catches. However, for the past two seasons he's been competing for balls with Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow, and in 202, Henry Ruggs as well. He should get more opportunities in Jacksonville.
Darious Williams, CB
Williams and the Jaguars came to terms on a three-year contract worth up to $39 million, according to Adam Schefter.
What it means: The Jaguars needed a third cornerback, and Williams joins Shaquill Griffin, whom the Jaguars signed to a three-year, $40 million contract last year, and Tyson Campbell, whom the Jaguars drafted with the first pick in the second round in 2021.
Campbell struggled early in the season, but his play improved significantly when the Jaguars went with more zone. Williams didn't have an interception last season, but he has six in his five-year career, though he has started only 26 games and played in 46. Griffin has six career interceptions but has 67 starts in 71 games.
What's the risk: Do they have a solution in the slot? Campbell played only 64 snaps in the slot last season (per NextGen stats), which was just 7.7% of his snaps. Williams played 91 snaps in the slot (10.2% of his snaps) last season and has played 113 snaps there in his five-year career. Griffin played just 33 last year and 157 in his five-year career. Was Williams signed to play inside or is Campbell moving inside? That position has become as important as outside corner, but it's a different skill set that would seem to fit Williams better.
Laquon Treadwell, WR
Terms of their agreement have not been released.
What it means: Treadwell caught 31 of his 33 receptions last season in the final seven games and had his only touchdown catch in the season finale. It took him a while to get going, but he was as effective as Marvin Jones Jr. in the final four weeks (both had 19 catches). With Jones back and the team adding Christian Kirk and Zay Jones in free agency, Treadwell will be in a fight with Laviska Shenault Jr. and likely a rookie for the No. 4 spot during camp.
What's the risk: This is a low-risk signing. There's more risk for Shenault because the 2020 second-round pick could find himself on the roster bubble if Treadwell out-performs him during camp and the preseason, especially since a receiver the Jaguars draft in the second or third round is pretty much guaranteed to make the roster.
Ryan Santoso, K
Terms of the contract have yet to be released.
What it means: Santosa, who recently spent time on the Rams' practice squad, is being signed to push Matthew Wright. Wright emerged as the replacement for Josh Lambo last season and made 21 of 24 field goal attempts, including going 4 for 6 from beyond 50 yards. Wright doesn't have a big leg despite the success from long range, and the team used punter Logan Cooke to kick off until Cooke suffered a knee injury late in the season. Santoso has appeared in only seven games in his career (2019-21) and has made 4 of 5 field goal attempts.
What's the risk: Wright not being able to get the ball into the end zone consistently on kickoffs (six touchbacks on 31 kickoffs) was an issue last season, which is why the Jaguars used Cooke. Santoso (6-foot-5, 258 pounds), who is much bigger than Wright (6-foot, 179), was a kicker his first two seasons at the University of Minnesota and was the Gophers' punter in his final two, so he has done both.
Xavier Crawford, CB
Details of the contract were not immediately released.
What it means: This is a special teams signing for the Jaguars, who ranked 31st in kickoff coverage and had a punt blocked and returned for a touchdown. Crawford emerged as a special teamer with the Chicago Bears last season and played in 13 games, which was more than he played in his first two seasons combined (eight). The Jaguars are not bringing back linebacker/end Lerentee McCray, who was a core special teams player, and the hope is Crawford can be one of the players who fills that role.
What's the risk: Crawford played 139 snaps on defense for the Bears last season, so he can be used in the secondary if needed or injuries mount. Don't expect the same kind of payoff the Jaguars got on safety Rudy Ford last season. They signed Ford mainly to play special teams, but he ended up being their best slot corner and played a career-high 423 snaps on defense. The Jaguars are in good shape at corner with Shaquill Griffin, Tyson Campbell and Darious Williams.
Arden Key, DE
Contract details were not immediately available.
What it means: The Jaguars are trying to address their edge rushing issue. Key had the best season of his career in 2021 (6.5 sacks), but he's not an impact pass-rusher (he has just 9.5 sacks in 54 career games) and played only 35% of the 49ers' defensive snaps last season. Key is an upgrade from K'Lavon Chaisson, the 20th overall pick in 2020, who has just two sacks in 31 career games, at the other outside linebacker spot opposite Josh Allen. This is a good first step in trying to address their biggest defensive weakness.
What's the risk: This is a low-risk move, especially if the team believes that Key's 2021 season indicates he has finally figured some things out. If it's an outlier and he ends up being the same player who recorded three sacks in the first 37 games of his career, the Jaguars have at least added someone who could be more effective than Chaisson.