JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The legal tampering period is open and that means NFL teams can work out contracts with free agents. Jamal St. Cyr and Justin Barney grade the reported contracts thus far. This will be updated as signings are announced. The team had reportedly agreed to sign kicker Will Lutz but he was reported to have had second thoughts and planned to return to Denver.
Sunday’s move
Quarterback Mac Jones
JSC: A+.
This is the low-risk, high-reward sort of deal. They spent a sixth-round pick for a backup QB. I can’t say that clearly enough … backup QB. But bringing in a guy from Jacksonville to give his career a fresh start is a win for Mac and it is a win for the Jaguars. Sixth-round picks aren’t exactly known for turning into superstars (outside of Tom Brady).
JB: A+.
I really like this move for a couple reasons. Take away the hometown element (he played at Bolles and grew up in Jacksonville) and look at this from purely a football perspective. Jones was the 15th pick in the 2021 draft. He led the Patriots to the playoffs as a rookie. Since then, Jones struggled with poor coaching, awful playcalling and a sharp loss in confidence.
Doug Pederson’s resume suggests that he’s a quarterback whisperer of sorts. Jones comes into a situation where he’s not being asked to rescue a franchise. He can rehab his confidence and his skills with little to no pressure. His salary is manageable (under $3 million) and the Jaguars only spent a sixth-round pick on Jones. It’s a low-risk, high-reward situation. At worst, Jones spends a year in Jacksonville as a backup and spins that into a better opportunity. Or, Jones could have a great preseason and the Jaguars can flip him for draft value. I love the move.
Monday’s moves
Cornerback Ronald Darby
JSC: B.
I like this deal. It is a good business move. Not a flashy splashy kind of signing but a good fit. The Jags were set to pay Darious Williams $10 million this year. Instead, they will give Darby that same amount over two years. It makes sense and Doug Pederson is familiar with Darby from his time with the Eagles. He can play in the slot and on the outside so that versatility is something they need. This is part of the solution but does not solve their cornerback problems. This signing should not stop them from possibly drafting a corner in the first round.
JB: C.
I had hoped for the Jaguars to add a veteran corner, but was hopeful it would have been a Stephon Gilmore type. Darby isn’t a bad signing, just a depth piece who will likely try and find a home in Williams’ old spot until a potential rookie first- or second-round pick moves into that role.
Kickoff returner/receiver Devin Duvernay
JSC: A+.
Looks like a Jamal Agnew replacement. Duvernay has been an All-Pro and is one of the better returners in the NFL. He also provides more offensive upside as a receiver. The Jags didn’t have to break the bank and should feel pretty good about locking up a high-level returner who could find his way into the receiver rotation. I love this move.
JB: B+.
On the surface, this looks to be a move to create competition for Parker Washington as a return man. The team likely won’t bring back Agnew, who is coming off a broken leg and is a free agent. Duvernay’s last season in Baltimore showed that he’d fallen out of favor as a receiver. Duvernay had four catches for 18 yards all season. Duvernay had 90 catches and five TDs across his first three seasons in the league.
Center Mitch Morse
JSC: A.
The Jaguars got a veteran center in town and didn’t let him leave! A two-year deal for $10.5 million is a really good deal for a center like Morse. It seems like the Jags are betting that with better center play the entire O-line will look better. Morse should provide and upgrade over what they got last year out of Luke Fortner. We will see if that was the center of the problem and if Morse was the code to fix it.
JB: A.
I like this signing better than I like the Ezra Cleveland extension. Morse fills perhaps the biggest hole on the roster, a capable, veteran at the weakest link on the offensive line. He was a Pro Bowl selection as recently as 2022. At worst, this move will push Fortner in camp. At best, it’s a bargain price for a starting center who could replace the shakiest roster spot on the team. I like this move quite a bit.
WR Gabe Davis
JSC: B-.
This is a deal similar to the Zay Jones signing a few years ago. A solid contract for a player who has produced but still has room to grow. Davis is a big play waiting to happen he has averaged over 15 yards per catch in every season of his career. He is the true deep threat the Jags have been missing. With that big play ability, he has also been a disappearing act at times. Davis was a boom-or-bust player for the Bills. If he can find some more consistency to his game with the Jags this could be a big addition.
JB: C+.
In theory, Davis could be a solid third receiver in a rotation with a true No. 1 and then Christian Kirk in the slot. He could push Zay Jones for reps at No. 3, and move into the third WR slot if Jones struggles with injuries like he did in 2023. But at a reported three years and $39 million, that’s low-end WR 3 money. I like this move much more if they re-sign Ridley, or (swing for the fences move) make a deal for Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins, who has requested a trade.
Safety Darnell Savage
JSC: C.
His last name alone makes me give this a positive grade. His jersey should be popular. Jokes aside, In a deep safety market, the Jaguars went and got a guy who has had at least one interception in every season of his career. Missed tackles have been a problem but that’s the only real downside to his game. As a Rayshawn Jenkins replacement, he makes sense as a younger, cheaper option. I still may have waited for the safety market to settle a little bit to see if one of the bigger fish would sign for a bargain.
JB: B-.
I think better options at a non-premium position likely existed, but I don’t hate the move. Savage slides into Jenkins’ spot. That suggests the team is still not fully ready to commit to second-year player Antonio Johnson as the direct safety option. Johnson is likely still the nickel and immediate backup at safety. Savage was the No. 21 pick in the 2019 draft and had a quality first two seasons in the league. He fell out of favor in Green Bay, so this represents a good reset for him.