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Gene Frenette: Jaguars' roster good enough to reduce dependency on signing pricey free agents
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- Gene Frenette: Jaguars' roster good enough to reduce dependency on signing pricey free agents
Two years ago, the Jaguars dropped a then NFL-record $266 million in free agency on eight players — highlighted by the acquisitions of receiver Christian Kirk , linebacker Foye Oluokun and tight end Evan Engram — that paved the way for their first playoff appearance in five years.
After going light in free agency in 2023, GM Trent Baalke went back to the spending well this offseason by signing likely starters Arik Armstead , Gabe Davis and Mitch Morse . He also dipped big-time into the Jaguars' treasury with huge contract extensions for pass-rusher Josh Allen and quarterback Trevor Lawrence .
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So after all that necessary splurging, it was no surprise last week when owner Shad Khanessentially waved a stop sign.
Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan and Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan sign copies of a proclamation on the new stadium agreement ahead of Wednesday's event. Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan, Jaguars president Mark Lamping, Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan and the city of Jacksonville's chief negotiator on the stadium deal Mike Weinstein met at the Jaguars Miller Electric Center Wednesday, June 26, 2024 to address the media and team personnel about the newly approved stadium renovation deal. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]
More from Gene: Jaguars stadium deal happened because nobody could afford paying price of failure
Despite the availability of free agents like cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore and Xavien Howard — both listed with the top two odds by SportsBetting.ag to sign with the Jaguars, among top two favorites to sign with the Jaguars — Khan smartly urged his front office to resist spending lavishly on outside talent for the time being.
"I think there's a sea change for us," Khan told a select group of Jaguars media. "This is for coaching, they got to develop young players. Our solution isn't we're going to be signing free agents every year.
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"So you have a bunch of these kids we're drafting, plus really, I think, we have five of the top 25 undrafted players and they came here by choice for many different reasons. Bottom line is, that young talent has to be developed.
"The coaching, the coaching staff, their priorities have to change, the mindset has to change. That's where we're going to get our future players. We can't have this addiction to free agency."
Easy to say, but can the Jaguars — still in the top NFL quartile of available salary cap space at nearly $30 million — back off from spending when opportunities arise to acquire veteran free agents that can upgrade the roster?
Trying to show fiscal restraint versus making aggressive moves to chase a Super Bowl ring is one of the toughest balancing acts for any NFL front office.
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Here's the reality: the Jaguars have spent plenty of money to build their best roster in recent years. It has Allen, Lawrence and Travon Walker ascending toward their prime, a promising receiving corps, plus some quality veterans to bolster a leadership component that wasn't good enough last season down the stretch.
The Jaguars should trust the expensive, solid roster they've built. At some point, you can't throw big money at every position of concern.
What the Jaguars have is a pretty good hand to win the AFC South. Play it and see what happens.
London a necessary backup plan
Jaguars fans who might be casting a suspicious eye about one provision in the recent stadium agreement passage, specifically the team retaining the option of playing three home games in London in 2027, need to relax.
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This is not any kind of preemptive strike by Khan or team president Mark Lampingto push more home games across the Atlantic.
It's merely an insurance policy, with all games being played that season outside of Jacksonville, in the unlikely event that unforeseen conflicts arise trying to get all the necessary home dates at Camping World Stadium in Orlando or Florida Field in Gainesville.
"We wanted to have a safety net in the event there was some issue that we couldn't schedule all our games either at Camping World Stadium or Florida Field or a combination of those two," said Lamping. "That safety net exists only one time, and that's exclusively in 2027."
Even if the NFL goes to an 18-game schedule, the Jaguars are well aware taking a second home game to London makes for bad optics.
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My guess is that will never happen, except maybe during the one season the team must play all home games outside of Jacksonville.
Jaguars trivia
In Jaguars history, five undrafted players have earned a Pro Bowl berth, but only one at a full-time position outside of special teams. Who is it? Answer at the bottom.
Gabriel chasing NCAA history
No school-hopping quarterback has enjoyed playing in more pass-friendly offenses than Dillon Gabriel , who started out at UCF, transferred to Oklahoma and is on the move again to Oregon for his sixth and final year of eligibility.
Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel throws during warmups ahead of the Oregon Ducks’ Spring Game Saturday, April 27. 2024 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.
With 14,865 passing yards and 125 TD passes, Gabriel stands eighth on the all-time NCAA list in both categories and could well own those marks if he stays healthy in the Ducks' high-powered offense.
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Gabriel may need the benefit of at least two playoff games to catch No. 1 Case Keenum (Houston), who holds the NCAA record with 19,217 yards and 155 TD passes. While Gabriel needs 4,353 yards and 31 TDs to surpass Keenum, that is doable in an Oregon offense that saw Bo Nix throw 470 passes last season for a total of 4,508 yards and 45 TDs.
The passing yardage record will be tougher to reach, but seven other Power 4 quarterbacks, including the Jaguars' Mac Jones at Alabama (2020), have passed for at least 4,500 yards just in the past five years.
By gaining an extra year due to COVID-19, Gabriel has a real shot at being the NCAA all-time passing king.
LeBron runs Lakers' show
With Bronny James signing a fully guaranteed, four-year $7.9 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, that tells you everything you need to know about who's really running the operation.
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It's not GM Rob Pelinka or newly hired coach J.J. Redick, but LeBron James, Bronny's father, who just signed a $104 million extension to stay with the Lakers.
EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 02: Bronny James #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks with the media during a press conference at UCLA Health Training Center on July 02, 2024 in El Segundo, California. The Lakers selected Bronny James and Dalton Knecht in the 2024 NBA Draft. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The head-scratcher was Bronny receiving a fully guaranteed deal, quite uncommon for a late second-round pick at No. 55. Bronny's agent did enough pre-draft persuading to discourage other NBA teams from drafting his client, so it was kind of rigged for the Lakers to land LeBron's kid.
Bronny getting such a lucrative contract, especially with his well-documented medical issues, also tells us something else: UConn coach Dan Hurleymade a wise decision by turning down the Lakers.
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Quick-hitting nuggets
Ric Serritellaof AllAccessFootball.com listed his top-5 players for the 2025 NFL Draft at 12 different positions for Lindy's magazine. Not surprisingly, 26 hailed from the SEC. The bad news for coach Billy Napierand the Florida Gators went beyond having no players on the list. Seven UF opponents have 18 of those top NFL prospects, including quarterbacks Quinn Ewers (Texas), Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss) and Carson Beck (Georgia), a Mandarin High product. ...
Hank Haney, the one-time coach for Tiger Woods, spouts a lot of opinions that don't always hit the mark, but he's right about U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeaudeserving to be one of four Americans competing at the Paris Olympics. While DeChambeau is ranked lower than Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clarkand Collin Morikawa, being the U.S. Open champ and still owning a No. 9 world ranking despite the lack of access for LIV golfers to OWGR points should be enough to get him to Paris.
I'd give DeChambeau the nod over either Clark or Morikawa, who has only one victory in the last three years.
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Triva answer
The only undrafted player in Jaguars history to make the Pro Bowl outside of special teams was cornerback A.J. Bouyein 2017. Four other undrafted players — kicker Mike Hollis, Montell Owens and punters Bryan Barkerand Chris Hansonwere special-team selections.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars owner Shad Khan doesn't want team 'addicted' to free agency
