The Jaguars signed backup offensive lineman Richard Collier to a contract extension Friday and also signed undrafted rookie free-agent wide receiver Derek Richards.Richards' addition means the Jaguars have 14 undrafted rookies who have signed contracts, plus five draft picks who have yet to sign, bringing their roster total to 85 players.
All 19 rookies arrived in Jacksonville on Friday and will be on the field Monday for the second week of organized team activities. Rookies weren't allowed to report for OTAs before May 15 because of an agreement the NFL has with the NCAA.
Collier, originally signed by the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent out of Valdosta State in 2006, has played in just eight games in his first three seasons with one start. Last year, he was suspended for two games after being arrested on a DUI charge.
No contract terms were disclosed for Collier, who was due to make $455,000 this year. He's the backup left tackle behind Khalif Barnes.
Full article
This is the reason our salary cap is so strong. It's the little moves like this which have a lasting impact on a team. You sign players that you expect to continually improve and perform for you to extensions early on at a lower salary. It's called forward thinking and I love it.
Chris has a great piece on the WR position which talks about the new UDFA and I hear he's got scary speed and PR/KR abilities. Scouting, scouting, scouting, it's why the Jags have such a strong roster.
Here at BCC we read between the lines and bring you the real story. This could spell the end of Khalif Barnes, as he's been on coach Del Rio's bad side for awhile now. Off the field incidents and inconsistent play have plagued his entire tenure with the Jaguars.
This may be a signal of Collier's ascension to the starting role. You always want to lock up a guy who's going to be a starter for you, especially if you can do so at a back-up's salary. That appears to be what the Jaguars have planned because even if Collier doesn't supplant Barnes this season, this extension makes a long-term deal for Barnes less likely.