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Kelvin Beachum contract puts Luke Joeckel on notice

Newly signed Jaguars offensive lineman Kelvin Beachum doesn't appear to be signed as simply just a backup.

Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

The Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to terms on a two-year deal with veteran free agent offensive lineman Kelvin Beachum on Tuesday afternoon, a day after the team begged him not to get on a flight back to Pittsburgh. The full details of Beachum's contract aren't available yet, but according to Adam Schefter of ESPN, we do know that the first year of the deal doesn't appear to simply be backup money.

According to ESPN Insider Adam Schefter, Beachum will make $4.5 million in 2016 but can push that number to $6 million with incentives.

Beachum's deal is scheduled for him to currently make more than current Jaguars starting left tackle Luke Joeckel, which is right around $3.1 million, guaranteed. Neither of the deals is "too expensive" for one of these players to be the backup, but it certainly points to the fact that the Jaguars are likely willing to let Beachum try to win the starting left tackle position.

Beachum, 26, also has the ability to play the guard position, but during the free agent process he has been adamant he wants to continue playing the left tackle position. That's not a big surprise, because it's the money position, but he's also been pretty good there for the Pittsburgh Steelers prior to tearing his ACL in October of the 2015 NFL season.

It's possible that both Beachum and Joeckel start on the same offensive line, but I don't think he would have signed in Jacksonville if he wasn't going to be given a legitimate chance to be the team's starting left tackle.