Abry Jones is one of the most underpaid players in the NFL

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been near the top of the league year after year when it comes to free agency spending. So it should come as no surprise that when Danny Kelly from The Ringer looked for players who could be considered underpaid, he came up empty.

Here’s what Kelly had to say about Jones.

Jacksonville Jaguars: DT Abry Jones

Contract: A four-year, $15.5 million contract signed in February 2017

Average annual value: $3.88 million (29th among DTs)

2017 salary and bonuses: $4 million (28th among DTs)

Total guaranteed at signing: $6.5 million (30th among DTs)

After a few years of outspending just about everyone in free agency in an attempt to build out a talented core nucleus, there’s just about … uh, zero non-rookie-contract players on the Jaguars that could be considered underpaid. But since we have to pick one, the closest thing is Jones, a 25-year-old defensive lineman who re-signed with the team in February. Jones filled in for starter Roy Miller when Miller went down with an Achilles tear in Week 7 last year, and played well in nine starts, collecting 32 tackles and a pass defensed. At 6-foot-4 and 318 pounds, he’s a stout run defender and has the athleticism to move all around the line, providing valuable depth at both interior spots and on the strongside end.

I think I actually value Jones a little more highly than Kelly, or even fellow Jaguars fans. Jones is a guy who joined the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2013 and earned a spot on the 53-man roster, eventually playing his way onto the field. In 2014 he was firmly entrenched as a depth player.

Then in 2016, he battled through a very crowded defensive line group here in Jacksonville, earning the primary backup spot at nose tackle behind run-stuffer Roy Miller.

Jones eventually took over as the team’s starting nose tackle when Miller went down for the season with an Achilles injury. Jones isn’t the run-stuffer Miller is, but I’d say he’s the better overall player as he brings an added dimension as pass rusher. He played himself into a long term extension and has earned the starting nose tackle spot.