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The Jacksonville Jaguars spent the first day of free agency signing guys who will contribute on offense and defense, whereas they spent yesterday securing guys who would be special teams aces and role players.
How did the team do in Day 2? We grade each of the players.
DB Cody Davis: 2-year deal worth $5 million ($2.5 million in guarantees)
The Jaguars need help on special teams after several games with key breakdowns on coverages and special teams plays. (The Los Angeles Rams game sticks out like a sore thumb.)
To remedy that, they signed Davis who has played primarily on special teams. He’s played in all but 15 games in his five-year career. He’s got 42 tackles, two interceptions, and seven passes defended.
It’s not a flashy signing, but it’s a needed one. We had a top-heavy team and special teams suffered at times last year because of it. Davis will do well in his new role and the team said he’ll compete for that No. 3 safety position too.
Grade: B
TE Niles Paul: 2-year deal worth $4.75 million ($1.5 million guaranteed)
Another special teams guy who is very versatile on offense. He won’t get a lot of snaps with the offense, but he will be used in a variety of ways.
"Niles Paul is a really versatile player. Incredible special teams player. We can play him at fullback, tight end, H-back."
— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) March 15, 2018
— #Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell
He’ll have very specific plays and packages featuring him, but don’t look for him to take over the tight end position from Marcedes Lewis or Austin Seferian-Jenkins.
Grade: B
DB Don Carey: Contract not known yet
Day 2 is all about special teams, folks.
Carey is the oldest (and most experienced) of the free agents the Jaguars signed and he said that special teams coach Joe DeCamillis helped sell him on coming back to the Jaguars.
“I spoke with [DeCamillis] on the phone when the news broke that I was coming here,” Carey said according to the team’s official website. “We had a good conversation. I love the schemes he runs. I love his attitude, so I’m happy to learn and work with him.”
Carey was the player who Gene Smith infamously claimed after he was waived/injured by the Cleveland Browns, which is a big faux paux in league circles since a lot of teams have kind of a wink wink agreement to not make those kinds of moves and allow the player to revert to injured reserve.
Carey left Jacksonville after 2010 and had a nice little career with the Detroit Lions playing 84 games, starting 12, as a depth safety and special teams ace. This likely signals that defensive back Peyton Thompson will not be back for the Jaguars, as Carey would appear to fill the same role.
Grade: B
TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins: 2-year deal worth $10 million
This was about as surprising a Day 2 signing as there was.
The Jaguars had already signed Niles Paul, but he was more as a depth and special teams addition than a starting tight end. With Seferian-Jenkins however, one would think he’s going to at worst be splitting time with Marcedes Lewis.
Seferian-Jenkins has had an interesting and rocky NFL career after being a star tight end in college. He battled injuries early in his NFL career and was productive when healthy, but he also had some off-the-field issues including a DUI that sparked his release with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Last season with the New York Jets in 13 games, Seferian-Jenkins had 50 receptions for just under 400 yards and three touchdowns. The addition of Seferian-Jenkins should give the Jaguars someone who can play in base and passing formations while offering a passing outlet, which is what they’re looking for as a run-first team.
Grade: B
What do you think? How did their Day 2 haul look? It’s obviously mostly depth and special teams signings, but they’re quality players who look better than what we had at those depth positions last season.