Top Jaguars free agents of the Dave Caldwell era: No. 7 Sen’Derrick Marks

We’re counting down the top Jacksonville Jaguars free agents of the Dave Caldwell era. In at No. 7 is one of his first signings — Sen’Derrick Marks.

Sen’Derrick Marks was in the very first Jaguars free agency class under Caldwell, but he was one of the least expensive, signing one-year “prove it” contract. Originally signed to be a run stuffing defensive lineman, the team quickly realized how good he was getting into the backfield and putting pressure on the quarterback. He quickly earned a starting role and was one of the best players on the team in 2013.

Before the end of his first year with the Jaguars, Marks was handed a four-year, $22 million deal, paying off his “prove it” deal. And he followed up his initial season picking up 8.5 sacks from the defensive tackle spot in 2014, including hitting a bonus with a sack against the Tennessee Titans before tearing his ACL in the final game of the season.

But after a couple of seasons, the team upgraded at defensive line through the draft and free agency, handing Malik Jackson a huge contract in 2016, drafting Notre Dame’s Sheldon Day a few months later, and handing Calais Campbell another huge contract in 2017.

Marks was reportedly on the trade block just before free agency and then cut after the team couldn’t find any trade partners.

In his final season with the team, Marks was vocal about not being happy as a back up for the Jaguars and his lack of playing time, but when he played he still played his butt off. Though Marks wasn’t nearly as effective as he was prior to his unfortunate string of injuries, he’s likely still able to offer something to a team this season.

As mentioned Marks wasn’t happy about his diminished role on the Jaguars, he says he has no ill will towards the Jaguars and will be a fan of the team for life.

”Came to Jacksonville [in 2013], had tremendous amounts of fun, [and] enjoyed football more than I ever have in the first couples years while I was here,” Marks told ESPN’s Mike DiRocco in 2017. “We didn’t win much, but I still had a ton of fun. The experiences, you can’t trade them in. Jacksonville made me rich, you know what I mean, and you can’t say that don’t matter.”

Marks ended his time in Jacksonville having played 52 games with 16.0 sacks, 84 tackles, 14 passes defended, and two forced fumbles.