Top Jaguars free agents of the Dave Caldwell era: No. 6 Jermey Parnell

We’re counting down the top Jacksonville Jaguars free agents of the Dave Caldwell era. In at No. 6 is the only one left from the 2015 class — Jermey Parnell.

In the third year of general manager Dave Caldwell’s rebuild, the team desperately needed a right tackle. Luke Joeckel was still a question mark, but he was firmly entrenched as the short-term solution on the left side — who would play the right side?

Enter free agent Jermey Parnell.

Parnell was a basketball player at Ole Miss before a short stint playing at defensive end for the football team. Parnell was originally signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent and spent time on the practice squad playing defensive end, tight end, and defensive tackle before finally settling on offensive tackle. He bounced around a few teams before sticking with the Dallas Cowboys.

After the Cowboys decided to let him walk, he became the richest offensive lineman in Jaguars history, signing a five-year, $32 million contract with $13 million guaranteed.

Parnell was inconsistent in the beginning and then had an awful 2016 season, but this past season he blossomed and was an important part of the offense, allowing just 2.5 sacks in the regular season and zero sacks in the playoffs. He’s played all but four games in his three seasons here in Jacksonville.