Report: Jaguars to sign former Cardinals DL Rodney Gunter

According to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Jaguars will sign former Arizona Cardinals defensive end Rodney Gunter to a three-year deal. The deal cannot become official until after he passes a physical.

According to AP’s Mark Long, Gunter’s deal is set for three years, $18 million, which averages out to $6 million per year.

The Jaguars came into free agency with a need along the defensive line, and specifically at the team’s ‘big-end’ or strong-side defensive end position after trading away Calais Campbell. Now, according to Schefter, the Jaguars appear to have addressed that need in signing Gunter.

Gunter, 6-foot-5, 305 pounds was originally drafted by the Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft, and has spent the past five seasons with the team. He’s accumulated 126 total tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 29 quarterback hits, and 11 sacks in 38 starts.

The lengthy defensive lineman played his best football over the past two seasons while setting career highs across the board. After appearing in 29 games (23 starts), Gunter accumulated 52 solo tackles, two forced fumbles, 7.5 sacks, 19 quarterback hits, and 20 tackles for loss.

For the Jaguars, they’ll be getting a player who has shown the propensity to set the edge well in the run-game, along with providing some up-field pass-rushing ability. The Jaguars have struggled in the past to find a good replacement for Campbell as he was getting up there in age (34), now they hope to have that in Gunter.

Gunter also has the ability to play inside on third downs and provides depth along the defensive line overall. According to Pro Football Focus, Gunter played 261 snaps at right defensive tackle as well as 114 snaps at left end last season.