Report: Jaguars agree to terms with return specialist Jamal Agnew

According to a report from NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo, the Jaguars will be signing former Detroit Lions punt-return specialist Jamal Agnew. It will be a three-year deal, maxing out at $21M with incentives, he says.

The Jaguars can agree to terms with players, but no one can officially sign until the new league year begins on Wednesday, March 17 at 4:00 p.m. ET.

Agnew took to Twitter to make the announcement himself, too.

Agnew, 25, first entered the league in 2017 after being selected by the Lions in the fifth round. He would go on to become one of the best return specialists in the NFL, making first-team All-Pro in his first season with Detroit. He returned 29 punts for 447 and two touchdowns during the year. He added 11 kick returns for 196 yards on the year.

Since his rookie season, Agnew has returned 45 punts for 410 yards and two touchdowns. He has added 53 kick returns for 1,453 yards and a touchdown. The Lions utilized him much more like a kick returner in recent years, including 28 returns for 783 yards just last season.

He has averaged 11.6 yards per punt return and 25.8 yards per kick return in his career.

The Jaguars are adding speed at the position along with experience. Agnew reportedly ran a 4.34 40-yard dash, and it clearly shows on film.

Agnew has a connection with the team’s coaching staff, playing for Jaguars offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell last season.

With both of the team’s return specialists, receivers Dede Westbrook and Keelan Cole, likely heading to different teams via free agency, the Jaguars had a serious need at the position.

While the team did attempt to address their return game last year by drafting speedster Chris Claybrooks in the seventh round, he was largely a disappointment in that area, at least during his rookie season.