Malik Jackson signs with the Jacksonville Jaguars
By jonfox
The Jaguars have become a sort of retirement home for Denver Broncos free agents. Julian Thomas and Zane Beadles moved from the mile high city to north florida in recent years. And now, despite having Dante Fowler coming back from injury and playing a defense Jackson didn’t thrive in, they gave Jackson 90 million over 6 years. The Broncos got stung by this loss, but Wade Phillips should be able to replace him.
It’s hard to justify this contract by the Jags. Jackson was very good in 2015, but there’s a number of red flags about his great season. First, he only put it together in his contract year. He only thrived in Wade Phillips’ 3-4 defense. And thrived with a galaxy of star talent around him in the defensive front seven. And now he’s being asked to carry a defensive front 7 in a defense he’s never played and doesn’t seem to fit his skill set.
So how will this effect both teams’ draft plans:
For the Jaguars: scratch off any defensive linemen from their draft board. With Odrick, Fowler, Jackson and others, they’re set at the line. They should be going after help for their defensive backfield in the first round if they want to emulate the Seattle defense which Gus Bradley coached. If they’re not going to help out the offense in round 1, then a prospect like Vernon Hargreaves III or William Jackson III in the first round.
For the Broncos: they’re going to have to replace Jackson and cheaply. With other defensive players leaving via free agency and no answers at quarterback right now, they might have to draft “best player available” in round 1 and not pass on a top 5 tech defensive end. Fortunately there’s a number of good 5 tech prospects in this draft.