1 AFC team reportedly causing issues across NFL in free agency
One AFC team is causing some issues across the NFL in free agency over their big-time spending, according to a report.
The Jacksonville Jaguars spent big in free agency, agreeing to deals with multiple players on Monday, including several pass-catchers.
The most notable deal came with Christian Kirk. The Jags and Kirk agreed to a 4-year, $72 million deal worth up to $84 million. That’s a big deal for a receiver who has never had a 1,000-yard season in his career and topped out at 77 catches for 982 yards and 5 touchdowns last season.
On top of that, the Jags gave receiver Zay Jones a 3-year, $24 million deal. Jones had just 47 catches for 546 yards and 1 touchdown last season.
Other Jags deals include:
– Tight end Evan Engram on a one-year, $9 million deal
– Defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi on a three-year, $30 million contract
– Linebacker Foyesade Oluokun on a three-year, $45 million contract
– Guard Brandon Scherff on a three-year, $49.5 million deal
CBS Sports NFL reporter Jonathan Jones says the Jags’ big spending has caused issues for other teams around the league. Agents want to use the contract figures players agreed to with the Jags as a basis for their clients, while teams do not want to.
Trent Baalke and the Jags have thrown the free-agency market out of whack. Agents, rightly, want to negotiate deals for their players based off Jax's valuations. The other teams are saying "not so fast."
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) March 15, 2022
Wow, what a strategy by the Jags. Did they unintentionally just bankrupt all their opponents?
Jacksonville went 3-14 last season and had tons of salary cap space, which explains why they were eager to spend money to upgrade their roster. Specifically, they want to help Trevor Lawrence, which is why they invested in some receivers for their young quarterback.
Agents, especially those representing wide receivers, love what the Jags did. Teams that have to negotiate with said receivers do not.
Photo: Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke during Friday afternoon’s press conference at TIAA Bank Field. After his arrival in Jacksonville, Florida Friday morning, April 30, 2021, Jacksonville Jaguars first-round draft pick Trevor Lawrence along with team owner Shad Khan, head coach Urban Meyer and the Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke held a press conference in the afternoon inside TIAA Bank Field. They were also joined by the Jaguars 25th pick in the first round of the draft and former Clemson teammate of Lawrence, running back Travis Etienne. Bob Self/Florida Times-Union
