The Jacksonville Jaguars are spending the most money so far in Free Agency 2022. Also sensible? ran analyses the new additions of the weakest team of 2021.

Munich/Jacksonville – “We will be aggressive in the upcoming Free Agency.”

General manager Trent Baalke trumpeted the Jacksonville Jaguars’ strategy loudly weeks ago.

And the 58-year-old kept his word. The Jaguars picked up six high-priced free agents in the first few hours of free agency and also franchise tagged tackle Cam Robinson. But was it all a wise investment?

ran does the check and analyses the situation around the team that may draft first in the draft.

Wide receiver Christian Kirk (4 years, 72 million)

The most expensive addition is receiver Christian Kirk. The 25-year-old played for the Arizona Cardinals during his rookie contract, gaining 2,902 yards of space and 17 touchdowns in four years.

The Jaguars’ receiving corps was in desperate need of improvement, there’s no question about that. Kirk will be a welcome addition for Trevor Lawrence, with his speed and agility helping the second-year quarterback.

However, Kirk’s price – $18 million a year salary – seems very high, too high for many experts. He mutates into one of the five highest-paid receivers in the NFL with his new contract.

Tight end Evan Engram (1 year, 9 million)

For years, the Jaguars have been searching for a reliable pass receiver at the tight end position. After Dan Arnold, a good blocker, joined the team last season, Jacksonville now signed Evan Engram from the New York Giants.

The 27-year-old was considered one of the league’s most promising young tight ends in his rookie year – posting 722 yards and six touchdowns in 2017. However, his production steadily declined after that, aside from 2020.

Potentially, Engram could be just what the Jaguars have long been looking for. With only one year left on his contract, the franchise also isn’t committing too long to the former No. 88 pick of the Giants should things not spark with Lawrence as hoped.

Wide receiver Zay Jones (3 years, 24 million)

Besides Kirk and 2020 signing Marvin Jones Jr, Zay Jones is now the third strongman in the Jaguars’ receiving corps.

With the Las Vegas Raiders, the 26-year-old excelled with speed and depth, but rarely found the end zone, all of twice in three seasons – and on 115 catches.

In the right system, Jones can shine, but his productivity needs to increase.

Guard Brandon Scherff (3 years, 49.5 million)

The Jaguars’ second major construction site was the offensive line. While quarterback Lawrence wasn’t sacked often (about twice a game), the running game didn’t get rolling. For more explosiveness on the ground, Jacksonville brought in guard Brandon Scherff from the Washington Commanders.

An absolutely sensible signing: five Pro Bowls and an All-Pro Team call-up testify to his quality. And Scherff, at 31, is still at a good age for O-linemen.

The big but: his susceptibility to injury. Since 2016, the guard has missed 22 games and hasn’t been able to play through a season.

Linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (3 years, 45 million)

The Jaguars strengthened their defence with the addition of linebacker Foyesade Oluokun. The player with the most tackles in the past NFL season (192) comes to Duval County from the Atlanta Falcons.

Oluokun is one of the best and most promising middle linebackers in the NFL, so the Jaguars are also securing themselves for the future at this immensely important position. And they are doing so relatively cheaply. Bobby Wagner, who was also traded to Jacksonville, would probably have been even more expensive.

Defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi (3yrs, 30 million)

For the line in front of the linebackers, the Jaguars brought in defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi from the New York Jets, where he has been a starter since 2019 after a quiet rookie year.

Fatukasi didn’t shine as a sack machine with the Jets (three in four seasons), and he was average at best in tackles (105). However, he adds much-needed depth for the Jaguars at that position, which is actually solidly manned.

Together with Malcolm Brown, DaVon Hamilton and Jay Tufele, he forms a unit that has to stop Derrick Henry and Jonathan Taylor twice a year. No one can do it alone.

Balance: improved Jaguars, but at what cost?

There should be no question that the Jaguars have improved significantly in the first few hours of Free Agency. However, at the sums mentioned, it’s the least they could do.

The franchise takes the term “rebuild” particularly seriously: The release of linebacker Myles Jack was particularly surprising, but it is emblematic of the clean cut that Baalke wants to make in Duval County.

Many experts and fans seem to have reservations about the price the Jaguars paid for their new players. No one knows who is worth how much in March, though.

In any case, a well-founded stocktaking only really makes sense after the draft at the end of April.

However, a first step back to old strength seems to have been taken.