Armed with the most cap space in the NFL, many hoped the Jaguars would make a big, splash signing Monday, the first day NFL teams were able to enter negotiations with pending free agents. However, most of the big names remain on the open market -- and the Jaguars instead opted for specific, niche players.
The first reported signing: now-former Bears defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris. The two sides have reportedly agreed to a three-year, $24.4 million deal. Robertson-Harris is projected as a defensive end in a 3-4 scheme; many have presumed the Jaguars are headed towards such a scheme with the addition of defensive coordinator Joe Cullen from Baltimore. In 52 career games with the Bears, Robertson-Harris had 7.5 sacks, 70 tackles and 30 quarterback hits.
The next domino to fall: return specialist Jamal Agnew. An All-Pro his rookie season, Agnew has four career punt return touchdowns and one kick-off return for touchdown. Agnew has spent his entire career with the Detroit Lions, where Jaguars offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell came from. While he'll take up one of 53 roster spots as the return man, Agnew's contributions as a wide receiver are limited: he has just 16 catches for 105 yards in four seasons.
Another special teams move for the Jaguars came in the signing of Rudy Ford to a two-year deal. The safety spent last season with the Philadelphia Eagles after spending his first three seasons in Arizona.
All contracts and trades will become official upon the league year beginning on Wednesday, March 17 at 4 p.m.
