The Jacksonville Jaguars largely sat out of the opening wave of free agency, avoiding giving out big contracts and showing confidence in the quality on the roster and the talent evaluation of the front office ahead of April’s draft. At the same time, a number of key names have departed Jacksonville since Wednesday, leaving some holes to fill.
Whilst the mega deals will inevitably steal the limelight at this time of year, it is often said that the true winners of free agency are those who do their
business in the ‘second wave’ – the period just after most of the star names have found new homes. That second wave begins now, so who is left out there that could be of potential interest for James Gladstone and co? Here are some possible fits:
Joey Bosa, EDGE
It’s no secret that the Jags were in the Trey Hendrickson sweepstakes. The former Bengals pass rusher was courted by a number of teams, and Jacksonville were certainly in talks with his representatives. Hendricksen ultimately headed to Baltimore for $30m a year, a number that was probably too rich for a roster that boasts Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. But it does suggest that Gladstone is in the market for more depth at edge, so it will be interesting to see if anyone else in free agency is worth a gamble.
I was initially going to suggest AJ Epenesa as the pass rusher to target here, with concerns about Joey Bosa’s age and injury proneness. But further investigation shows that Bosa has played at least 14 games in each of the past two seasons, and is the same age as Hendrickson, so unlikely to be an issue for this front office. Epenesa is an alternative direction in a thin market, with Cameron Jordan and Jadeveon Clowney the only other big names looking for a new home. Perhaps the reduced workload could work well for Bosa’s longevity; the numbers would have to make sense, but it’s an option that is a little more obvious than it initially looks.
Trevon Diggs, CB
The Jaguars struck gold last year with the acquisition of Jourdan Lewis in free agency. And yet, the secondary remains one of the biggest concerns on this roster. Anthony Campanile’s unit delivered in clutch moments all season with key turnovers, and if they’re looking for someone in that mould, then perhaps Trevon Diggs could be of interest…
Diggs has played just 22 games over the past three years, a result of some niggling injuries and inconsistent play in Dallas and Green Bay. But he’s only 27, and at his peak was one of the most dangerous playmakers in the NFL, with an 11-interception season in 2021. A one-year prove-it deal might work here, giving Diggs a platform to get back to his best and little risk involved for the Jags, who likely will target the position in the draft as well.
Chris Paul, OG
The Jaguars’ offensive line took a big step in 2025, allowing Trevor Lawrence to have his best season in Jacksonville to date. Despite that, there are depth concerns, particularly on the interior, and if any starter should be looking over his shoulder it’s probably Patrick Mekari who is clinging on to the right guard spot.
A seventh-round pick by the Commanders in 2022, Chris Paul has worked his way up to become one of the best guards in the league, allowing only two sacks last year. Boasting a pass-block win rate of 95.4%, he’s probably looking for a bumper deal considering his career earnings amount to less than $4m. That being said, there’s a reason offensive linemen are being paid this year, and if bolstering Lawrence’s protection leads to similar improvements in 2026 then it would be money well spent.
Germaine Pratt, LB
The linebacker market is now very thin in free agency, with a slew of big names finding new homes very early. Jacksonville fell victim to this, with Devin Lloyd heading to Carolina for a big payday. Gladstone hasn’t panicked, despite Lloyd having a career year in 2025 and being one of the biggest turnover contributors on defense. But if he is in the market to bolster the position, then perhaps an AFC South rival has the solution.
Germaine Pratt’s 2025 didn’t start well, being released by the Raiders after just a handful of games. But he found his feet in Indianapolis, where he became a starter for the Colts. Pratt brings consistency to the position both against the run and pass, although he doesn’t have the same penchant for a splash play like Lloyd does. But leadership, instincts and 250 tackles in the past two seasons tells you he adds value, and likely at a reasonable rate too.
