JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- If there was any doubt that the Jacksonville Jaguars had cornerback as their No. 1 priority heading into free agency, it’s gone now.
The team’s release of Davon House on Monday leaves the Jaguars with just five cornerbacks on the roster: Jalen Ramsey, Aaron Colvin, Josh Johnson, Akeem Davis and Doran Grant. Only Ramsey and Colvin have started games in the NFL.
Johnson played in eight games last season and made one of the biggest plays of the season when he knocked away Andrew Luck's fourth-down pass to tight end Dwayne Allen to secure the Jaguars’ 30-27 victory over Indianapolis in London. Davis was signed to the practice squad in October and played in the final two games on special teams. Grant was signed to the practice squad in October and has yet to appear in an NFL game.
Because of that lack of experience, it’s clear the Jaguars have to aggressively pursue a corner in free agency to start opposite Ramsey (the Jaguars like playing Colvin as the nickel). Whether it’s A.J. Bouye, Stephon Gilmore, or Logan Ryan, the Jaguars need to end this week with one of those players under contract.
It certainly won’t be cheap. Bouye is expected to land a deal that pays him $12 million annually, though that number certainly could be higher if there’s a bidding war. Same for Gilmore, who is reportedly seeking a top-five cornerback salary, which would be around $14 million.
There are seven teams that have more than $50 million in cap space, including three with more than $70 million. The Jaguars have the second-most space behind Cleveland ($104.1 million).
Bringing back Prince Amukamara is an option if the Jaguars -- who have $79.3 million in cap space after House’s $6 million cap hit/salary is off the books -- are unable to sign one of the big-time corners. Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell said last week the team planned to let Amukamara test the market in free agency, which also was a sign the team was targeting cornerback as the team’s No. 1 need. At that point, the Jaguars already were shopping House for a potential trade.
Amukamara was solid last season, though he was Pro Football Focus’ 42nd ranked cornerback, and defensive coordinator Todd Wash said last December that he hoped that Amukamara would be back in 2018.
Amukamara signed a one-year contract worth $5.5 million. He missed 13 games in 2014-15 because of injury and needed to prove he could stay healthy. He played in 14 games in 2016 (he missed the first two with a hamstring injury) and totaled 49 tackles and five pass breakups.
