After arguably overachieving and getting ahead of schedule during the 2022 season, the Jacksonville Jaguars took a step back during the 2023 campaign.
They won eight of their first 11 games, but they struggled afterward and missed the playoffs, and now it’s back to the drawing board for them.
On Thursday, they made a move ahead of free agency when they restructured the contract of guard Brandon Scherff, per Ian Rapoport.
The #Jaguars are closing in on a restructured contract for guard Brandon Scherff, source said, allowing them to keep a big part of their O-line in Jacksonville. Scherff had a cap number of $24M.
So both guards — Ezra Cleveland and Scherff — stick around.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2024
Scherff has spent nine seasons in the NFL and the last two years with Jacksonville, and he has been named to the Pro Bowl five times, with his most recent selection coming in 2021 as a member of Washington.
As Rapoport pointed out, Thursday’s move will help the team keep its offensive line intact while perhaps making it easier for it to secure an upgrade or two in that category.
The Jaguars had one of the NFL’s weakest offensive lines in 2023, and perhaps it was a factor in quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s production regressing compared to the previous season.
While they have a nice core, especially on offense, wide receiver Calvin Ridley, who led them in receiving yards and touchdowns, is about to become a free agent, and it will cost them plenty of money to secure him on a new contract.
In addition, the rest of the AFC South has gotten more competitive thanks to the rise of the Houston Texans and their rookie star QB C.J. Stroud.
NEXT:
Jaguars Are Releasing Veteran Defender