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The Jacksonville Jaguars made nine free agent signings on the first day alone of the NFL's legal tampering period last week in an effort to begin reshaping the roster. But which of those moves was Pro Football Focus not a fan of?
Mason Cameron of PFF recently selected his favorite free agent signing for each team and his least favorite addition for each team. When it came to his least favorite move for the Jaguars, Cameron selected the Patrick Mekari signing. In large part, it has to do with the contract Mekari received.
"While Mekari is a starting-caliber offensive lineman, this is a lucrative deal for a player coming off the lowest-graded season of his career (59.0). The Jaguars are in serious need of starters up front to better protect their franchise quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, but this deal could come back to bite them should Mekari continue to regress."
Mekari signed a three-year, $37.5 million deal with $20 million guaranteed. Obviously, in this exercise by Cameron, something has to get selected, but I don't see Mekari's contract as a huge issue.
For one, the guard market has really taken off over the last two offseasons, not to mention that the league-wide salary cap made another big jump this year. In addition to that, while Mekari played guard last season in Baltimore and will likely fill that role for the Jaguars, he has the ability to play all five positions--so part of the contract cost is paying for that versatility, which gives the team flexibility.
In addition to that, with a cap hit of $6.33 million this season along with the Jaguars having an out after Year 2 if needed, it's not as if having Mekari's contract on the books is going to limit what else the Jaguars want to do, either this offseason or next.
“That was insanely rare,” GM James Gladstone said of Mekari. “I don’t know that that’s something that typically comes up on the market at a cost point that’s affordable enough to pursue.”
Mekari's overall grade from PFF may not leap off the page, but by PFF's own metrics, he was one of the best pass-blocking guards in the NFL last season, ranking 12th among all left guards in pass-blocking grade.
Most free agent signings aren't going to be these home run additions. Instead, free agency is more often a tool to round out the roster. Adding Mekari to the mix gives the Jaguars options along the offensive line and added stability at a position that very much needed it.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars free agency: Patrick Mekari signing PFF's least favorite move
Continue reading...
Mason Cameron of PFF recently selected his favorite free agent signing for each team and his least favorite addition for each team. When it came to his least favorite move for the Jaguars, Cameron selected the Patrick Mekari signing. In large part, it has to do with the contract Mekari received.
"While Mekari is a starting-caliber offensive lineman, this is a lucrative deal for a player coming off the lowest-graded season of his career (59.0). The Jaguars are in serious need of starters up front to better protect their franchise quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, but this deal could come back to bite them should Mekari continue to regress."
Mekari signed a three-year, $37.5 million deal with $20 million guaranteed. Obviously, in this exercise by Cameron, something has to get selected, but I don't see Mekari's contract as a huge issue.
For one, the guard market has really taken off over the last two offseasons, not to mention that the league-wide salary cap made another big jump this year. In addition to that, while Mekari played guard last season in Baltimore and will likely fill that role for the Jaguars, he has the ability to play all five positions--so part of the contract cost is paying for that versatility, which gives the team flexibility.
In addition to that, with a cap hit of $6.33 million this season along with the Jaguars having an out after Year 2 if needed, it's not as if having Mekari's contract on the books is going to limit what else the Jaguars want to do, either this offseason or next.
“That was insanely rare,” GM James Gladstone said of Mekari. “I don’t know that that’s something that typically comes up on the market at a cost point that’s affordable enough to pursue.”
Mekari's overall grade from PFF may not leap off the page, but by PFF's own metrics, he was one of the best pass-blocking guards in the NFL last season, ranking 12th among all left guards in pass-blocking grade.
Most free agent signings aren't going to be these home run additions. Instead, free agency is more often a tool to round out the roster. Adding Mekari to the mix gives the Jaguars options along the offensive line and added stability at a position that very much needed it.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars free agency: Patrick Mekari signing PFF's least favorite move
Continue reading...
