The Jaguars have lost a lot more than they’ve gained in free agency this week, but General Manager James Gladstone says that’s all part of the plan.
Gladstone says the Jaguars decided to prioritize compensatory picks, which are awarded to teams when they lose free agents and don’t sign other teams’ free agents.
“We’re at a stage now where a higher volume of draft capital is what we’re hunting, and those compensatory picks,” Gladstone said.
The Jaguars currently project to receive three 2027 compensatory picks: A fourth-round pick for the $15 million per year contract linebacker Devin Lloyd signed with the Panthers, a fifth-round pick for the $13 million per year contract running back Travis Etienne signed with the Saints, and a sixth-round pick for the $10 million per year contract cornerback Greg Newsome signed with the Giants. Gladstone says he’s happy for those players and happy to get the picks.
“High-priced free agents of ours ended up signing elsewhere, well-deserved contracts,” Gladstone said. “They did their part to put themselves in really sound positions to earn that. Excited for all those guys. In return, by not signing any outside free agents, we recoup 2027 draft capital.”
Gladstone noted that adding draft picks isn’t only about building through the draft. It’s also about trading picks for veteran players, as the Jaguars did twice last season to build up their receiving corps.
“I think on its surface you would think, oh, you’re going to make picks in 2027, whereas in reality, those draft picks and having more of them actually allows you the luxury of remaining in the hunt at different intervals throughout the entire calendar year for acquiring players,” Gladstone said. “You think about training camp a year ago and using a Day 3 pick to acquire a wide receiver in Tim Patrick. You think about ahead of the trade deadline and being able to use two picks on Day 3 to acquire a wide receiver in Jacoby Meyers. Without that draft capital at your disposal, you may not be as willing or able to relinquish some of those future picks. So by building that up now, it allows us the luxury of remaining with the flexibility to do those sorts of things as we move into the next stages of the offseason and into the regular season.”
It’s an approach that doesn’t generate much attention in free agency, but can pay off in the season.
Jaguars Clips
The following are PFT’s top 100 free agents for the start of the 2026 league year. The rankings include prospective unrestricted free agents and released players. The list will be updated as events warrant, with signings, tags and re-signings denoted when announced and/or reported. Players released after initial publication may be added and all 100 players initially on the list will still be listed after any additions.
1. Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens. (Placed the franchise tag on him on February 27.)
2. Colts quarterback Daniel Jones. (Placed the transition tag on him on March 3.)
3. Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Raiders on March 9.)
4. Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Panthers on March 9.)
5. Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. (Agreed to a four-year deal with the Ravens on March 11.)
6. Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts. (Placed the franchise tag on him on February 24.)
7. Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce. (Agreed to four-year deal with Colts on March 9.)
8. Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Rams on March 9.)
9. Jets running back Breece Hall. (Placed the franchise tag on him on March 3.)
10. Packers quarterback Malik Willis. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Dolphins on March 9.)
11. Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray. (Signed a one-year deal with the Vikings on March 12.)
12. Bucs cornerback Jamel Dean. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Steelers on March 9.)
13. Seahawks WR/KR/PR Rashid Shaheed. (Agreed to re-sign with Seahawks on a three-year deal on March 9.)
14. Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker. (Agreed to one-year deal with Panthers on March 13.)
15. Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker. (Agreed to sign with the Chiefs on March 9.)
16. Colts offensive tackle Braden Smith. (Agreed to two-year deal with Texans on March 10.)
17. Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Raiders on March 9.)
18. Seahawks edge rusher Boye Mafe. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Bengals on March 9.)
19. Packers linebacker Quay Walker. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Raiders on March 9.)
20. Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Commanders on March 10.)
21. Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the 49ers on March 9.)
22. Seahawks defensive back Coby Bryant. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Bears on March 9.)
23. 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings.
24. Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs. (Agreed to four-year deal with Patriots on March 10.)
25. Jaguars running back Travis Etienne. (Agreed to four-year deal with Saints on March 9.)
26. Broncos edge rusher John Franklin-Myers. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Titans on March 9).
27. Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
28. Eagles edge rusher Jaelen Phillips. (Agreed to a four-year deal with the Panthers on March 9.)
29. Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel.
30. Bills center Connor McGovern. (Re-signed on March 7.)
31. Jets guard Alijah Vera-Tucker. (Agreed to a deal with the Patriots on March 9.)
32. Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen. (Agreed to a one-year deal with the Eagles on March 10.)
33. Chiefs safety Bryan Cook. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Bengals on March 9.)
34. Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright. (Agreed to one-year deal with Jets on March 10.)
35. Bills edge rusher Joey Bosa.
36. Dolphins edge rusher Bradley Chubb. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Bills on March 11.)
37. Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely. (Agreed to three-year deal with Giants on March 9.)
38. Chargers edge rusher Odafe Oweh. (Agreed to a four-year deal with the Commanders on March 9.)
39. Steelers offensive guard Isaac Seumalo. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Cardinals on March 9.)
40. Lions defensive tackle D.J. Reader.
41. Browns linebacker Devin Bush. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Bears on March 9.)
42. Bears safety Jaquan Brisker. (Agreed to a one-year deal with the Steelers on March 12.)
43. Rams safety Kamren Curl. (Agreed to three-year deal with Rams on March 6.)
44. Bills offensive guard David Edwards. (Agreed to four-year deal with Saints on March 9.)
45. Patriots edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson. (Agreed to a one-year deal with the Commanders on March 11.)
46. Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
47. Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor. (Agreed to three-year deal with Titans on March 9.)
48. Chargers offensive guard Zion Johnson. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Browns on March 9).
49. Browns offensive guard Joel Bitonio.
50. Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert.
51. Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone. (Agreed to a two-year deal with the Buccaneers on March 9.)
52. Panthers center Cade Mays. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Lions on March 9.)
53. Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack. (Agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Chargers on March 7.)
54. Bears safety Kevin Byard. (Agreed to a one-year deal with the Patriots on March 11.)
55. Colts edge rusher Kwity Paye. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Raiders on March 9.)
56. Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Eagles on March 10.)
57. Ravens edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones. (Agreed to three-year deal with Patriots on March 9.)
58. Browns offensive guard Wyatt Teller.
59. Lions edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad. (Agreed to a one-year deal with Bucs on March 12.)
60. Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner.
61. Giants wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson. (Agreed to a four-year deal with the Titans on March 9.)
62. Patriots safety Jaylinn Hawkins. (Agreed to a two-year deal with the Ravens on March 11.)
63. Cowboys edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney.
64. Saints linebacker Demario Davis. (Agreed to two-year deal with the Jets on March 9.)
65. Panthers running back Rico Dowdle. (Agreed to a two-year deal with the Steelers on March 9.)
66. Falcons edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie. (Agreed to a one-year deal with the Eagles on March 12.)
67. Titans offensive guard Kevin Zeitler.
68. Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Broncos on March 9.)
69. Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Cowboys on March 9.)
70. Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton. (Agreed to three-year deal with Buccaneers on March 9.)
71. Saints edge rusher Cameron Jordan.
72. Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Seahawks on March 9.)
73. Giants offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor. (Agree to three-year deal with the Giants on March 9.)
74. Commanders center Tyler Biadasz. (Agreed to three-year deal with Chargers on March 6.)
75. Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk.
76. Browns tight end David Njoku.
77. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. (Agreed to return to Chiefs on March 9.)
78. Giants offensive guard Greg Van Roten.
79. Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota. (Re-signed with the Commanders on March 9.)
80. Jaguars cornerback Montaric Brown. (Agreed to three-year deal with Jaguars on March 9.)
81. Falcons defensive tackle David Onyemata. (Agreed to a one-year deal with the Jets on March 9.)
82. Bucs linebacker Lavonte David.
83. Bengals guard Dalton Risner. (Re-signed with Bengals on March 2.)
84. Vikings safety Harrison Smith.
85. Giants quarterback Russell Wilson.
86. Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
87. Jets safety Andre Cisco. (Agreed to one-year deal with the Jets on March 13.)
88. Buccaneers running back Rachaad White. (Agreed to one-year deal with the Commanders on March 12.)
89. Packers edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare. (Agreed to one-year deal with the Jets on March 9.)
90. Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen.
91. Dolphins cornerback Rasul Douglas.
92. Texans defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins. (Agreed to re-sign with Texans on March 9.)
93. Titans tight end Chig Okonwko. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Commanders on March 11.)
94. Eagles safety Reed Blankenship. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Texans on March 9.)
95. Raiders offensive guard Dylan Parham. (Agreed to a two-year deal with the Jets on March 11.)
96. Browns safety Rayshawn Jenkins.
97. Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton. (Re-signed with the Broncos on March 9.)
98. Broncos outside linebacker Justin Strnad. (Re-signed with the Broncos on March 8.)
99. Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco.
100. Colts cornerback Mike Hilton.
101. Bills defensive tackle DaQuan Jones.
102. Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier. (Agreed to two-year deal with Cardinals on March 9.)
Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas is not going anywhere, General Manager James Gladstone said Thursday.
He called a recent report that Jacksonville was “entertaining offers” for Thomas as “fraudulent claims.”
“I know the word ‘reputable’ came up earlier [in a previous question],” Gladstone said, via Michael DiRocco of ESPN. “I don’t think there’s been any reputable statement [that the Jaguars were shopping Thomas]. We don’t have any real action on any of those fronts, and you think back to where we landed at the end of the season, where our passing attack was, we have no interest in disrupting the momentum.
“We look forward to continuing to build off of where we left things and know that Brian Thomas is a big piece to that puzzle and we don’t want that disrupted at any time.”
Thomas, 23, earned Pro Bowl honors as a rookie when he made 87 receptions for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns. In 2025, he caught only 48 passes for 707 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games.
The Jaguars, though, are sold on Thomas as a part of their future, Gladstone said.
“I care more for what weight that might put on Brian himself when it’s something that’s entirely out of his control and unnecessary,” Gladstone said. “So I think that’s where my mind would go, if anything. But when it’s fraudulent claims, you just keep your mind on what you can focus on and you can actually control and try to do what’s best for the Jacksonville Jaguars. And ultimately that’s not the hardest thing to do when that’s the role and where you can try to compartmentalize things.”
Running back Chris Rodriguez was not tendered as a restricted free agent by the Commanders and he’s found a new place to play.
According to multiple reports, Rodriguez has agreed to terms with the Jaguars on a two-year deal. Rodriguez was at Kentucky when Jaguars head coach Liam Coen was the school’s offensive coordinator in 2021.
Rodriguez ran 112 times for 500 yards and six touchdowns with the Commanders in 2025. He had 86 carries for 430 yards and four scores in his first two seasons.
The Jaguars saw Travis Etienne sign with the Saints this week, so Rodriguez will join Bayshul Tuten, LeQuint Allen, and DeeJay Dallas on the backfield depth chart for Jacksonville.
Safety Andrew Wingard is set to become a Cardinal.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that Wingard has agreed to terms in Arizona. It’s a one-year deal worth $3 million and incentives that could take it up to $4 million.
Wingard has spent his entire seven-year career with the Jaguars. He was a reserve for most of that time, but started 16 regular season games and the Jags’ playoff loss to the Bills in 2025.
Wingard had 88 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery in that action. He had 349 tackles, six interceptions, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries over his entire run in Jacksonville.
Johnny Mundt wasn’t unemployed for long.
Cut by the Jaguars on Monday after completing one year of a two-year deal with the Jaguars, Mundt has signed with the Eagles.
Via Mike Garafolo of NFL Media, it’s a one-year deal.
Mundt, 31, spent his first five seasons with the Rams, arriving as an undrafted free agent. He played the next four in Minnesota, before signing in Jacksonville a year ago.
He was a member of the Super Bowl LVI championship team, but he had landed on injured reserve in October with a torn ACL.
The hiring of Sean Mannion as Philly’s offensive coordinator makes Mundt a logical fit; he knows the offense that Mannion will be bringing from L.A.
The Panthers lost free agent center Cade Mays on Monday when he agreed to a deal with the Lions. They replaced Mays on Tuesday by agreeing to terms on a one-year deal worth up to $4.75 million with Luke Fortner, Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports.
Fortner, who turns 28 in May, played last season in New Orleans after a trade from Jacksonville on Aug. 17. He had taken a pay cut to remain with the Jaguars before the trade.
He entered the NFL as a third-round pick of the Jaguars in 2022, and he started every game for the team in his first two seasons. Fortner, though, made no starts in 2024.
In New Orleans, he played all 17 games, with 10 starts.
Linebacker Dennis Gardeck is staying in Jacksonville.
The Jaguars announced that they have re-signed Gardeck ahead of Wednesday’s start to the new league year. Terms of the deal were not announced.
Gardeck tore his ACL while playing for the Cardinals in 2024 and he signed a one-year deal with the Jags last June. He appeared in every game and started nine times, including in the team’s playoff loss to the Bills.
Gardeck had 48 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble in the regular season. He added three tackles in the loss to Buffalo.
The Jaguars also confirmed that they have re-signed cornerback Montaric Brown and tight end Quintin Morris.
The Giants saw Cor’Dale Flott agree to a deal with the Titans on Monday and they are set to add a veteran cornerback to help replace him in their secondary.
Greg Newsome is expected to sign with the Giants once the new league year gets started on Wednesday. NFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports that it is a one-year deal worth up to $10 million.
Newsome was a 2021 Browns first-round pick and he remained in Cleveland until he was traded to the Jaguars last October.
Newsome had 29 tackles and an interception in his 12 games for Jacksonville. He had 178 tackles, three interceptions, a sack, and 37 passes defensed during his time in Cleveland.
The Panthers have made another move to improve their defense.
Via Mike Garafolo of NFL Media, Carolina has agreed to terms with former Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd. Per the report, it’s a three-year, $45 million deal. Of the amount, $25 million is guaranteed.
A first-round pick in 2022, the Jaguars decided after three seasons not to pick up his fifth-year option. With 2025 becoming a contract year, Lloyd made the Pro Bowl and landed on the All-Pro second team.
The Panthers signed Eagles edge rusher Jaelan Phillips early in the day.
Lloyd’s biggest play in 2025 happened in the Monday night win over the Chiefs. He dropped into coverage near the goal line, intercepted quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown.
