JACKSONVILLE – The future of the Jaguars is now. It also looks brighter.
Guard Brandon Scherff said he believed it, as did wide receiver Christian Kirk and the rest of the Jaguars free agency class of 2022. Most spoke to the media as Jaguars players for the first time on Thursday, a day of smiles. and hope, with a decidedly far-sighted theme.
A young quarterback. A new head coach. A new direction.
“All of the above,” Scherff said.
The Jaguars on Wednesday announced contractual deals with seven unlimited free agents: Kirk, Scherff, wide receiver Zay Jones, linebacker Foye Oluokun, defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi, tight end Evan Engram and cornerback Darious Williams.
Everyone arrived in Jacksonville and spoke to the media on Thursday except Williams, who is expected to arrive on Friday.
“When I look at this team, I see a lot of fighters; you can go the distance with people who fight to the end,” said Fatukasi, who played his first four seasons with the New York Jets.
“I think there are a lot of advantages to this organization,” said Oluokun, who spent his first four NFL seasons with the Atlanta Falcons and led the NFL in tackling last season.
Scherff, five times selected for the Pro Bowl during seven seasons with Washington, is the most experienced – and the most decorated – of the Jaguars’ seven free agent acquisitions of ’22. He spoke last during Thursday’s availability. Quiet, he spoke even in the shortest way.
Kirk and the other attacking players – Jones, Scherff and Engram – have talked about wanting to play for head coach Doug Pederson, who was hired as head coach in February.
“Once I started taking a close look and seeing the potential of this team, with the hiring of manager Pederson, it all made sense to me,” said Kirk, a second round selection in the NFL Draft. 2018 who played his first four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. “It was easy enough for me to have Jacksonville at the top of my list.
“I’m just so grateful and glad I ended up here.”
Scherff also spoke well of Pederson. He also said that offensive line manager Phil Rauscher, for whom Scherff played two seasons in Washington, considered his decision, as well as geography.
“My wife, she likes the beach,” said Scherff, who played collegiate in Iowa. “You won’t have beaches like this in Iowa. We just came in from a 30 degree climate. So obviously, ‘All of the above’ – and just the opportunity to work with the guys on the O line and field a good product”.
Jones, when asked what attracted him to the Jaguars, replied: “My heart.”
“I went back and forth trying to decide between a couple of other teams and at the end of the day I was like, ‘I want to be in Jacksonville,’ ‘said Jones, who has played the last two seasons with the Oakland / Los Angeles Raiders after. over two seasons with the Buffalo Bills: “There is no other explanation. I don’t even know how to describe it myself. This is the place I wanted to go. “
Jones and other offensive players talked about another draw specifically for the Jaguars: second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the # 1 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft.
“He’s a great team and a young quarterback who looks very, very promising to me, very good,” said Jones. “I want to be part of something that is built towards the future.”
Kirk said Lawrence “100 percent” played a part in his decision.
“I’ve had the pleasure of seeing him throughout his college career and seeing him win a national championship [at Clemson] and compete at such a high level,” said Kirk. “I thought last year he had a great season, despite all the ups and downs.
“Seeing the potential he has to be one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks was definitely part of my decision. I’m ready to work with him and help him grow.”
Engram, a first-round selection of the 2017 NFL Draft who spent his first five seasons with the New York Giants, described his free agency decision as a “whirlwind” and added, “When the Jaguars arrived. , there was an immediate interest on my part too ยป.
“I’ve never looked back; I’ve never looked at what happened here before me,” Engram said. “I just looked at it with a clear mind and a futuristic vision of how I can go in and implement my talent and leadership qualities to help build this team.”
Engram added, “It is always important to keep your eyes ahead and set goals, work and live by the standards that are set here from top to bottom. You can never really do it by looking back. I think it will be such a great message that it goes on here.
“This is what I feel here energetically, simply by being in the building. I am thrilled to be a part of it.”
Who has the highest payroll in the NFL?
It doesn’t look like the Chiefs will regret giving him the NFL’s richest contract – 10 years, $ 450 million – anytime soon. This may interest you : Falcons Cheerleader Alice heads to the Pro Bowl.
Who has the highest salary in the NFL? Ranking of the most important NFL contracts for 2021
- 1 / 20. 1) Patrick Mahomes (QB), Kansas City Chiefs – $ 45 million. …
- 2 / 20. 2) Josh Allen (QB), Buffalo Bills – $ 43 million. …
- 3 / 20. 3) Dak Prescott (QB), Dallas Cowboys – $ 40 million. …
- 4/20. 4) Deshaun Watson (QB), Houston Texans – $ 39 million. …
- 5 / 20. …
- 6 / 20. …
- 7 / 20. …
- 8/20.
What NFL team has the most salary cap space?
| Rank | Squad | Cap Space (Top 51) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CLE | $ 48,563,166 |
| 2 | Las Vegas Raiders LV | $ 22,836,036 |
| 3 | MACHINE | $ 20,255,225 |
| 4 | FROM THE | $ 20,193,382 |
Which NFL team has the most appearances in 2021? At the start of the 2021 season, the Dallas Cowboys, the league’s richest franchise, lead the NFL in terms of player salary with $ 205 million. In second place are the New York Jets with $ 203 million. To see also : Victoria named the Cover Girl of the 2017 Calendar. The San Francisco 49ers lead the remaining teams in the playoffs and are seventh overall with $ 195 million.
