Jaguars should add this veteran free agent now, NFL analyst says

Ryan OLeary

Jaguars should add this veteran free agent now, NFL analyst says image

Every NFL team has position groups it needs to improve, and the Jacksonville Jaguars are no different. For the Jags, cornerback depth is a particular area of concern. 

Outside of veteran corner Ronald Darby and former second-round pick Tyson Campbell, the Jaguars will be relying on young, homegrown talent at the position in 2024. Behind the two starters on the outside are unproven guys like Montaric Brown, a seventh-round pick in 2022, and rookies Jarrian Jones and De'Antre Prince.

In the view of Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report, the Jaguars could bolster their secondary now by adding a former starting cornerback with something to prove in free agent K'Waun Williams. Here was Ballentine’s reasoning:

K'Waun Williams is a slot corner with a lot of experience who may be able to help. He missed the entirety of the 2023 season with an ankle injury. He was a respectable starter in 2022 before the injury but hasn't caught on with a team yet.

Ballentine also mentions Jacksonville’s concern at nickel corner, where sixth-year vet Darnell Savage is expected to contribute in a hybrid safety role. Adding Williams on a 1-year prove it deal would add some much-needed depth and experience at the position. 

Williams was medically cleared in March, per Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette, but no longer had a roster spot with the Broncos after the emergence of Ja'Quan McMillian last season. Williams was reportedly waiting until after the 2024 NFL Draft to sign with a new team, but remains a free agent as the NFL gets set to kick-off the regular season.

Williams has also played for the 49ers and Browns since entering the league in 2014, and he could give new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen some added punch at the nickel spot. The veteran appeared in 14 games for the Broncos in 2022 and had 44 tackles, an interception and a sack.

Ballentine also mentioned EDGE and wide receiver as the team’s biggest weaknesses entering Week 1. Few would argue, though, that cornerback tops the list, and adding a veteran like Williams who’s looking to save his NFL career is more than worth a shot.

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Ryan OLeary

Ryan OLeary Photo

Ryan O'Leary has spent his entire professional career in sports multimedia, working as journalist, editor, podcaster, and in live events as a content manager and show emcee. His career highlights include working as a podcast host and audio editor for USA TODAY Sports Media Group, where he led a series of NFL podcasts for the company’s top-performing NFL sites. A born and raised New Englander, Ryan’s career kicked-off in newspapers after graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in journalism. He developed an affinity for small-town youth, high school and college sports, while also realizing his childhood dream of covering the Patriots in multiple AFC Championship Games. Ryan enjoys kicking it with family and friends, beating his dad and brother in chess, and arguing with anyone crazy enough to insist that Tom Brady isn’t the GOAT.