Reports: Jaguars signing WR Christian Kirk to big contract as part of free agency spree
The Jacksonville Jaguars and new head coach Doug Pederson made plenty of moves on Monday.
Jacksonville agreed to deals to bring in Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Christian Kirk, longtime Washington Commanders guard Brandon Scherff, Atlanta Falcons star linebacker Foye Oluokun and New York Jets defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi.
Kirk had a career-high 982 receiving yards and five touchdowns last season in Arizona, who first took him with the No. 47 overall pick in 2018. Kirk's deal will pay him reportedly up to $84 million over four years, which would make him the third-highest paid wide receiver in the league.
That maximum value of $21M per year makes Christian Kirk the 3rd highest paid WR in the NFL. https://t.co/z7wFlz9SEL
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 14, 2022
The Jaguars didn’t stop there. Later on Monday night, they struck a deal with former Las Vegas Raiders receiver Zay Jones, according to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Jones will get a three-year, $30 million deal. The 26-year-old had 546 yards and one touchdown last season with the Raiders.
Kirk and Jones will undoubtedly bolster a position where the Jaguars struggled last season and will provide former No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence with a very solid target each week after his rough rookie season.
Though it’s unclear what the deal looks like, Scherff agreed to a deal with the Jaguars on Monday too, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Scherff will likely replace Andrew Norwell on their line, who has left in free agency.
Scherff has spent the last seven seasons with Washington, which drafted him with the No. 5 overall pick in 2015 out of Iowa. The five-time Pro Bowler hasn’t played a full season since 2016, but he’s become one of the best offensive guards in the league. Scherff has missed 22 total games over the last four seasons — including six last year both due to COVID-19 and a left knee injury.
Washington used its franchise tag on Scherff the last two seasons while the two sides repeatedly failed to reach a long-term deal.
The team used the franchise tag on Cam Robinson last week, which will guarantee him $16.6 million in 2022 and provide even more protection for Lawrence.
Oluokun could provide a boost to Jacksonville’s defense, too. The 26-year-old had a league-best 192 combined tackles last season with the Falcons in his fourth season in the league. The former Yale standout agreed to a three-year, $45 million deal with Jacksonville, according to Rapoport.
Fatukasi had a career-high 46 total tackles last season with the Jets, his fourth season in the league. He’s reportedly reached a three-year, $30 million deal with the Jaguars, according to the NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
Though it's still unclear how the Jaguars will use the No. 1 overall draft pick next month, they certainly filled some needs in free agency on Monday.