Free Agent Profile; Eric Weddle: Bring the Beard to Duval

Embed from Getty Images

Here we take on free agent safety Eric Weddle, a player that the Jaguars are in desperate need of.

By Jordan de Lugo

PRESENTED BY

The Jaguars desperately need help on defense, especially in the secondary. The Jags gave up the fourth most yards through the air in the NFL in 2015. The secondary play can partially be blamed on a lack of pass rush, but it is easy to see that the Jags need some elite playmakers in the secondary. 
Insert Eric Weddle. Weddle is a three time Pro Bowler and has been named to the All NFL first or second team five times through out his illustrious career. He has racked up some truly impressive stats in his 9 years in the league — tallying 849 tackles, 19 interceptions, 71 passes defended, 5 forced fumbles and 4 touchdowns. Yes, all these numbers are very impressive, but how good is he now that he is 31 and heading into his tenth season? Damn good. In 2015 his Pro Football Focus coverage grade was an 85.9, putting him at second in the entire league, ranking ahead of esteemed players such as Earl Thomas, Eric Berry, and Reggie Nelson. Weddle could bring elite coverage skills to a Jaguars secondary that is in desperate need of some playmaking ability.

Weddle struggled in run defense last year, but the Jaguars do not need another safety who can excel in the run game — for much of the 2015 season the Jaguars run defense was above average, but struggled down the stretch due to injury — they need a guy who can get them off the field on third down and Eric Weddle is that guy. 

​You may wonder why such a talented player could escape his current team, the San Diego Chargers … Well, they have notoriously treated him like crap. He is truly dissatisfied with his team and the tension between he and the Chargers grew even more when he was fined $10,000 dollars by the team for staying on the field during halftime to watch his daughter perform and was subsequently placed on IR for the end of the season against his wishes. The Jaguars have “a mountain of cap space” and should use it to pursue the veteran safety.

Embed from Getty Images

Throw Eric Weddle in the mix with Davon House, Aaron Colvin, John Cyprien and hopefully another young cornerback or safety…Hm, Hm, Jalen Ramsey … and the Jaguars could go from one of the worst pass defenses in the league in 2015 to one that is, at the very least, average in 2016.

BRING THIS BEARD TO DUVAL!!

Embed from Getty Images