SHOULD THE JAGUARS HAVE INTEREST IN SAFETY RESHAD JONES?

Reshad Jones (Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire)

The Dolphins are set to release safety Reshad Jones. 

BY JORDAN DE LUGO

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On Wednesday afternoon, reports surfaced that the Dolphins are going to release veteran safety, Reshad Jones. Jones' 2020 cap hit was set to be just over $15.5 million, and by releasing him, the Dolphins will save $7.5 million in 2020 cap space. 

Jones recently turned 32, but despite his age, the veteran safety is still playing at a high level. He missed 12 games in 2019 due to multiple injuries, but he's been a relatively healthy player throughout his illustrious career. He's played in at least 12 games in eight of his ten seasons in the league. 

Should the Jaguars be interested in the two-time Pro-Bowl safety?

Yes. 

Jones is a playmaker. He's a versatile safety that can thrive rolling downhill and in coverage. He's played both strong and free safety throughout his career. From a skill perspective, Jones would immediately be an upgrade for the Jaguars' secondary.

Then there's this: the most veteran player currently in the Jaguars' starting secondary is Jarrod Wilson, who has just one year as a starter under his belt. The Jaguars do not have proven veteran leadership at safety or cornerback. Jones would bring leadership in spades. 

If he were to be inserted into the starting lineup next to Ronnie Harrison, he'd make the Jaguars' safety group much more consistent and talented, and he'd be a fantastic mentor for Ronnie Harrison, who's entering his third season in the NFL. 

How much would Jones cost? At 32 years old, he's not going to set the market at safety, a position that's been devalued over the last few seasons. If the Jaguars could land Jones for $5-7 million per year on a two-year deal, he'd be a great addition.

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But I'm not optimistic about the Jaguars' interest in signing a veteran safety. The coaching staff likes Jarrod Wilson quite a bit, and the team just picked up Wilson's club option, which is worth just over $3 million in 2020. If the Jaguars do have interest in bringing in a veteran safety, they could part ways with Wilson, saving $1.9 million against the cap this year.

The Jaguars have plenty of decisions to make in the coming days. The new collective bargaining agreement will either be accepted or denied by the players this weekend. Monday at 11:59 am, is the deadline to franchise tag players. One minute later, the legal tampering period opens. And on Wednesday, teams can officially sign players to new contracts. 

Time will tell how active the Jaguars will be in free agency and if they'll have any interest in Reshad Jones. 

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