(03-18-2021, 06:23 PM)ATLjag Wrote:

(03-18-2021, 06:05 PM)TheDuke007 Wrote: I can't believe all of the excuse making on this board.  The Jaguars have sucked before in their history and they had no problems signing free agents in the off season.  Players overwhelmingly follow the money.  It's true that occasionally a player might take less to go to a certain place, but that's the exception.  When it happens, you move to the next best player.  You don't make signing a kick returner, a special teams gunner and a 30+ year old failed running back your priorities.

Yes, agree that they follow the money in the majority of instances.  However, if the money is similar (meaning you aren't outbidding everyone and overpaying), then the tie usually doesn't land in the Jacksonville favor today.  Hopefully, that will change with wins.  Baalke (and Meyer) just before free agency stated they were signing players to a certain value, and would favor players where there was a connection.  I do believe that they went after certain higher 'splash' players, but were outbid to the values placed upon them.  Within the first day of free agency, they were able to acquire 12 new players.  I would have to check, but I don't believe these 12 players were all failed running backs and special teamers.

It would have been nice to see a couple more 'splash' players, but their free agency production was not horrible.  Nice thing with the remaining cap is we still have other plan B free agents that can be signed, camp cuts to come, 1st priority in the waiver wire on other releases, room to sign desired extensions (ie. Chark), and room to sign a draft class without cuts.

First, I hate the term "splash" which implies it is about making noise and getting attention.  This has absolutely nothing to do with that.  Let's use the word "quality".  We wanted quality players.

Second, perhaps they stumbled across the rare player or two who went somewhere else for less money.  However, when you have some sites that have our best free agent acquisition not even ranking in the top 40 despite us having had more salary cap space available than anyone, it's not prudent to think that's because of players walking away as most willingly go to the highest bidder.  It's clear the front office was not serious about signing quality players.  I will give them credit for obtaining quantity.  I just prefer quality.  It's not too hard to find "just a guy" starters, rotational players, backups and special teamers.  Quality starters are more difficult and that's why you should take advantage of the opportunity when you have one.

Third, you reference that there's still plan B free agents, camp cuts, and first priority on the waiver wire.  That's true and I would say that those are great places to find "just a guy" starters, rotational players, backups and special teamers.  Right now, our roster doesn't need a bunch more of those type of players.  We need quality starters.  We should have gotten quality starters first in free agency and then used these other routes to complete the rest of the of the roster.

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