Trent Baalke, the Jacksonville Jaguars general manger, should not be called a clown at this time.
Baalke and Jaguars made a big splash Monday by signing five starters to the NFL’s legal-tampering period. They included Arizona slot receiver Christian Kirk, Washington Guard Brandon Scherff, and Evan Engram, the New York Giants tightend. They also agreed to add Foyesade Oluokun, Atlanta’s linebacker, and Folorunso Fatukasi, the New York Jets defensive end.
The moves were confirmed by a person who is familiar with negotiations. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because NFL teams cannot announce free-agent signings before Wednesday’s new league year.
Baalke made a huge swing on Day 1 and, even though he seemed to have overpaid for some of these pending newcomers in the end, it gave the team and its supporters another moment almost a year after the draft of Trevor Lawrence.
The five new additions will plug huge gaps in Jacksonville’s football team, which has lost 35 out of 41 games in the past.
Kirk will take over as DJ Chark’s No. Lawrence should be Lawrence’s first target as he is the No. 1 receiver. Kirk was a Cardinals’ receiver for 236 passes, 2,902 yards and 17 touchdowns over four seasons.
According to the person, he is receiving a $72 million four-year contract in Jacksonville. It could potentially be worth as much as $84 million. The signing bonus is $20 million.
Scherff will be an All-Pro 2020 selection and will take over as right guard. This will allow Ben Bartch and Andrew Norwell to switch sides.
In Lawrence’s rookie season, Jacksonville allowed 32 sacks. Baalke and Pederson set out to keep him upright and surround him with more playmakers as they entered free agency and the draft. Scherff, when healthy, has been a premier league guard.
According to a person, Engram will be getting a $9 million, one-year deal. Engram is expected to take over from James O’Shaughnessy as the team’s tight end. He will be ahead of Dan Arnold, Chris Manhertz and Chris Manhertz. Engram was a part of 262 passes that Engram caught for 2,828 yards, 16 TDs and five injury-filled seasons in New York.
Jacksonville signed two defenders. Oluokun will replace Damien Wilson as journeyman, and Fatukasi will fill in the gaps up the middle.
According to the person, Oluokun, who led Falcons’ defense with 192 tackles, has been awarded a $45 million three-year contract, which includes $28 million guaranteed.
Fatukasi will be a boost to an interior defense line that did well last season. The Jaguars released Taven Bryan, their 2019 first-round pick, in free agency. Fatukasi could provide an upgrade to fellow run stoppers DaVon Hamm and Malcom Brown.
According to a person, Fatukasi played 15 games last season for the Jets and has 115 tackles in the past three seasons. He is now getting a $30 million three-year deal with $20 million guaranteed.
Jacksonville started the day with $41 in salary space. Some wondered how aggressive Baalke or Pederson would have been.
Baalke and Urban Meyer, his former coach, took a value-based approach to free agency last season. Baalke was ultimately blamed and criticized for having a less than stellar reputation. The following coaching changes were made in his last five NFL seasons: Meyer (2021), Doug Marrone 2020, Chip Kelly (2016) and Jim Tomsula (2015).
Baalke, who was 57 years old, was still in place after Shad Khan fired Meyer mid-December. This move irked enough to cause fans to organize a “clown-out” protest against the Jaguars’ season finale against Indianapolis. A few hundred people showed up in brightly colored wigs, large bowties, and red noses. Khan was committed to Baalke even after the “clownout”, a decision that has been paying off since the beginning of free agency.
