A new regime means new priorities, and with the 2026 NFL tampering window opening Monday, Jacksonville’s year-two free agency approach under Liam Coen, Grant Udinski, Anthony Campanile, and Heath Farwell is about to come into focus. We take a close look at the free agents who fit what this new Jaguars staff is building and what landing even one of these targets would mean for Duval’s 2026 outlook. With many high and low-tier free agent options being linked to Jacksonville, we take a look at the key position groups, and the options available at each.
_\*market valuations via OverTheCap and/or Spotrac_
**DT** **John Franklin-Myers** (Denver Broncos)
* Age: 29
* Pass Rush Win Rate: 12.7%
* Expected Market Value (AAV): $14M
The most expensive defensive tackle option is also the most productive, and the only three-technique noted. Franklin-Myers finished last season tied for 18th in total pressures with 39, while his eight sacks ranked tied for fifth in the NFL, and his eight QB hits placed tied for 11th. His 12.7% pass rush win rate ranked tied for 15th via PFF. For a Jaguars team desperate for interior disruption, Franklin-Myers represents the simplest path to the highest ceiling. Though at $14 million per year, he carries the heftiest price tag of the three options and turns 30-years old in 2026. However, JFM provides the team a second pass rushing interior defensive lineman that is missing when Davon Hamilton is off the field, and a slightly younger tackle to take over for Arik Armstead.
**NT** **Sheldon Rankins** (Houston Texans)
* Age: 31
* Pass Rush Win Rate: 11.1%
* Expected Market Value (AAV): $7.5M
Coming off a one-year, $5M deal in Houston, Rankins quietly put together one of the more well-rounded seasons of any interior lineman on the market. His 44 pressures and 10.9% pass rush win rate held up well, and his 61.2 PFF run-defense grade placed in the 73rd percentile at the position. At 31 years old there are durability questions, but his motivation coming out of Houston facing his former team twice a year, shouldn’t be overlooked. At $7.5 millionhe represents strong value, with a potential point to prove by staying in the AFC South.
**NT DJ Reader** (Detroit Lions)
* Age: 31
* Pass Rush Win Rate: 10.2%
* Expected Market Value (AAV): $3.3M
The most affordable option presented may also be one of the most underrated. Reader posted a 68.5 overall PFF grade, 33rd out of 134 interior defensive linemen, along with a 71.8 pass-rush grade that ranked 24th among all defensive tackles in 2025. The 330-pound pocket pusher recorded 20 total pressures with the Lions and at a market value of just $3.3 million, represents a significant upgrade over DaVon Hamilton’s 3.6% pass rush win rate at a fraction of the cost. For a team building under a new regime with cap considerations in mind, Reader could be the most efficient move Jacksonville makes this offseason, though he will turn 32 this season, resulting in potentially a shorter-term contract.
**Tremaine Edmunds** (Chicago Bears)
* Age: 27
* Expected Market Value (AAV): ~$9M to $15M
Edmunds is a wildcard of this group. A recent addition to this list after being released by the Bears on Thursday, he finished 2025 with a stat line that looks excellent on the surface, 112 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, three QB hits, one fumble recovery, nine pass breakups, and four interceptions. At one point during the season he was among the league leaders in interceptions, and the 2023 contract that averaged $18M per year speaks to how the league valued him not long ago.
The context surrounding his release matters though. The Bears were in need of salary cap space, sitting at $4 million above the salary cap before releasing Edmunds, a move that saved them $15 million off the cap. Additionally, many in Chicago believe that Edmunds may have returned from a week 12 groin injury before he was fully ready, resulting in a final few games that showed it. In his first game back from a four-game absence beginning in week 12, he was targeted five times and surrendered five receptions for 46 yards. A source familiar with the situation suggested the injury had a more significant impact on his performance than the box score reflected. The cost uncertainty is likely the biggest obstacle. A market range spanning $9M on the low end to $17M at the high end makes him nearly impossible to project. At $9M he’s an interesting bet on a bounce-back season from a 27-year-old with legitimate upside. At $17M he becomes a tough sell for a team that needs to allocate resources across multiple positions this offseason. The number that lands on Edmunds will likely determine whether Jacksonville, or anyone else, takes the plunge. If his price gets anywhere close to the Devin Lloyd range, then Jacksonville will likely bow out due to similar cap constraints.
**Quay Walker** (Green Bay Packers)
* Age: 25
* Expected Market Value (AAV): ~$8M
Walker is probably one of the most divisive names on this list, with the Green Bay fanbase mirroring the same split in opinions Jaguars’ fans had over Devin Lloyd before his breakout 2025 season. Walker led the Packers in tackles with 128 in 2025, but his coverage struggles were impossible to ignore, surrendering 653 yards when targeted, the fifth-most of any linebacker in the league. One source inside the Green Bay organization described him plainly as a two-down linebacker based on his 2025 tape. That characterization would normally be disqualifying. But here’s the wrinkle, Anthony Campanile was previously Walker’s linebackers coach and defensive run game coordinator in Green Bay. If Jacksonville pursues Walker, it becomes one of those trust-the-coach-who-knows-the-prospect-best situations. Campanile has seen Walker up close, knows exactly what he’s working with, and (in the chance he is added) clearly believes he can get more out of him than Green Bay did. It’s also worth noting the parallel to Lloyd, whose fifth-year option wasn’t picked up either, and who faced similar questions before flourishing. Walker is 25 years old with tackling ability Campanile clearly valued. The bet here would be that the right coaching in Jax unlocks the rest.
**Alex Anzalone** (Detroit Lions)
* Age: 31
* Expected Market Value (AAV): ~$7.5M
Anzalone is a close one-for-one replacement for what Devin Lloyd does in the middle of a defense, with the ability to hold up against the run and contribute meaningfully in the passing game. He slides into the Mike linebacker role without requiring much of an schematic adjustment, which matters enormously for a coaching staff who may be interested in keeping as much of the 2025 system the same as possible.
The primary concern with Alex is arguably age. At 31, Anzalone runs against the pattern of Jacksonville’s recent roster-building approach, which has skewed younger unless the signing was clearly a short-term stopgap, Eric Murray at 31 and Dennis Gardeck at 30 being the exceptions (with Gardeck’s deal being a one-year commitment). A Spotrac market value of around $7.5M would likely structure as a three-year deal with a two-year out, making it manageable, and frankly, that number is modest compared to what Lloyd is likely to command on the open market this offseason. If the Jaguars want the safest, most proven replacement for what Lloyd brought to this defense, Anzalone could be a solid option. The age and athleticism concern is real, but the fit is undeniable.
**Leo Chenal (Kansas City Chiefs)**
* Age: 25
* Expected Market Value (AAV): ~4.6M
Chenal has a devoted following in the advanced analytics community, and the traits conversation around him is legitimate. However, his usage data raises serious questions about whether free agent dollars are the right investment here. In his most-played season, Chenal was on the field for just 53% of defensive snaps, and of those snaps, he only lined up at a true linebacker position 44% of the time. In four NFL seasons he has never logged 450 defensive snaps in a single year. That makes a direct comparison to Devin Lloyd, who lined up at linebacker on 72% of his 2025 snaps, an almost impossible comparison. The profiles are so different that it becomes a pure traits conversation disconnected from on-field role, and spending meaningful free agent dollars on a player whose usage has been that limited is a difficult sell for me, when cheaper, scheme-ready options exist through the draft. Many love the player, and I can absolutely see why, but it’s hard to make the math work on Chenal in free agency as a replacement for Lloyd.
The other variable working against a big investment at linebacker is the internal depth already present. Jack Kiser was drafted with a future role in mind, and Ventrell Miller entered 2025 as a co-starter alongside Lloyd. There’s a legitimate argument that Jacksonville simply goes younger and cheaper at the position, allows Miller grow into the role, and allocates those dollars elsewhere.
**Jaylen Watson** (Kansas City Chiefs)
* Age: 25
* Expected Market Value (AAV): ~$13M
Watson is a legitimate starting corner with the versatility to play inside and outside, posting a 74.9 PFF grade and a 5.8% missed tackle rate that ranked tied for ninth in the league in 2025. The profile is real, but so is the overlap, arguably. Watson operates in the same inside-outside flexible mold as Jaarian Jones and Jourdan Lewis, which raises a fair question about whether Jacksonville would be wise to pay $13M for a redundant skillset for this group. If the Jaguars’ priority is adding a corner who genuinely expands what the defense can do schematically, Watson may not be the most efficient path to get there. If they already like what they have in Jones, it’s hard to justify the $13 million price tag for more of the same, while needing a bonafide outside cornerback option.
**Montaric Brown** (Jacksonville Jaguars)
* Age: 25
* Expected Market Value (AAV): ~$9M to $10M
Well, this is awkward. In evaluating the outside cornerback market it’s hard not to circle back to Brown’s 2025 numbers, with a 74.0 PFF coverage grade and a 73.3 passer rating when targeted. For a fuller context, Montaric allowed 50 or more receiving yards in four separate games this year, but he also led the entire NFL in passer rating allowed when targeted in zone coverage at 45.8. Consistency and the ability to play more man coverage is arguably the concerns here, but at $9M there are fewer cleaner options available that don’t also carry baggage.
**Eric Stokes** (Las Vegas Raiders)
* Age: 26
* Expected Market Value (AAV): ~$7.5M
This is the most interesting name on the list for me, and the one that fits Jacksonville’s recent roster-building blueprint almost perfectly. Stokes took a one-year prove-it deal with the Raiders and delivered the best season of his career, posting a career-high 73.6 overall PFF grade, a 73.5 PFF coverage grade, and a 77.2 passer rating when targeted. He is exactly the kind of buy-low, bounce-back candidate coming off a career year that the Jaguars have consistently targeted under this new regime. The pitch is straightforward, Stokes is 26 years old, playing his best football, and looking to prove last season wasn’t a fluke. He’ll want to earn real money, which means the deal structure likely favors Jacksonville with a modest base and meaningful incentives attached. Critically, signing Stokes at $7.5M doesn’t close the door on drafting a cornerback either, which preserves flexibility in a draft class that could offer genuine value at the position. For a team that needs to be thoughtful about where the big dollars go this offseason, Stokes could represent the kind of calculated, low-risk addition that quietly makes a roster better without breaking the bank.
**Rico Dowdle** (Carolina Panthers)
* Age: 27
* Expected Market Value (AAV): ~$6.5M
Dowdle has quietly built up one of the more consistent production profiles of any back in this free agent class. He followed up an 1,100-yard season in Dallas with a near-1,100-yard campaign in Carolina on a $3M contract. His career average of more than 3.0 yards after contact per carry speaks to a player who doesn’t go down easy. The volatility of his 2025 season with the Panthers’ offense, genuine high points mixed with stretches of underwhelming production, may actually work in Jacksonville’s favor at the negotiating table, suppressing a market that might otherwise price him out of consideration. Dowdle fits best as a complementary hammer in a backfield rotation rather than a featured back carrying 20-plus touches per game, and with the right shared mix with Bhayshul Tuten that’s exactly what he can be in Jacksonville.
**Tyler Allgeier** (Atlanta Falcons)
* Age: 25
* Expected Market Value (AAV): ~$5.7M
Durability and consistency are Allgeier’s calling cards and it’s a genuinely rare combination. He has never missed an NFL game across four professional seasons, accumulated 20 total touchdowns, and has never fumbled in 737 career touches. Not once. Also, his 3.1 yards after contact per attempt over that span ranks as a top-30 mark among running backs league-wide. For an offense that wants a physical, reliable presence in the backfield who won’t cost them possessions or miss time, Allgeier, seemingly, checks every box. The lack of fumbles alone makes him the kind of low-maintenance, high-trust option that offensive coordinators quietly love having available on a football roster.
**Rashard White** (Tampa Bay Buccaneers
* Age: 26
* Expected Market Value (AAV): ~$3.0M
White may be the most intriguing name on this entire list, relative to cost. He ranked fourth among all running backs in PFF rushing grade at 87.2 in 2025, graded in the 98th percentile on gap runs, and the 94th percentile on zone runs (meaning he is genuinely elite in both run-game contexts, which is exceptionally rare). He also recorded zero drops on 42 targets in the passing game, making him a complete back who won’t be a liability on third downs. At a market value of just $3 million, White represents one of the cleaner value plays in the entire free agent running back class. His versatility in both gap and zone schemes also opens up a schematic conversation for Jacksonville, should the Jaguars want to incorporate more man/gap concepts up front, White gives them a back already proven to thrive in exactly that environment. At that price point, and with experience in this system under Coen, this signing could easily mirror the buy-low nature of Center, Robert Hainsey’s stabilizing signing last offseason from Tampa.
**David Njoku** (Cleveland Browns)
* Age: 29
* Expected Market Value (AAV): ~$10M
The case for Njoku starts and ends with his blocking. Coming off a down year in Cleveland and having missed 11 games over the past two seasons, the 29-year-old still brings a blocking profile worth respecting, and in a different cap situation, a backup role behind Brenton Strange at a discounted rate would be an interesting conversation. But, I’m not sure if the math works for Jacksonville right now for the backup tight end role at this pay range. Paying $10M annually for a backup tight end on a roster with this wide receiver core and this many positional needs elsewhere is a difficult allocation to justify, regardless of what Njoku brings on the field. His limited suitor pool for a starting role may eventually push his market value down to a more reasonable number. But unless that price drops significantly, Jacksonville’s cap situation makes him a luxury the Jaguars likely can’t (responsibly) pursue this offseason.
**Charlie Kolar** (Baltimore Ravens)
* Age: 26
* Expected Market Value (AAV): ~$1.7M
Kolar is exactly the kind of under-the-radar addition that quietly improves a roster without demanding cap space or attention. Deployed primarily as Baltimore’s third tight end, he finished 2025 as the 16th highest-graded tight end in the NFL per PFF and 15th in run blocking. Those are numbers that would make him a legitimate contributor rather than solely a depth filler in Jacksonville’s system. He also set a career high with 142 receiving yards, showing flashes as a pass catcher to keep defenses honest. At around $2 million, Kolar is the kind of low-cost, high-competence addition that fits seamlessly into what the Jaguars need behind their starter, a reliable blocker who can catch, won’t cost meaningful cap space, and won’t limit Jacksonville’s ability to invest elsewhere. If Jacksonville learned anything from Brenton Strange’s 2025 injury, it’s that adequate tight end depth matters. Strange played in 12 games. Hunter Long played in only 9 and was often outsnapped by Quintin Morris following the bye week. Kolar could be among the first calls made at the position, even with Wednesday’s [Morris extension.](/jacksonville-jaguars-news/83013/report-jaguars-bolster-tight-end-depth-in-retaining-quintin-morris)
Who are your favorite free agent targets for Jacksonville, BigCatCountry? Let us know in the comments!