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If recent history has taught us anything, it is that the Jacksonville Jaguars will give a lot of money to one of the Broncos top free agents. It appears that trend will continue this offseason.
According to CBS Sports Jason La Canfora, the Jacksonville Jaguars are making a "strong push" to sign free agent defensive end Malik Jackson before the start of the league year tomorrow.
Continue to hear the Jags making a very strong push for DEN DL Malik Jackson. Deal could be agreed to well before the start of league year
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 8, 2016
There was some optimism during the NFL's Scouting Combine that the Broncos could work something out with Jackson, but there hasn't been to many updates on his status since then. Seems like the Broncos attention shifted to free agent quarterback Brock Osweiler.
The Jaguars have a ton of cap space this offseason($82.2 million) and figure to spend big on a player or two this offseason. They will be able to meet Jackson's asking price and have the cap space to outbid any competition for his services.
Jackson is coming off a 2015 season for the Denver Broncos where he turned into one of the Broncos top pass rushers. He totaled 21 quarterback hurries, 16 quarterback hits, seven pass deflections and 5.5 sacks. He was a key piece to the Broncos Super Bowl winning defense and played well during their postseason run.
9NEWs Denver's Mike Klis said yesterday that the Broncos "are not out" of the Malik Jackson sweepstakes because of the money they received from Manning retiring, and the cap space they will receive from restructures/cuts. I still do not see them coming close to his asking price.
Sounds like Malik Jackson will join Zane Beadles and Julius Thomas as former Denver Broncos to sign a big free-agent deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Maybe this one will work out for you this time.
Update:
The strong push apparently worked.
According to Mike Klis, Jackson is about to join the Jaguars.
Breaking: Broncos to lose first piece from SB defense: Malik Jackson about to join Jags. https://t.co/uLNNoyM0k0 via @@9NEWS #9news #9sports
— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) March 8, 2016
NFL Network and ESPN further cemented the news.
It's a 6-year deal for the #Jaguars and DT Malik Jackson. He'll sign when the league year opens tomorrow.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2016
Just got off the phone with #Broncos DE Malik Jackson. I asked if definitively intends to leave Denver for Jacksonville. He said, “yes."
— Josina Anderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 8, 2016