The other free-agent wide receivers will be affected by Christian Kirk's four-year, $84 million deal. (0:51)
Trent Baalke hopes the last time is when the Jacksonville Jaguars spend big in free agency.
The seven players signed by the Jags this week are worth a total of $259 million. The money could be better spent on players the team has drafted instead of trying to bring in outsiders to make up for the numerous draft mistakes the franchise has made over the past decade.
It is a giant open checkbook, but for now it is where Baalke and Pederson hope to be within the next several years.
We are trying to fix this thing long term, have a vision for the future as we build this thing out, and right now it is a combination of free agency and the draft. We rely on our drafts and give second contracts to those guys.
Of the seven players signed this week, Christian Kirk had the highest guaranteed money, followed by guard Brandon Scherff and defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi. All of those players will be NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster NationMaster
The roster is in better shape now than it was Monday morning, as the team still has to find another edge rusher to pair with Josh Allen, another receiver, at least one more linebacker, and figure out who will start at left guard. They have 12 draft picks and could address some of the issues next month.
Spending a lot of money in free agency has worked for the Jaguars before. They gave out contracts to four players in 2017: defensive end Calais Campbell, defensive back A.J. Bouye, safety Barry Church and linebacker/special teamer Lerentee McCray.
The group was not as influential after that season. Campbell had more sacks in the year than in the year before, but Church and Bouye didn't play as well as they did in the year before. Church never played a down in the NFL again after he was benched in Week 12.
Spending in free agency has not done much for the Jaguars. They spent more money in free agency than any other team in the league, and that earned them just 11 victories.
Because of their lack of draft success, the Jags had to be big spenders. Nine of the 59 draft picks from 2012 to 19 have signed second contracts with the team, including offensive tackle Cam Robinson, who is playing on the franchise tag in 2021. Bortles was taken in the first round. The other players who signed second deals were receiver Marqise Lee and guard A.J. Cann.
Allen was the team's first-round pick in the draft and is eligible to sign an extension.
The numbers have to change when it comes to first-rounders.
The draft has to be the focus for everyone, according to Baalke.
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