Quiet start for Jaguars as free agency, new NFL league year begins

Jacksonville largely took a breather at the start of the free agency period as teams around the league unveiled signings and trades.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 8:10pm

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The NFL's new league year opened on Wednesday, and the Jacksonville Jaguars had a relatively quiet start to free agency. Pinched by the salary cap, the team focused on retaining its own free agents like cornerback Montaric Brown, linebacker Dennis Gardeck, and tight end Quintin Morris. The Jaguars saw notable players like linebacker Devin Lloyd, running back Travis Etienne, and cornerback Greg Newsome II depart for other teams. This is a stark contrast to the team's aggressive free agency approach last year as they looked to rebuild the roster.

Why it matters

The Jaguars' quiet start to free agency highlights the challenges they face with the salary cap after making several big-money signings last offseason. The team must now be more selective in free agency and focus on retaining their own players, which could impact their ability to significantly improve the roster this offseason.

The details

The Jaguars were limited in their free agency moves due to salary cap constraints. They re-signed several of their own free agents like cornerback Montaric Brown, linebacker Dennis Gardeck, and tight end Quintin Morris on team-friendly deals. However, the team saw notable players like linebacker Devin Lloyd, running back Travis Etienne, and cornerback Greg Newsome II depart for other teams. This is a stark contrast to the team's aggressive free agency approach last year when they signed several high-priced free agents in an effort to rebuild the roster.

  • The NFL's new league year opened on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at 4 p.m.

The players

Montaric Brown

A cornerback who re-signed with the Jaguars on a team-friendly contract.

Dennis Gardeck

A linebacker who re-signed with the Jaguars on a team-friendly contract.

Quintin Morris

A tight end who re-signed with the Jaguars on a team-friendly contract.

Devin Lloyd

A linebacker who departed the Jaguars to sign with the Carolina Panthers.

Travis Etienne

A running back who departed the Jaguars to sign with the New Orleans Saints.

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What’s next

The Jaguars will likely address running back in the upcoming NFL Draft to replace the departed Travis Etienne.

The takeaway

The Jaguars' quiet start to free agency highlights the financial constraints they face after making several big-money signings last offseason. The team must now be more selective in free agency and focus on retaining their own players, which could limit their ability to significantly improve the roster this offseason.