NFL: Biggest Offseason Question For Each AFC South Team

Jacksonville Jaguars: How good can the Jaguars be on defense?

On paper, this unit of defenders has talent, athleticism, and skill everywhere. This offseason, the Jaguars decided to open up the checkbook again and sign key free agents for the defense.

A 5-year deal worth $67.5 million with $26M guaranteed was given to cornerback A.J. Bouye to leave division rival Houston and suit up for the Jags. Veteran defensive end Calais Campbell received a 4-year contract amounting to $60 million dollars to give the Jaguars another veteran voice in a relatively young locker room. This comes after a 2016 offseason in which the team made a free agency splash by signing defensive tackle Malik Jackson from the Denver Broncos.

The defense, as mentioned, is a young one. Many are expecting big seasons from their more youthful pillars such as defensive ends Dante Fowler Jr. and Yannick Ngakoue, cornerback Jalen Ramsey, and linebackers Myles Jack and Telvin Smith.

Even with all of that youth and talent, the Jaguars defense was 25th in the league in points allowed per game (25.0 PPG). Oddly enough, they were sixth overall in total defense, allowing only 321.7 yards per game. The Jags were also third in the league in passing defense (226.7 YPG), and that was with a rookie corner in Ramsey being a starter on one side of the field.

Bringing in a veteran presence such as Campbell and former Dallas Cowboys safety Barry Church will hopefully not only be felt on the field but in the locker room as well. This is a defense that made strides last season and adding the second-highest graded free agent according to Pro Football Focus in Bouye, and a defensive lineman who was the sixth-best run defender according to PFF in Campbell could be the finishing touches to what can be a defense the Jaguars can win several games with.