JACKSONVILLE – Let the roster reshaping begin.
And the Jaguars' 2021 roster reshape actually did much more than officially begin on Wednesday. It did so in a big, busy and future-altering way.
Shaquill Griffin on Wednesday became perhaps the biggest name to join the Jaguars since the January hiring of Head Coach Urban Meyer – but the former Seattle Seahawks cornerback was just one of a slew of veteran additions announced by the team when the 2021 NFL League Year began Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Griffin, a fifth-year veteran, was among 11 players who have agreed to terms to sign with the Jaguars as unrestricted free agents. The Jaguars also acquired veteran defensive tackle Malcom Brown in a trade with the New Orleans Saints, having re-signed four would-be free agents – cornerback Tre Herndon, center/guard Tyler Shatley, cornerback Sidney Jones IV and defensive end Dawuane Smoot – in recent days in addition to placing the franchise tag on veteran left tackle Cam Robinson.
The Jaguars also on Wednesday announced they have agreed to terms to re-sign tight end James O'Shaughnessy and kicker Aldrick Rosas.
Brown, the No. 32 overall selection by the New England Patriots in the 2015 NFL Draft, was among four veteran defensive linemen added Wednesday. He played the past two seasons with the Saints and has started 80 of 89 games played in six NFL seasons.
Stories on the 11 free agents and the Brown trade can be found on the Jaguars' free-agency page here. Here's a quick look at Wednesday's additions:
*Jamal Agnew, wide receiver/returner. Agnew, a fifth-round selection by the Detroit Lions in the 2017 NFL Draft, has five career returns for touchdowns – four punt returns and one kickoff return – and was a first-team Associated Press All-Pro selection as a rookie in 2017.
*Tyson Alualu, defensive lineman. Alualu, who spent the last four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, originally was selected No. 10 overall by the Jaguars in the 2010 NFL Draft. He played seven seasons for the Jaguars and 17.5 of his 24.5 career sacks came during that span.
*Phillip Dorsett, wide receiver. Dorsett, the No. 29 overall selection by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2015 NFL Draft, has spent time with the Colts, New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. He has 124 receptions for 1,634 yards and 11 touchdowns in 71 games.
*Rudy Ford, safety. Ford, a sixth-round selection by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2017 NFL Draft, played with the Philadelphia Eagles the past two seasons. He has 31 career special teams tackles, including a career-high 13 in 2020.
*Shaquill Griffin, cornerback. Griffin, a third-round selection by the Seahawks in the 2017, had 48 passes defensed and six interceptions over the past four seasons. The 48 passes defensed were the 10th most in the NFL during that span.
*Carlos Hyde, running back. Hyde, a second-round selection by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2014 NFL Draft, has spent time with the 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks. He rushed for 189 yards on 58 carries in eight games with the Jaguars in 2018 and has rushed for 4,726 yards and 36 touchdowns in seven NFL seasons.
*Rayshawn Jenkins, safety. Jenkins, a fourth-round selection by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2017 NFL Draft, started 31 games at strong safety for the Chargers over the last two seasons. He has nine career passes defensed with five interceptions – with all five interceptions in the last two seasons.
*Marvin Jones, wide receiver. Jones, a 10-year veteran who played the last five seasons with the Detroit Lions, was originally selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He has 423 career receptions for 6,025 yards and 51 touchdowns, including a career-high 76 receptions for 978 yards and nine touchdowns last season.
*Chris Manhertz, tight end. Manhertz, who spent the past four seasons with the Carolina Panthers and originally entered the NFL as a tryout player with the Buffalo Bills in 2015, is considered one of the NFL's better blocking tight ends. He started 26 of 63 games the past four seasons with one missed game in that span and has 12 NFL receptions for 142 yards and a touchdown.
*Roy Robertson-Harris, defensive end. Robertson-Harris, who spent his first five seasons with the Chicago Bears, originally joined the Bears as a collegiate free agent shortly after the 2016 NFL Draft. He has started 13 of 52 games played with 7.5 sacks and six passes defensed in the past four seasons.
*Jahid Ward, defensive end. Ward, who spent the last two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, was a second-round selection by the Oakland Raiders in the 2016 NFL Draft and also has spent time with the Dallas Cowboys and Indianapolis Colts. He has started 14 of 51 games played with 59 tackles and eight career sacks.
