And now, the offseason officially begins.
With the Super Bowl two days in the rearview mirror, the NFL now enters a month or so of preparation and planning – with, of course, some tagging, scouting and re-signing/releasing mixed in.
The Jaguars this afternoon will hold a news conference featuring Jaguars Owner Shad Khan and President Mark Lamping, at which the two are expected to give an overall update on the state of the Jaguars, with an emphasis on what was considered a successful fall on the business side of the organization.
At the same time, new General Manager David Caldwell, the scouting staff and coaching staff are deep into the evaluation of the roster, something Caldwell began on a full-scale basis last week.
That evaluation period marks the beginning of a busy, important offseason for the Jaguars as the franchise moves in a new direction. Look for the Jaguars' personnel officials and coaches to head to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Ind., in two weeks with a clearer vision of the organization's short- and long-term plan – and a clearer idea of which players may be re-signed and what areas they might pursue in free agency.
The free agency period is scheduled to begin March 12, but bear in mind: Jaguars Owner Shad Khan said during the week leading to the Super Bowl the team likely won't be major players early in the free-agency period, with the plan under Caldwell to build through the draft and use free-agency as a supplement.
With that in mind, while we wait for today's news conference, we'll take a quick, categorical look at some approaching offseason issues:
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1. KEY DATES
*NFL Scouting Combine, February 20-26.
*Free agency period/start of new league year, March 12.
*Pro Days. No official calendar here, but draft selections hold on-campus workouts through must of March, the final days of February and the first days of April.
*NFL Draft: April 25-27.
The team also will hold organized team activities and minicamps in April, May and June, with specific dates still to be scheduled.
2. FRANCHISE NUMBERS
Teams may opt to place a franchise tag on one potential free agent per offseason before the free-agency period begins, with teams having the option of using the "exclusive" or non-exclusive version of the tag. If a team uses the exclusive tag, no team may negotiate with that player. If a team uses the non-exclusive version, teams can negotiate, but the team that signs the player will have to give up two first-round draft selections to the player's former team. A franchised player must be offered a one-year deal based on the figures below. The figures below are the projections for the non-exclusive tag, with the exclusive tag being higher and based on the average salaries of the top five players at each position. Because of the steep compensation (two first-round selections) for even the non-exclusive tag, the exclusive tag is rarely used, though the Saints used it on quarterback Drew Brees last offseason. Franchise figures for 2013:
*Quarterback: $14.642 million.
*Running back: $8.079 million.
*Wide receiver: $10.357 million.
*Offensive line: $9.660 million.
*Tight end: $5.962 million.
*Defensive end: $10.984 million.
*Defensive tackle: $8.306 million.
*Linebacker: $9.455 million.
*Safety: $6.798 million.
*Cornerback: $10.668 million.
*Kicker/punter: $2.926 million.
3. JAGUARS FREE AGENTS
The following Jaguars players are scheduled to become free agents on March 12:
Linebacker Kyle Bosworth, offensive lineman Eben Britton, defensive end John Chick (exclusive rights free agent), cornerback Derek Cox, center John Estes (restricted), running back Rashad Jennings, fullback Greg Jones, defensive tackle Terrance Knighton, cornerback Rashean Mathis, center Brad Meester, cornerback William Middleton, cornerback Antwaun Molden, quarterback Jordan Palmer, running back Jalen Parmele, tight end Zach Potter (restricted), defensive end George Selvie (restricted), wide receiver Jordan Shipley (restricted), Linebacker Daryl Smith, running back Keith Toston (exclusive rights), guard Steve Vallos.
4. TOP FREE AGENTS LEAGUEWIDE
Below is a list of top players around the NFL scheduled to become free agents on March 12. Many of the players listed, including Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, could re-sign with their teams or have the franchise tag used on them before March 12. The list does not include players such as 49ers quarterback Alex Smith or Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, who could be released before the March 12, thus becoming free agents:
Quarterbacks
Joe Flacco, Baltimore
Matt Moore, Miami
Jason Campbell, Chicago
Tarvaris Jackson, Buffalo
Seneca Wallace, Seattle
Running backs
Steven Jackson, St. Louis
Reggie Bush, Miami
Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh
Felix Jones, Dallas
Shonn Greene, New York Jets
Cedric Benson, Green Bay
Peyton Hillis, Kansas City
Danny Woodhead, New England
Bernard Scott, Cincinnati
Rashad Jennings, Jacksonville
Wide receivers
Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City
Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh
Greg Jennings, Green Bay
Wes Welker, New England
Danny Amendola, St. Louis
Brian Hartline, Miami
Julian Edelman, New England
Domenik Hixon, New York Giants
Randy Moss, San Francisco
Donny Avery, Indianapolis
Tight ends
Martellus Bennett, New York Giants
Dustin Keller, New York Jets
Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta
Jared Cook, Tennessee
Fred Davis, Washington
Brandon Myers, Oakland
Anthony Fasano, Miami
Dallas Clark, Tampa Bay
James Casey, Houston
Ben Watson, Cleveland
Offensive tackles
Ryan Clady, Denver
Andre Smith, Cincinnati
Sebastian Vollmer, New England
Jake Long, Miami
Will Beatty, New York Giants
Branden Albert, Kansas City
Phil Loadholt, Minnesota
Jermon Bushrod, New Orleans
Gosder Cherilus, Detroit
Sam Baker, Atlanta
Offensive guards
Andy Levitre, Buffalo
Louis Vasquez, San Diego
Donald Thomas, New England
Kevin Boothe, New York Giants
Brandon Moore, New York Jets
Defensive ends
Michael Bennett, Tampa Bay
Michael Johnson, Cincinnati
Cliff Avril, Detroit
Osi Umenyiora, New York Giants
Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis
Mike DeVito, New York Jets
Matt Shaughnessy, Oakland
Israel Idonije, Chicago
Andre Carter, Oakland
Darryl Tapp, Philadelphia
Defensive tackles
Henry Melton, Chicago
Randy Starks, Miami
Glenn Dorsey, Kansas City
Desmond Bryant, Oakland
Richard Seymour, Oakland
Jason Jones, Seattle
Vance Walker, Atlanta
Spencer Johnson, Buffalo
Terrance Knighton, Jacksonville
Corey Williams, Detroit
Inside linebackers
Dannell Ellerbe, Baltimore
Brian Urlacher, Chicago
Brad Jones, Green Bay
Rey Maualuga, Cincinnati
Moise Fokou, Indianapolis
Outside linebackers
Paul Kruger, Baltimore
Anthony Spencer, Dallas
Daryl Smith, Jacksonville
Connor Barwin, Houston
Philip Wheeler, Oakland
Antwan Barnes, San Diego
Justin Durant, Detroit
Erin Henderson, Minnesota
Leroy Hill, Seattle
Shaun Phillips, San Diego
Cornerbacks
Aqib Talib, New England
Brent Grimes, Atlanta
Chris Houston, Detroit
Sean Smith, Miami
Cary Williams, Baltimore
Leodis McKelvin, Buffalo
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Philadelphia
Derek Cox, Jacksonville
Bradley Fletcher, St. Louis
Mike Jenkins, Dallas
Safeties
Jairus Byrd, Buffalo
Dashon Goldson, San Francisco
Ed Reed, Baltimore
Kenny Phillips, New York Giants
William Moore, Atlanta
Louis Delmas, Detroit
Chris Clemons, Miami
Patrick Chung, New England
Glover Quin, Houston
LaRon Landry, New York Jets
