Jaguars Want Jawaan Taylor Back — Can They Make It Happen?

With just 12 days until the start of free-agency, the Jacksonville Jaguars still have some looming decisions. Among the most pertinent and impactful of these decisions is how they decide the fate of right tackle Jawaan Taylor. 

But, when examining the situation, it is clear the Jaguars have already decided their path with Taylor -- they want him back. Whether they can actually make it happen is another question entirely.

"I mean, that's everything we're trying to figure out now, you know, and, hopefully, his camp sees it that way. Because we see it that way," Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson told local media on Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. 

It isn't hard to imagine why the Jaguars would want Taylor back. He is the youngest player at 25 years old, has not missed a single start in the four seasons since he was a second-round pick, and is coming off the best season in his career.

"Taylor had a career year as a pass protector, earning his highest pass-blocking grade with a 76.4 mark that landed him in the top 25 among tackles on the year. Taylor allowed pressure on just 2.5% of dropbacks, the third-lowest mark among tackles in the NFL, though quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s lightning-quick 2.51-second average time to throw certainly helped. However, Taylor’s 76.7 pass-blocking grade on true pass sets still ranked 14th among tackles and his 5.2% pressure rate allowed was a top-10 mark," Pro Football Focus wrote in February. 

There are other factors at play, too. For one, the Jaguars' offensive line has legitimate questions entering the offseason after a slew of injuries hit the unit in 2022. Taylor and center Luke Fortner were the only Week 1 starters to end the year healthy, with left tackle Cam Robinson and left guard Ben Bartch each sustaining season-ending knee injuries, and right guard Brandon Scherff battling injuries for much of the season's second-half.

Add in the fact that third-year offensive lineman Walker Little has just eight NFL starts under his belt (five in 2022), and the Jaguars should want Taylor back. It only makes sense.

By all indications, returning to Jacksonville is something Taylor would be in favor of as well. This doesn't mean any hometown discounts, obviously, but the Jaguars at least are working with someone who knows he has a place in Jacksonville. 

"We're encouraged by the fact that Jawaan wants to be in Jacksonville. And again, all the guys that we're talking about that are our current free agents would like to be back," Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke said on Tuesday. 

"But it's a business, we understand it, they understand it, and it's impossible to re-sign everybody at maybe what they're looking to get from a max standpoint. But I believe that every deal there's a win-win. At some point within the negotiation, you can come to a compromise that both sides feel good. And that's that's what we're shooting to do is find deals that are win-wins for, for them and for us."

Reading between the lines, it seems like the ultimate reason Taylor hasn't signed an extension like other Jaguars' free agents comes down to the bottom line of the dollar. The Jaguars are expected to franchise tag tight end Evan Engram as opposed to placing an $18 million tag on Taylor, meaning the Jaguars' lone avenue of keeping Taylor is by offering him a long-term deal. 

Can the Jaguars make it happen? It remains to be seen. If Engram is tagged, the Jaguars will be tight on the cap, even with the impending release of cornerback Shaquill Griffin. 

The Jaguars want Taylor back. By Baalke's account, Taylor wants to be back. The only thing standing in the way seems to be money. Whether Taylor returns in 2023 will be dependent on how -- or if -- the Jaguars can find a solution that works for both sides.