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Jacksonville Jaguars ink Davon House, a perfect Gus Bradley corner

By Keegan Matheson

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The Jacksonville Jaguars are stepping out of the shadows with a roar, and their free agent spending continues today with the reported signing of former Green Bay Packers cornerback Davon House.  A 2011 fourth round pick out of New Mexico State University, Davon House is just 25 years old, and the Jacksonville Jaguars hope to tap into the potential that he was unable to fully realize with the Packers.  NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was first to break the contract details.

House joins an impressive haul of reported agreements that the Jaguars have nailed down already, including tight end Julius Thomas, tackle Jermey Parnell and defensive tackle Jared Odrick.  Jacksonville struggled throughout 2014, especially on offense as their unit allowed a league-worst 71 sacks, but this organization has shown a commitment to building the team correctly from the ground up.

The success of Davon House will be a critical part of rebuilding process, but is $6.25 million annually too expensive for a player with just 14 career starts?  Paul Imig of FOX Wisconsin has reported that the complete deal is worth $25 million over four seasons with $10 million guaranteed, which is well over the Packers’ top offer to him.

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In terms of schematic fit and personnel familiarity, this move makes sense.  Davon House stands just over 6’0″ and weighs in at 200 pounds, giving Gus Bradley the lengthy corner that he has coveted since his time with the Legion of Boom and the Seattle Seahawks.  Additionally, the Jaguars defensive backs coach DeWayne Walker was House’s head coach at New Mexico State throughout his career.

House also brings a physical press coverage style to the defense that Bradley values in his corners.  Nagging shoulder injuries limited his physicality at times with the Packers, but when House is healthy, he does possess the skill set to match up against number one receivers.  In week 14 of this past season, Julio Jones had already topped 200 yards with Sam Shields attempting to cover him, but Davon House was able to control him brilliantly when he was substituted in.

Jacksonville will be able to start House on the outside immediately, matching him up against larger receivers such as division-rival DeAndre Hopkins.  Demetrius McCray could man the other starting role, while Dwayne Gratz may fare better in the slot as he has defended well against the run.  With improved coverage on the outside, Jacksonville may be able to create more disruptive defensive line play, especially if they are able to add a player like Leonard Williams in April’s draft.

Is this an overpay for Davon House?  Absolutely.  Given the free agent market, however, and the dire need for coverage cornerbacks in the NFL, this salary shouldn’t be surprising.  On a team tighter to the salary cap this would be a risky deal, but given Jacksonville’s financial flexibility, this is a manageable contract.  While paying for the hope of future success is a dangerous game, House has real potential, and could flourish under the guidance of Gus Bradley.

Next: Jacksonville Jaguars top first round options

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