Jacksonville Jaguars: Greg Hardy Could Help Defense in 2016

While signing Greg Hardy would be controversial, the troubled defensive end could bring production to the field for the Jacksonville Jaguars

There’s no denying that the Jacksonville Jaguars defense struggled in 2015. They surrendered 30 or more points nine times, including performances that netted 42 points and 51 points for opponents.

Such struggles explain why they used valuable draft choices on players like cornerback Jalen Ramsey and linebacker Myles Jack this offseason. Helping those youngsters out will also be defensive end Dante Fowler, Jr. who was the third overall pick in 2015 but missed his entire rookie year due to injury.

Perhaps those young players will form a defensive trio for the ages, but since none have ever taken an NFL snap, they may need a veteran player to lean on while they learn the nuances of the professional game.

The Jags may agree with that sentiment as they have worked out former Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy according to Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com.

Sure fans of the team must cringe hearing this news, which is a reasonable response. In 2014 Hardy was found guilty of assaulting his former girlfriend but an appeal got the conviction overturned when the victim quit working with authorities.

After playing just one game in 2014 while the case drug on, the league suspended Hardy 10 games for his involvement in the matter. His suspension was reduced to four games and he spent the following 12 games being a thorn in the Cowboys side.

Dallas showed no interest in bringing Hardy back and until this week, no one has so much as given the once highly-touted pass rusher a sniff.

Even after this visit the team seems hesitant to sign Hardy, but perhaps such a move could work on the field for the young Jaguars defense. Speaking strictly from a football sense, Hardy could be a good fit.

He would bring a veteran presence to a young group, and would come in extremely cheap given the lack of desire for his services. Also, the lack of interest could be the one and only thing to humble Hardy, who until this point has felt invincible.

Knowing the league has no tolerance for players who don’t conform to societal norms would be enough to warn Hardy he is on his very last chance in the NFL. Sure, a zebra can’t change his stripes, but it could be enough to get one season out of Hardy which would be all they would need as their talented youngsters get some exposure.

Hardy recorded 35 tackles, six sacks and an interception for Dallas last season. He came out of the gates strong, but faded after a few games which may have been due to his long layoff from the suspension and 15 missed games the previous season.

After having played 12 games in 2015, Hardy would be in much better shape for Jacksonville and would prove to be a solid defensive end that could help keep those 30-point games at bay. Plus the best part of signing Hardy to a small-money deal would be if he came in and looked as though he can’t get through a season on his best behavior, he can be cut with hardly any damage done financially.

It wouldn’t be a popular move, but it could make sense from a football perspective.

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