Jacksonville Jaguars: Re-sign Allen Robinson or Marqise Lee?

A tough decision will be made regarding which free agent receiver the Jacksonville Jaguars will pursue to re-sign. Will it be Allen Robinson or Marqise Lee?

The Jacksonville Jaguars will make re-signing either Allen Robinson or Marqise Lee a high priority. Remember, Aaron Colvin is a free agent as well. Jacksonville will not be able to pay all three.

Colvin is a big contributor in the Jaguars defense. Jacksonville must keep the tenacious defense intact. The Jaguars will offer Colvin and either Robinson or Lee. Do not expect Jacksonville to overspend for any of the three, but to make reasonable offers.

The deadline passed for the Jaguars to exercise the franchise tag of any of the three. Colvin would have been franchised at a price of $14.975 million, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. Lee or Robinson would’ve cost Jacksonville $15.982 million with the tag.

Since the Jaguars did not tag any player, they must feel the tag price was too expensive. First of all, Robinson is coming off an ACL injury. Also, he had a statistical decline from the 2015 season compared to the 2016 season.

Gene Frenette of Jacksonville.com comments on Robinson’s contract negotiations:

"Had he delivered another Pro Bowl season after his 2015 breakout year, then maybe the Jaguars swallow that price tag. But after Robinson’s numbers fell from 80 catches, 1,400 yards and 14 TDs, to 73, 883 and 5, respectively, in 2016, and then the injury in last year’s season opener, the only reasonable solution would be some kind of contract compromise ."

Will Robinson re-sign for less money? Currently, the Jaguars have $35 million is salary cap space per overthecap.com. As a result, there is a price range that Jacksonville will be offering Robinson. The ball will be in his court as whether he accepts the offer of pursues the big paycheck.

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If Robinson decides to walk away, then expect Allen Hurns to become the No. 1 receiver. The Jaguars will re-sign Lee to continue his role as the slot receiver. Keelan Cole and Dede Westbrook will compliment Hurns and Lee in various formations. To quote Frenette:

"Just remember, if the divorce happens, this is nothing personal toward Robinson. It’s just the price of doing business in the NFL."

Just business, indeed.