Jacksonville Jaguars: Top 5 offseason additions, post 2018 NFL Draft

4. D.J. Hayden, CB (from Detroit Lions)

To say that the reigning AFC South champions have quite the pair of bookends in the secondary would be an understatement. Yes, the Jacksonville Jaguars finished second in the NFL this past season with an impressive 55 sacks. And that certainly helped when it came to the club’s cornerback combination of Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye, part of a defense that allowed the fewest passing yards in the league in 2017.

The former is Pro Football Focus’ third-ranked performer at his position and comes off an All-Pro campaign. Meanwhile, Bouye can be found at No. 12 on the same list and enjoyed quite the debut season with the club after the former Houston Texans’ standout signed on with the Jaguars. Ramsey was a 16-game starter who finished with 63 tackles, four interceptions and 17 passes defensed. His new teammate was also in the opening lineup for every contest and not only totaled 56 stops but amassed team-highs in picks (6) and passes defensed (18).

That’s the good news. But the team’s best reserve, Aaron Colvin, returned the favor per se in free agency and latched on with the Texans this offseason. The move left Doug Marrone’s club thin when it comes to experience depth at the cornerback spot. Hence the addition of one-time Oakland Raiders’ first-round pick D.J. Hayden. He spent 2017 with the Detroit Lions and comes off a somewhat-respectable year – playing in all 16 games and totaling 42 tackles, two fumble recoveries and nine passes defensed.

He’s not necessarily a long-term solution here. But Hayden’s experience will come in handy as the team’s younger cornerbacks look to make an eventual impact.

Next: No. 3