2016 NFL free agency: 5 teams who should sign Malik Jackson

1) Jacksonville Jaguars

The only team who could outspend the Raiders in a bidding war is the Jaguars. Jacksonville may be forced to spend money this offseason to avoid the NFL salary floor and should be in the market for every big-name defensive player, including Jackson.

The Jaguars’ biggest strength is a terrific group of young wide receivers who are only going to improve in 2016. Blake Bortles is progressing as a quarterback, while second-year running back T.J. Yeldon also looks like a solid piece. With that young talent in place, the Jaguars aren’t all that far off from making a long-awaited playoff appearance.

To make contention a reality, the Jaguars need all sorts of help on the defensive end. Jacksonville allowed a putrid 28 points per game last season, edging out the New Orleans Saints for 31st in the NFL.

The Jaguars certainly will look for an influx of talent in the secondary, but pass rush might be the greatest single need for the team. Chris Clemons will probably be cut and Andre Branch is a free agent, so Jackson’s versatility would help replace some of the lost depth.

There’s really not much of a reason the Jaguars shouldn’t offer Jackson a contract in excess of Denver’s $10 million a year offer. If 2015 No. 3 overall pick Dante Fowler can return successfully from a knee injury in addition to a signing like Jackson, the Jaguars would be at least trending in the right direction.

Jacksonville is pushing $80 million in cap space, and almost all of it is going towards the defense. There’s several options for the Jaguars given all that available money, but adding Jackson plus a starting cornerback would be a wise course of action.