Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released quarterback Josh Freeman on Thursday, only days after Freeman wished for a release. NFL teams who could use a quarterback like Freeman include the Oakland Raiders, New York Jets (that’d be ugly though), Buffalo Bills (E.J. Manuel injury), Cleveland Browns (Brian Hoyer injury), Minnesota Vikings, or maybe even the Houston Texans.
The team though who needs Freeman the most right now, though, are the 0-4 Jacksonville Jaguars. Freeman would likely want to start for a contending team, but a contender will not take a chance on signing a quarterback to start for them who couldn’t get along with his previous head coach.
It is clearly evident that the Jaguars aren’t going anywhere this season. Jacksonville will be lucky to win two games this season with first-year and likely final-year head coach Gus Bradley in charge.
Jacksonville quarterbacks Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne have both been awful this season. In total, both quarterbacks are completing 53 percent of their passes (31st in NFL) for 175 yards per game (30th) while averaging 5.5 yards per pass attempt (last).
Gabbert and Henne have also combined to throw only one touchdown pass (last) and seven interceptions (tied for third) while the offensive line has allowed 18 sacks (tied for first entering Week 4).
The Jaguars not only have a quarterback problem, but they have an offensive line, defensive line, defensive secondary and just plain everything problem. The defense has allowed 165 rushing yards per game (last), 32.3 points per game (30th) and has only recorded eight sacks (26th), while being outscored by their opponents 129-31.
The Jaguars need to sign Freeman, who is a talented kid with some past flashes in his short NFL career, because he would be an immediate upgrade over both Gabbert and Henne. Plus, Freeman could do a better job st giving running back Maurice Jones-Drew more opportunities because Freeman would at least successfully be able to throw the football to Jaguars wide receivers Justin Blackmon and Cecil Shorts III.
If the Jaguars can take care of the quarterback position for now, they could then draft South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney with the first overall selection in April’s 2014 NFL Draft without second-guessing their pick.
Freeman has the serious ability to help turn around a franchise, and the Jaguars need to take a chance on the former first-round pick (remember, Freeman almost was able to do it in Tampa). If not, the Jags will likely have a hard time coming down to a decision on drafting Clemson‘s Tajh Boyd, Louisville‘s Teddy Bridgewater or Clowney.
The Jaguars have a chance to add a game-changer to both sides of the football in the next seven months. I mean seriously, what else do they have to lose?
Sean Tehan is an NFL Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @SeanTehan, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.
