The Jaguars gave Malik Jackson a huge contract and he’s going to be worth every penny

The Jacksonville Jaguars may well be the most improved team in the league this season. Their offense was already pretty good last year. The additions of Myles Jack and Jalen Ramsey in the draft and Dante Fowler Jr coming back from a knee injury that erased his rookie year, the Jags defense should be pretty formidable as well. The key to just how good they will be on defense, however, comes down to their big free agent acquisition, defensive lineman Malik Jackson formerly of the reigning Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos.

Truth be told I’ve been watching Jackson for a loooong while, since back when he was playing for my alma mater of Tennessee. I can tell you this, I’m very excited to see what he can do now that he is back in a 4-3 defense like he was in college. Denver got an absolute steal when he fell to them in the fifth round of the 2012 draft, but I was concerned about how he would fit in a 3-4 defense. Jackson was always more of an up the field player and a little too big to play outside linebacker and a little undersized to play five technique ... or so I thought at the time.

The going was a little rough early on for Jackson, but by his second year he was starting to make major contributions to the Broncos defense, notching six sacks that season. Last season he was the starter for all 16 games and he played his ass off helping his team take home the title and getting absolutely paid in March to sign with the Jaguars.

The Jaguars scheme should be much better for Jackson in terms of him being able to utilize all of his abilities to the fullest.

He could play as a strong-side defensive end on the edge like he did in college on early downs, like the Seahawks do with Michael Bennett. Most of Jackson’s best work as a pass rusher last season for the Broncos came inside at three-technique. That’s where they have him for now. The only question is whether Sen’Derrick Marks, who had previously been a helluva three technique in his own right, can round back into form after two injury plagued seasons. That would allow the Jaguars more flexibility to move Jackson around and keep teams from keying on him, again, much like Bennett in Seattle. But even if Jackson plays at three-technique and only three-technique, he should still have a monster year.

Whether he’s at defensive end or three-technique, he won’t be lining up head up on offensive linemen much, if at all, is going to really allow Jackson to showcase his explosiveness up the field. That’s something he didn’t always get to do a lot of in Denver.

I say this because it’s true; pass rushing from a head up position on any offensive lineman is some miserable shit. Lining up in the gaps full time should feel like heaven for Jackson this year.

I see Malik Jackson as a double-digit sack guy this year, provided he stays healthy. I know some folks are skeptical and think his production might have just been because of the talent he had around him in Denver, but I don’t think anybody will be talking that shit by the time this season is over.

Jackson is going to be worth every dime. He just might help the Jaguars win the division this year.