NFL Notes: Cardinals, Jaguars, & Patriots

Cardinals

Cardinals veteran LS Mike Leach announced Tuesday that he’s retiring from the NFL.

Thank You. pic.twitter.com/0maFZMZFID

— Mike Leach (@MikeLeach82) January 27, 2016

Jaguars

Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell mentioned on Tuesday that they will really focus on upgrading the defensive side of the ball this offseason.

“Now, we can really focus on which side of the ball do we really want to build,” Caldwell said, via the Florida Times Union. “We feel good about the offense right now. We still have a ways to go and aren’t done by any means, but we’ll really focus on the defensive side of the ball. Getting Fowler and Marks back will help us, then we have cap space and eight draft picks to fix the rest of the needs.”

Caldwell admitted that finding more pass-rush help will be among their targets.

“I think so,” Caldwell said. “We have a need there, whether it’s two more or three more. You can never have enough pass rushers. There were a handful of games we were winning in the fourth quarter. If we had some pass rush, we could have closed half of them out. If we had, we’d been playing in January.”

• Regarding their free agents, Caldwell said they haven’t begun discussions about re-signing any of them. (Michael DiRocco)
• Caldwell added that they haven’t discussed picking up LT Luke Joeckel‘s fifth-year option either. (Michael DiRocco)
• Caldwell mentioned that he doesn’t see them trading up in the first round. (Michael DiRocco)

Patriots

Mike Reiss of ESPN takes a look at the most valuable free agents for the Patriots in his latest article.

• Reiss considers DT Akiem Hicks to be the Patriots No. 1 free agent, and mentions that he could end up being a fairly coveted player on the open market.
• Reiss mentions that the Patriots would like to have S Nate Ebner back in 2016.
• The fact that RB LeGarrett Blount is coming off of a back injury could impact his market, according to Reiss.
• Reiss mentions that the Pats will need to decide whether to tender FB James Develin at the $1.6 million level or try to work out an extension.
• Veteran CB Tarell Brown could be forced to sign an incentive-laden deal closer to the minimum, according to Reiss.
• G Ryan Wendell could also be in a position where he may have to accept a minimum deal.