Long-Term Deal For WR Cecil Shorts Remains A Priority For Jaguars

Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell told reporters that they would like to have WR Cecil Shorts a part of the team long term.

“I’ve been in communication with his agent and we’ve had good talks,” Caldwell said. “We’re trying to find a happy ground with what’s best for Cecil and what’s best for us. We obviously would like him here for the long term.”

Shorts has dealt with a number of injuries over the course of his young NFL career. In fact, Shorts has dealt with an injury in each of his first three years in the league.

There is no question that this could have an impact on the type of offer that the Jaguars are willing to extend him.

“It’s trying to figure the market and where it falls for him,” Caldwell said. “I don’t want to give him a contract that he’s going to regret in a year. From a club standpoint, I want to make sure we don’t regret it either. So it’s a little bit of a tricky situation. He didn’t play much his first year, he was pretty productive his second year and then last year was a down year. So, it’s about finding where his market is.”

Short also confirmed that he would like to remain with the Jaguars for the rest of his career.

Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times Union previously mentioned that Shorts could target a similar deal to that of Seahawks WR Doug Baldwin, secured a three-year, $13 million contract that includes $8.5 million guaranteed this offseason.

The two players production is actually fairly similar to one another.

• Baldwin (25): Three years, 46 games, 130 catches, 1,932 yards and 12 touchdowns.
• Shorts (26): Three years, 37 games, 123 catches, 1,786 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Shorts, 26, is entering the final year of his rookie contract and stands to make just $739,383 for the 2014 season. He has been the Jaguars most reliable receiver for the past few years and is clearly due for a raise.

Last season, Shorts caught 66 receptions for 777 yards receiving and three touchdowns.