The Jaguars are stocking up on players who were team captains

When the Jacksonville Jaguars landed Arik Armstead with a three-year deal Thursday, they didn’t just get a 6’7 goliath to bolster their defensive line. They also got a four-time Walter Payton Man of the Year Award nominee who was a four-time team captain with the San Francisco 49ers.

That’s been a bit of a theme during the Jaguars’ foray into the free agency market this offseason.

Armstead is set to be the seventh newcomer added to the Jaguars roster and the fourth who was a team captain during the 2023 season. Both center Mitch Morse and wide receiver Gabe Davis were captains for the Buffalo Bills last season, and quarterback Mac Jones was a captain his last two seasons with the New England Patriots.

The other three additions — Ronald Darby, Devin Duvernay, and Darnell Savage — played for teams (Baltimore Ravens and Green Bay Packers) that didn’t name season-long captains.

Jacksonville’s infusion of players with proven leadership is no coincidence.

The #Jaguars valued leadership/locker room with their signings along the line (Armstead, Mitch Morse, Brandon Scherff on reworked deal). Should help the team stay together through ups and downs of a season.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 14, 2024

Armstead is the kind of pro’s pro the Jaguars need in their building. That team got a sideways last year when they seemed content at 8-3 and didn’t push the way the staff wanted.

— Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) March 14, 2024

In each of his two seasons as the Jaguars’ head coach, Doug Pederson has held a team vote to determine five captains with two on offense, two on defense, and one on special teams. Last year, those spots were held by Trevor Lawrence, Brandon Scherff, Foye Oluokun, Roy Robertson-Harris, and Andrew Wingard.