Trent Baalke: DaVon Hamilton is ‘integral part’ of Jaguars

Less than 24 hours before the Jacksonville Jaguars started adding new players via the 2023 NFL Draft, the team opened up its pocketbooks to keep a former pick in Jacksonville.

With a three-year, $34.5 million extension, the Jaguars ensured that 2020 third-round pick DaVon Hamilton will continue to hold down the nose tackle position in Duval.

“DaVon is an integral part of our team,” Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement Thursday. “Retaining our homegrown players is a key component to our organizational philosophy. He is coming off his best season since being drafted in 2020 and we are confident that his best football lies ahead. He is a great representative of the Jaguars both on and off the field and we are excited for his future in Jacksonville.”

Keeping the roster in tact by re-signing and extending players has been a focal point for the Jaguars during the 2023 offseason. Defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris also received a contract extension from Jacksonville earlier this year, and the team re-signed Andrew Wingard, Adam Gotsis, Tre Herndon, C.J. Beathard, JaMycal Hasty, and Tevaughn Campbell before each could reach free agency.

Hamilton was graded by Pro Football Focus as the Jaguars’ third best defensive starter during the 2022 season.