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The Jacksonville Jaguars are on the verge of signing defensive end Malik Jackson away from the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos. Jackson confirmed Tuesday he agreed to a deal with the Jaguars that could be worth $90 million over six seasons. He can't officially sign the contract until Wednesday when the new league year begins.
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The deal puts Jackson in the elite tax bracket of defensive players in the NFL, including Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Justin Houston and Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.
Jackson considered an offer from the Broncos for approximately $11 to 12 million per season recently before opting to pursue offers from other teams.
The Chicago Bears and Oakland Raiders also were pursing Jackson, who played five defensive line positions in Denver's varied front the past three seasons, including both defensive end spots in a 4-3 and all three positions in the 3-4 front.
Jackson, 26, started every game for the first time in his career last season and was one of the key cogs on the stout Denver defense.
He had 5.5 sacks and broke up seven passes during the 2015 season while being used at both defensive end and defensive tackle. He recovered a fumble for a touchdown in Super Bowl 50 after Von Miller forced Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton to fumble.
Jackson has 14.5 career sacks in four NFL seasons. He was a fifth-round pick out of Tennessee in 2012.
Jacksonville has close to $70 million in salary cap space and targeted Jackson as a player it can showcase in a defense that welcomes back 2015 first-round pick Dante Fowler, a defensive end who missed the entire season because of a torn ACL.
