The Jacksonville Jaguars' Best Free Agent Signings in Franchise History

Signed with Jacksonville: 2005
Years with team: Entering his fifth
Stats with team: 75 tackles, 16.5 sacks

The defensive end out of Iowa State had a very nice three-year run from 2003 to 2005 in which he recorded 27.5 sacks.

Two of those years came in Denver, and he parlayed that success into a five-year, $25 million contract.

He had a nice first season in Jacksonville, recording 8.5 sacks. But he suffered a torn Achilles the next year and hasn't seemed like the same guy. He recorded just eight combined sacks in 2007 and 2008.

Hopefully Hayward can return to 2005 form. If not, it's unlikely that he'll be in a Jaguar uniform in 2010.

Signed with Jacksonville: 1999
Years with team: Eight
Stats with team: 241 receptions, 2,500 yards, 13 touchdowns

After spending his first four years in the NFL with the Jets, Brady came to Jacksonville in 1999 and became a mainstay of the offense for nearly a decade.

He wasn't very flashy and was known more as a blocking tight end, but he got the job done when he was called upon.

His best statistical year came in 2000, when he caught 64 passes for 729 yards and three touchdowns.

He went to New England in 2007 and retired after the Patriots released him in 2008.

Signed with Jacksonville: 1996
Years with team: Five
Stats with team: Started 63 games, 1999 Pro Bowl

The massive offensive tackle played in Pittsburgh for five years before joining Jacksonville in 1996.

Searcy, a native of Washington D.C., really helped solidify the offensive line and was a major factor in the early success of Jacksonville's franchise.

He seemed primed for a long, successful career in Jacksonville after being named to his only Pro Bowl in 1999. But he suffered a right knee injury in 2000 and didn't play another game for the Jaguars.

Searcy signed with Baltimore in 2001, but suffered an arm injury and never played again.

Signed with Jacksonville: 2003
Years with team: Six
Stats with team: 543 tackles, 15 sacks, eight interceptions

After beginning his career in Indianapolis, the University of Florida alumnus and Gainesville, FL native made it back home and enjoyed tremendous success with the Jaguars, especially early in his tenure.

Peterson was one of the most reliable middle linebackers in the league from 2003-2005. He recorded 357 tackles, 12 sacks and six interceptions.

He didn't have as much success over the next three years, in large part because he missed some games with injuries. He played in only 30 games from 2005-2008.

His tenure with the Jaguars came to an abrupt end after he and Coach Jack Del Rio got into a flap following a loss to Cleveland.

Jacksonville elected not to bring Mike Pete back, and he signed with Atlanta in the offseason.

Peterson will be reunited with former defensive coordinator Mike Smith, who is now the coach in the ATL.

Signed with Jacksonville: 1996
Years with team: Six
Stats with team: 499 receptions, 6,393 yards, 30 touchdowns

After a nondescript start to his career, Keenan McCardell burst on the scene in 1996, his first year with the Jaguars.

He caught 85 passes for 1,129 yards and three touchdowns in his inaugural season with Jacksonville and was named to a Pro Bowl for his efforts.

McCardell teamed up with Jimmy Smith to form one of the most formidable wide receiver duos in the NFL.

During his six-year run in Jacksonville, McCardell eclipsed the 80-catch plateau and the 1,000-yard mark four times.

The team allowed McCardell to walk and he found a home with Tampa Bay.

Although Jaguar fans were sad to see him go, fans of McCardell had to be happy that he got a ring with the Bucs in 2002 (It was actually his second ring because he was a member of the Washington Redskins in 1991, his rookie season. But he didn't play at all).

McCardell also made one more trip to the Pro Bowl in 2003, when he posted one of the best seasons of his career (84 receptions, 1,174 yards, eight touchdowns).

He played four more years after that (three with San Diego, one with Washington). He hasn't officially retired yet, but he hasn't played a game since 2007.