Marcedes Lewis Re-Signs with Jaguars: Latest Contract Details and Reaction

Tight end Marcedes Lewis has been with the Jacksonville Jaguars his entire career since the franchise drafted him in the first round in 2006, and they weren’t ready to let him go just yet. 

According to Mark Long of the Associated Press, the Jaguars re-signed Lewis Wednesday to a three-year deal despite a "late push by" the Los Angeles Rams.

The Jaguars would confirm the news. The three-year deal is worth $12 million, per Rand Getlin of the NFL Network. 

"I wanted nothing more than to be back and finish my career right at home in Jax," said Lewis, per Ryan O'Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. 

This doesn’t come as much surprise from Lewis’ perspective, considering the tight end said early in the offseason that he wanted to stay put, per Mike DiRocco of ESPN.com:

"

You rarely see players play 10 years for one team, let alone finish their career [with the same team], so it’s something that I want to be able to do. Hopefully we can get it done before all the other stuff even starts, if it’s possible.

I know where I want to be.

"

In his prime, Lewis was a dangerous pass-catcher who tallied 700 receiving yards and 10 touchdown catches during a breakout 2010 campaign, but the veteran struggled to make an impact in the aerial attack in recent years.

He posted 226 receiving yards and failed to reach the end zone in 2015, which was a disappointing follow-up to the 2014 season, when he only played eight games and caught 18 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns. His 16 receptions last season was his lowest mark since he hauled in 13 as a rookie.

Lewis at least flashed durability in 2015 and played the full 16-game schedule after playing 11 contests in 2013 and eight in 2014.

Jaguars coach Gus Bradley pointed to other things Lewis does well, per DiRocco:

"

Marcedes [was] pretty good now. He might be one of our best pass blockers. Now, you look at his contributions and say how many catches? How many touchdowns? That might not show up, but when you watch it on tape [you see] his ability to block at the line of scrimmage and his ability to protect and some of the big plays [he made].

I thought he did a tremendous job leading. He understood his role, and it switched up from game to game and what we asked him to do. I thought he always did what was best for the team and didn’t let his ego get too involved.

"

It is hard to ask for much more than that from a veteran, especially since Lewis took a backseat to Julius Thomas on the depth chart in 2015.

Thomas only played 12 games because of a fractured hand and took some time to settle into a new system after coming over from the Denver Broncos, but he tallied 455 receiving yards and five touchdown catches after combining for 24 scores the previous two years. He emerged as the primary tight end in an offense that also featured talented young pass-catchers Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns.

Lewis will turn 32 in May and probably will never put up the numbers he once did with so many weapons surrounding him, but he at least has the opportunity to play for the team he wanted to and serve as a veteran leader.

He discussed the Jaguars' future. "This team is making huge strides," he said, per DiRocco. "I’ve been here for the beginning of it, through the rough parts of it. It’ll be nice to be able to see us compete at a very high level and see some fruits from our labor."

Jacksonville also signed running back Chris Ivory, per NFL Network's Albert Breer, and defensive lineman Malik Jackson, per ESPN's Josina Anderson, this offseason and clearly has its eyes set on making a run in the AFC South after finishing 5-11 in 2015. 

If the Jaguars do make those “huge strides,” Lewis will get the chance to compete in the playoffs for the first time since 2007.