NFL Free Agent Signings: Jacksonville Jaguars Sign DE/LB Matt Roth

Will another free agent be just what the Jacksonville Jaguars need to improve a weak pass rush and add more depth to an improving defense?

The Jaguars received more help on defense today when defensive end/outside linebacker Matt Roth signed a one-year deal with the team, ESPN Adam Schefter reported earlier this afternoon. The report was announced by profootballtalk.com. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/11/jaguars-sign-matt-roth

The deal is said to be for $3 million.

According to another press release on profootballtalk.com, Roth had talked to the Patriots, but the team decided to look to other avenues in free agency. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/08/the-asking-price-for-bryant-mckinnie-and-matt-roth/

Roth was a second-round pick out of Iowa by the Miami Dolphins in 2005 and was the team’s starting defensive end in 2007.

The past two seasons, he has played with the Cleveland Browns, and was one of a handful of players who were still looking for work in free agency this preseason.

Roth is another piece to the puzzle for the Jaguars, who are looking to improve a defense that ranked near the bottom of the NFL with 26 sacks and 13 interceptions to their credit.

Roth will work in a rotation with Aaron Kampman, Austin Lane, Larry Hart and Jeremy Mincey. Mincey led the team in sacks last year.

The Jaguars management, led by owner Wayne Weaver and general manager Gene Smith, made a huge splash in free agency by signing linebackers Paul Posluszny of Buffalo and Clint Session of Indianapolis, as well as defensive backs Dawan Landry of Baltimore and Drew Coleman of the New York Jets.

The team also signed Green Bay Packers guard Jason Spitz, a Jacksonville native, after they released longtime veteran Vince Manuwai and punter Matt Turk of Houston. Turk replaces Adam Podlesh, who signed with the Chicago Bears.

He was a college teammate of the Jaguars' other starting defensive end, Aaron Kampman, who is returning to the team after missing part of last season with a knee injury.

The team also reported Wednesday that it had signed Tony Moll, a free agent from the Baltimore Ravens who was drafted in the fifth round by the Green Bay Packers in 2006 before was traded to Baltimore in 2009.  http://jacksonville.com/sports/football/jaguars/2011-08-10/story/jaguars-add-offensive-lineman?utm_source=bleacherreport.com&utm_medium=referral

Now that the Jaguars have been a major player in the free agent market, it remains to be seen if these players will help he team in areas that were definite targets in free agency by Smith and his staff. The team also released 2008 first round defensive end, Derrick Harvey to free cap space to sign more defensive players.

As part of the defensive purge by the team, Jacksonville also let starting linebackers Kirk Morrison and Justin Durant leave via free agency. Durant signed with the Detroit Lions. Morrison has yet to find a team.