With NFL free agency just a month away, the Jacksonville Jaguars will need to make critical decisions about the team’s roster.
While linebacker Devin Lloyd and running back Travis Etienne will capture the headlines come decision-making time, the team has several players worth evaluating to see who ought to come back in 2026.
One of those players is cornerback Montaric “Buster” Brown, who just finished the final season of his four-year rookie deal after being drafted in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Brown has been a spot starter throughout his career, but has been inserted into the starting lineup on a full-time basis in 22 games over the last two seasons combined. In four years since being drafted, Brown has played in 52 games, starting 12.
Brown’s rise didn’t take long, though. After not logging a defensive snap in the first two games in 2025 as he recovered from an injury sustained at the start of training camp, Brown’s impressive offseason kept him at the forefront of coaches’ minds.
Brown became a starter after the team traded Tyson Campbell for Greg Newsome II, with CB Jarrian Jones rotating in as an outside corner at the time.
“What you saw in the offseason program and in training camp was authentic. It was real. He was getting his hand on the ball endlessly. His skill set aligned with the scheme in a true form,” Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said when asked about the corner at his end-of-season press conference.
“And I think that that, probably from last season to this season, was something that many could understand on their own, but he’s very comfortable operating in it. He’s very effective in it.”
Through 15 games played, Brown led the team in pass breakups with 12, adding two interceptions and 51 total tackles (43 solos).
So, what would it take to retain him?
How much will Montaric Brown get in free agency?
Determining Brown’s value on the open market could be a challenge. His athleticism is fine for the position, but many teams value a player’s physical attributes — speed, strength and size — often so they can play multiple schemes on the backend of the defense.
While Brown, 6-foot, 190 pounds, has proven to be capable in multiple schemes, he thrived as a primarily zone corner in 2025. His value could reflect that.
While not official, the 2026 franchise tag for cornerbacks is projected to be between $20.7 to $21.4 million. That number is a non-starter for the franchise and likely won’t be met due to their cap restraints. With the projected salary cap set at $303.5 million, OverTheCap has Jacksonville $11,433,472 in the hole, meaning they’ll need to clear space to make moves ahead of free agency.
Here are some reasonable annual salaries signed recently by corners that Brown could track with:
Brown’s value is likely somewhere between Williams and Stephens, with a chance to earn more with another impressive season. Due to some of his limitations, it would be unwise to invest over-market money on Brown. Still, his value to the team is significant, and his prospects in defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile’s system are great.
Why Jaguars should re-sign Montaric Brown
Jacksonville needs help at the cornerback position, and that’ll likely be put on the shoulders of three players, including Jarrian Jones, Jourdan Lewis and Travis Hunter.
The team would like to deploy Hunter in multiple ways, but all signs point to the former second-overall pick being a primary boundary corner for the team this year.
However, in the latter portion of the season, Lewis’ injuries began to pile up, forcing him to miss six out of the team’s final 10 games of the season. Lewis also missed the team’s lone playoff game.
In his place, Jones excelled as a nickel corner, becoming one of the team’s playmakers. Jones accounted for three interceptions, 49 total tackles (35 solos), six tackles for loss and eight pass breakups. With Lewis set to turn 31, the Jaguars may want to see what the team can do with Jones as the primary player in his position next season.
If Jacksonville goes in that direction, it could give them more reason to bring Brown back. The team would need another corner outside, with Jones sliding into a more natural position. Brown’s value is already high, and if Jacksonville is forward-looking, having to reach in the mystery bag when a boat is already there may not be enticing.
It should be noted, too, that Brown’s process as a tackler is also well-documented and should play a role in whether or not the team wants to bring him back.
Why Jaguars shouldn’t re-sign Montaric Brown
Jacksonville’s reasons for not re-signing Brown could align with much of the situation involved with bringing him back.
The Jaguars have a logjam at nickel, and moving Jones outside could prove beneficial even though he struggled at the position last year.
With Brown’s value around the league unknown, it may behoove Jacksonville to let Brown test the market and allow him to walk free rather than overpay with potential replacements acquired in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Jaguars have multiple picks in the first 100 selections and could make a play at corner then.
With Hunter slated to take on a larger role defensively next season, the Jaguars may not find the urgency needed to fill the second corner spot right away. If the team signs Brown to an extension, it essentially would lock him in as one of the starting corners without much competition fairly allowed.
Jacksonville’s defense has many areas to fill, including another in the secondary with uncertainty at safety. Holding off on Brown’s re-signing could help the team in the long run.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky at Demetrius.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars NFL free agency: Should they re-sign Montaric Brown?
Reporting by Demetrius Harvey, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
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