The Jacksonville Jaguars made a major move ahead of NFL free agency negotiations beginning this week, re-signing cornerback Montaric Brown to a three-year deal.
Brown was scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year on March 11 at 4 p.m. Instead, the team will keep him around as one of the team’s starting corners.
Ahead of free agency, and just after the team’s 13-4 season came to a close, Jaguars general manager James Gladstone gave Brown a glowing review after a standout campaign in 2025.
“His skill set aligned with the scheme in a true form. 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. I think that that certainly gave us the confidence. His mode of operation is one of trust,” Gladstone said in January.
“I think that gives a coaching staff certainly a willingness to give it an attempt even if walking into the season or looking outward in you may not have identified Buster as being a starting cornerback or not and certainly proud, just like with [linebacker] Devin [Lloyd], to see his output continue to climb over the course of the season and make a real dent in our result.”
Now the Jaguars will enter the season with more clarity at the position, but how good of a decision was it? We take a look and grade the signing.
What grade do Jaguars get for re-signing CB Montaric Brown?
The Jaguars entered this offseason with a big decision to make within the secondary. After trading CB Tyson Campbell to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for CB Greg Newsome II, the team essentially used the year to evaluate the position overall.
Jacksonville used multiple players as boundary corners throughout the year, including Campbell, Newsome, Jarrian Jones, Jourdan Lewis (in base), Hunter and Christian Braswell. Brown was the most consistent player among those who stayed healthy — another issue for Jacksonville last season.
Brown led the team in pass breakups with 12, adding two interceptions and 51 tackles (43 solos) through 15 games played (12 starts). His accession was a carry-over from the 2024 season and he elevated his game within then-new defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile’s defense.
Brown fits the defense perfectly as a zone corner and allowed a 73.3 passer rating, according to Pro Football Focus, the 12th best in the NFL last year among corners with at least 400 coverage snaps.
According to multiple reports, Brown is set to make $33 million over three years. That lands Brown as the 30th highest-paid corner on a per-year basis, according to OverTheCap. Jacksonville got Brown at a nice value ahead of free agency and he helps solidify a young secondary on the rise.
Grade: A
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 re-sign Montaric Brown in NFL free agency: Grade, analysis
Reporting by Demetrius Harvey, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
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