After having a quiet couple of days of free agency, the Jacksonville Jaguars are slated to sign former Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. to a two-year deal, a source told the Times-Union.
According to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero, the deal will be for $10 million over two years with $6.2 million guaranteed. Rodriguez will have the opportunity to earn up to $12 million with incentives on the deal.
Rodriguez’s commitment comes just an hour after the new league year began at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11. He’s the first outside free agent the Jaguars have signed this offseason.
Rodriguez, 25, was originally drafted by the Commanders in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Kentucky. In three years with the club, Rodriguez totaled 920 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns (4.6 yards per carry). He added six catches for 54 yards.
Rodriguez hit free agency after the Commanders opted not to tender him as a restricted free agent.
Jacksonville recently lost starting RB Travis Etienne after it was reported he’d sign a four-year, $52 million deal with New Orleans Saints.
The Jaguars have some familiarity with Rodriguez. In 2021, the former Wildcat played under then-Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who is now Jacksonville’s head coach.
During Rodriguez’s time with Kentucky, he played in 45 games over five years, totalling 3,644 yards and 32 rushing touchdowns. His best season came in 2021 under Coen when Rodriguez totaled 1,379 yards on the ground and nine rushing scores. He caught 13 passes for 61 yards and three touchdowns that year.
Jacksonville will continue to add players who make sense for their roster in its current construction. The team has re-signed multiple players who were slated to become free agents. They’ve also allowed multiple players to walk, including, most notably, Etienne and linebacker Devin Lloyd (Carolina Panthers).
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars to sign ex-Commanders RB Chris Rodriguez, according to source
Reporting by Demetrius Harvey, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
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