The Jacksonville Jaguars revealed on Tuesday that they plan to allow running back Maurice Jones-Drew to test free agency this offseason and that the team will decide whether or not to match any offers that come from other teams.
According to USA Today Sports, general manager Dave Caldwell said that Jones-Drew has "earned the right" to test the free agency market this March and that the Jaguars will then decide whether or not to match an offer from other teams.
Jones-Drew missed the last 10 games of the season in 2012 with a left foot injury but brought his career totals in 2013 to 8,071 rushing yards off of 1,804 carries for 68 touchdowns throughout his eight-year career.
Jones-Drew was drafted in the second round of the 2006 draft by the Jaguars and has spent his entire eight-year career in Jacksonville. After missing the final 10 games in 2012, the running back spent the majority of the year recovering from surgery on his left foot and a strained right hamstring that has hampered him.
Jones-Drew appeared in 15 games for Jacksonville this season and rushed for 803 yards on 234 carries with five scores.
USA Today Sports reported that Jones-Drew said he would like to stay in Jacksonville, but his decision will ultimately come down to money. Jones-Drew made $4.95 million in 2013, in the final year of his five-year $31 million contract with the Jaguars.
The Jaguars have made the playoffs just once in Jones-Drew's tenure with the team and it was back in 2007 when the team went 11-5 and finished second place in the AFC South before beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild-card round and losing to the New England Patriots in the divisional round.
Since that season, the Jaguars have suffered through losing seasons in five out of their last six, with the only exception being an 8-8 finish in 2010. Jacksonville finished 4-12 this season, missing the playoffs for the sixth straight year.
Jones-Drew may not be on the team if and when it turns things around.
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