Under general manager James Gladstone, the Jacksonville Jaguars have avoided making splash signings and have instead looked for value. Sure, you could argue that they locked up cornerback Jourdan Lewis or offensive guard Patrick Mekari in free agency, but neither player is among the highest-paid at their respective positions.

Granted, not all the moves Gladstone has made during his brief stint have panned out. That said, there’s one that has turned out to be a steal, especially because it came after the first wave of free agency and the NFL Draft.

Dennis Gardeck has been a playmaker for the Jaguars

Aside from picking Jack Kiser in the fourth round of this year’s draft, the Jaguars didn’t make a strong effort to bolster the linebacker corps in the offseason. Then again, they didn’t have to, as they had put together one of the best units in the league. But in the aftermath of the draft, Jacksonville signed Dennis Gardeck. The move kind of flew under the radar but had the potential to make a huge impact in 2025.

Although Gardeck was mostly known as a key contributor with the Arizona Cardinals, his former team, he also showed pass-rush capability throughout his stint in the desert, racking up 17.0 sacks from 2020 to 2024. His tally might’ve been even higher if it weren’t for the fact that he tore his ACL last year. In fact, that might’ve been one of the reasons the former Sioux Falls standout had to wait to find a new team after becoming a free agent.

Even after landing in Jacksonville, Gardeck was still coming back from the ACL. But once the season began, he showed what he’s capable of. Early on, the Lake in the Hills, Illinois native was part of the linebacker rotations, but as the year progressed (and the injury bug struck), he saw his role increase.

For the season, Gardeck has tallied 39 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 17 total pressures in 12 games with six starts. Sure, fellow linebacker Devin Lloyd has three more pressures. However, he has played 155 more snaps on defense. But wait! There’s more.

Gardeck has logged 10 total pressures and his 1.5 sacks the past two games, which makes you think that he could have an even bigger impact down the stretch.

Related: 5 Jags players who should be glad that they haven’t been cut yet

The Jaguars got an absolute steal in Dennis Gardeck

When you take into account that the Jaguars gave Dennis Gardeck a $2 million contract, there’s no doubt that he’s been a steal. This begs the question: Should they re-sign him? Most definitely. Heck, it should be a no-brainer. That said, Jacksonville cannot just wave a magic wand and make it happen.

Gardeck is having a strong season and could be a hot commodity if he hits the open market. That may lead him to see what kind of demand his services garner. And even if there’s mutual interest in getting a contract done, he’ll most definitely want a pay bump.

Keep in mind that players such as wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, linebacker Devin Lloyd, and running back Travis Hunter may be bigger priorities on the team’s to-do list, so even if the Jaguars want him back, Gardeck could walk.

In the end, Dennis Gardeck has done enough to earn a new deal. The question is whether the Jaguars or someone else will give it to him.