Jaguars re-sign DE Jeremy Mincey for four years

Former Florida Gators defensive end Jeremy Mincey signed a four-year deal worth a maximum of $27.2 million with the Jacksonville Jaguars early Wednesday morning, ending his new-found free agency before it even got into full swing.

After putting forth the best performance of his career for Jacksonville in 2011 with career-highs in tackles (57), sacks (eight) and forced fumbles (four), Mincey hit the market at 4 p.m. on Tuesday and had a number of parties interested in his services.

In addition to Jacksonville hoping to re-sign him, Buffalo, Chicago and Cleveland were considering making a serious run at the six-year NFL veteran.

Chicago!!! what a great organization. But, Gene Smith fought for me in a Very Tough fight…. PROUD TO BE A JAG!! DUUUUUVALLLLL!!!

— Jeremy Mincey (@MrMince94) March 14, 2012

Mincey has turned his career around since being selected in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft by New England and spending most of his rookie season on San Francisco’s practice squad. He played in just nine games over the next two years and was placed on injured reserve by the Jaguars in 2009 after breaking his hand prior to the season.

However, Mincey returned to the team in 2010 and started eight of 15 games he played, registering 31 tackles and five sacks.

He became a fixture on the starting unit in 2011 and proved to the front office that he deserved to hold down that role for the foreseeable future in Jacksonville.

Mincey’s deal was first reported by Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union.

Photo Credit: Kelly Jordan/Florida Times-Union