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Already one of the most active NFL teams this off-season by adding seven players, the Jaguars went back to work this weekend in a big way, bringing free agent center Alex Mack to Jacksonville for a visit.

A source said Mack had dinner with Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell and coach Gus Bradley Friday night and departed Saturday morning.

The Jaguars were Mack’s first visit since he was allowed to start talking to other teams March 11 and could be a sign he is ready to move on from Cleveland and become the league’s highest-paid center.

It’s unclear if Mack’s agent, Marvin Demoff, joined him for the visit or if the Jaguars made an offer.

A source estimated an offer that included $22 million guaranteed over the first three years of the contract could land Mack with the Jaguars.

By comparison, the biggest center deal this off-season was Philadelphia’s Jason Kelce — a five-year, $37.5 million contract with $13 million guaranteed.

“The only way the Jaguars can truly pull this off is to load it up with so much money now — roster bonus and workout bonus — something Cleveland doesn’t want to match,” the source said. “That’s the trick for [Caldwell]. He’ll have to go overboard.

“It would simply be paying him more money than Cleveland thinks he’s worth.”

Carolina’s Ryan Kalil is currently set to be the highest-paid center this year at $7.28 million and Mack’s 2014 salary — whether it’s in Cleveland at the $10.039 million transition tag number or another figure as a part of a multiyear contract — should blow that away.

The transition tag is the average salary of the top 10 at each position group.

The Jaguars have $25.1 million in available salary cap space according to the NFLPA’s website so that won’t preclude them from signing Mack.

The Browns have $30.8 million cap space but the new regime — general manager Ray Farmer and coach Mike Pettine — may opt to replace Mack through the draft and at a much lower wage.

If the Jaguars could acquire Mack, it would represent their second major offensive line addition of the offseason — they signed left guard Zane Beadles on March 12.

Mack hasn’t missed a game in five seasons, starting all 80 contests and making two Pro Bowls.

Since the market opened last month, the Jaguars haven’t been linked to any of the free agent centers, instead saying they would open up the spot for competition between Mike Brewster, Jacques McClendon and Patrick Lewis.

Last month at the NFL’s Annual Meeting in Orlando, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam told Cleveland reporters he was optimistic Mack would remain with the team that drafted him in the second round in 2009.

“In my conversations with Alex, I think he wants to be a Cleveland Brown,” Haslam said.

“Alex Mack is a quality person and quality player and he’s the kind of person we want to play with the Cleveland Browns for a long time.”

In early March, Haslam led a delegation to California that included Farmer, Pettine and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan to meet with Mack with the hope of securing a long-term agreement.

When that didn’t work, the Browns used the transition tag on Mack.

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Ryan O'Halloran ‏@ryanohalloran  Apr 7
#Jaguars had a representative at Towson Pro Day -- RB Terrance West among those working out.

Ryan O'Halloran ‏@ryanohalloran  9h
No visits for #jaguars today. Wednesdays busy day like last year when Joeckel/Fisher/Jordan were here same day.

Ryan O'Halloran ‏@ryanohalloran  9h
Two more visits for #Jaguars - BYU LB Kyle Van Noy and Notre Dame DL Stephen Tuitt.

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter  13h
Buffalo LB Khalil Mack, projected as a top pick, is visiting Jacksonville today and Weds, before traveling to St. Louis on Thurs and Fri.

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According to a source, South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron will be visiting the Jaguars tomorrow.

Clowney is flying into Jacksonville tonight.

McCarron has spent today in Orlando taping an "Gruden QB Camp" episode with Jon Gruden.

McCarron, who could be on the board when the Jaguars draft No. 39 next month, was 36-4 as a starter for the Crimson Tide. As a senior, he had 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Clemson’s Sammy Watkins, the consensus top receiver in next month’s NFL Draft, is in Jacksonville today to visit with the Jaguars according to a league source.

Also in town per a report by Fox Sports is Texas A&M receiver Mike Evans.

The Jaguars’ need at receiver is obvious – they only addressed the position in free agency with role player Tandon Doss from Baltimore and the status of Justin Blackmon remains uncertain (he is still suspended by the league).

Watkins had 101 catches for 1,464 and 12 touchdowns last year for the Tigers.

Evans had 65 catches for 1,322 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Aggies.

The Jaguars are allowed to bring 30 players to their facility for pre-draft visits.

A source said Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr is traveling to Jacksonville today and his meeting with the Jaguars will continue Thursday.

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Ryan O'Halloran ‏@ryanohalloran  3h
So, Thursday visits for #Jaguars -- Bortles, Carr, Clowney, Hill, McCarron, Mettenberger and Watkins.

Ryan O'Halloran ‏@ryanohalloran  3h
Source says "talks ongoing" between #Jaguars and C Alex Mack.

Ryan O'Halloran ‏@ryanohalloran  3h
Source says "no offer yet" from #Jaguars to Mack, but that doesn't mean something won't happen later this week.

Ryan O'Halloran ‏@ryanohalloran  4h
#Jaguars preseason:
vs. Tampa Bay
at Chicago
at Detroit
vs. Atlanta

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Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter  5h
By Friday, Jacksonville will sign Cleveland's transition-tagged C Alex Mack to a 5-year offer sheet the Browns will have five days to match.

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter  5h
Alex Mack's 5-year deal with Jacksonville will be designed to make it as difficult as possible for the Browns to match, per sources.

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter  5h
Sources close to Alex Mack say he wants to play this contract in Jacksonville, not Cleveland, which opted not to give him long-term deal.

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter  5h
To recap: Alex Mack highly impressed with Jacksonville, wants to play there, will sign 5-year offer sheet by end of week, per ESPN sources.

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter  4h
As if Alex Mack's deal with Jags weren't lucrative enough, there's also this: no state tax in FLA; Top tax rate in Ohio is 5.925%, Clev 2%.

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter  4h
Cleveland either can lose it's Pro-Bowl C Alex Mack for nothing or absorb a painful contract that will impact Browns elsewhere.

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter  4h
RT @FieldYates: One reason Cleveland faces tough decision: Alex Mack hasn't missed a single snap in NFL career. Not one. 5,150 out of 5,150.

Quote (Madmartigan @ Apr 9 2014 06:44pm)

Trying to sign one of the best centers in the game (two-time pro bowler in the past four seasons), and in his prime at 28 years old, should signify that the Jaguars will draft a quarterback with the third overall pick. That's a potentially big loss for the Cleveland Browns. You want somebody reliable up front for a veteran quarterback much less a young and inexperienced guy. The Browns front office better match that offer sheet or else they will have a lot of explaining to do to their fan base.

Quote (Hako @ Apr 9 2014 09:36pm)

OH FUCK YES PLZ SUM!!!!

Quote (Bluth @ Apr 10 2014 01:50am)

suddenly our once last ranked Oline is going to be good as fuck