The Jacksonville Jaguars signed unrestricted free agent tight end Jermaine Wiggins and safety Kevin McCadam to contracts today and resigned unrestricted free agent linebacker Tony Gilbert. Wiggins spent the past three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and McCadam spent the 2006 season with the Carolina Panthers.
Jaguars cornerback Ahmad Carroll, who was a restricted free agent, signed his tender offer today. Running back Derrick Wimbush and defensive end Kenny Pettway, who were exclusive rights players, also signed their tender offers.
Wiggins was originally an undrafted free agent by the New York Jets in 1999 where he spent the entire season on the practice squad. He has started 44 of 107 games in seven seasons for five different NFL teams (New York Jets, New England, Indianapolis, Carolina, Minnesota). He has career totals of 236 receptions for 2,141 yards and 14 touchdowns. He ranked tied for second with the Vikings in 2006 with 46 receptions for 386 yards and one touchdown.
Wiggins, 6-2, 250, led the Vikings with a career-high 71 receptions for 705 yards and four touchdowns in 2004 and followed with a team-high 69 receptions for 568 yards in 2005. His 140 receptions over the two seasons were the fourth-most in the NFL by a tight end. He joined Steve Jordan (1985-86) as the only Vikings tight end in team history to lead the team in receptions in consecutive seasons.
Wiggins was a part of the New England Patriots Super Bowl XXXVI team in 2001 and also played in Super Bowl XXXVIII for Carolina in 2003. He set a New England playoff record with 10 receptions in the 2001 Divisional Playoff win over Oakland. He started the 2002 season with the Indianapolis Colts before signing with Carolina after his release from the Colts.
The 31-year-old Wiggins spent his final two collegiate seasons at Georgia after transferring from Marshall. He earned his bachelor's degree in child and family services development from Georgia. He attended East Boston High in Massachusetts.
McCadam, 28, was originally a fifth round draft pick in the 2002 NFL draft by Atlanta after playing collegiately at Virginia Tech. The sixth-year veteran played in all 16 games for the Panthers after signing as an unrestricted free agent on March 21, 2006. The 6-1, 215-pound safety ranked second on the team with 18 special teams tackles.
McCadam has played in 71 career games with six starts and has not missed a game in the past three years. He has played in four career postseason games all with Atlanta. He has 46 career special teams tackles along with 42 tackles (30 solo), one sack and one fumble recovery.
McCadam was a two-year starter at Virginia Tech at both safety positions and was teammates with current Jaguars safety Nick Sorensen and wide receiver Ernest Wilford. He transferred to Virginia Tech after playing at Grossmont (Calif.) Junior College and Colorado State. He is a native of Lakeside, California.
Gilbert, 27, played in all 16 games for the Jaguars last season for the third consecutive year. The 6-0, 239-pound linebacker led the team with 16 special teams tackles and added 16 tackles (12 solo), one sack and one quarterback pressure on defense.
Gilbert has played four seasons in Jacksonville after being signed off the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad on Oct. 29, 2003. He was originally a sixth round draft out of Georgia by the Cardinals. The Macon, Georgia native has played in 56 games, all with Jacksonville, and has recorded 38 career special teams tackles. He has 23 tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery on defense.
