On the eve of NFL unrestricted free agency in February 1998, Jaguars coach and personnel chief Tom Coughlin presented his strategy.

"We will be very, very aggressive," he said. "It’s not a question of numbers, it’s a question of getting the guys you earmark. … We’re looking for quality."

Eighteen years later, Coughlin is back with the Jaguars and has the final say on personnel.

And eighteen years later, Coughlin’s free-agent philosophy remains applicable.

When the negotiating period opened Tuesday at 12 p.m., the Jaguars were expected to be very, very aggressive … but ear-marking quality (translation: difference-makers) instead of just signing a bunch of guys.

Because Coughlin is atop the football operations’ mast-head – general manager Dave Caldwell and coach Doug Marrone report to him – it’s appropriate to look back at the last time Coughlin ran a team’s personnel efforts.

The conclusion: This month, Coughlin could use a signing season like 1996 or ‘99.

In 1996, he signed right tackle Leon Searcy, linebacker Eddie Robinson, receiver Keenan McCardell and defensive tackle John Jurkovic. The Jaguars reached the AFC title game.

Three years later, he signed defensive tackle Gary Walker and tight end Kyle Brady. The Jaguars reached the AFC title game.

Coughlin signed 29 unrestricted free agents from 1995-2002. Here is a look at Coughlin’s year-by-year journey into free agency:

1995

Players signed (12): P Bryan Barker, G Shawn Bouwens, CB Vinnie Clark, DT Don Davey, S Mike Dumas, WR Ernest Givens, DE Jeff Lageman, DT Kelvin Pritchett, DE Joel Smeenge, CB Mickey Washington, C Dave Widell and WR Mike Williams.

Hits: Barker punted six years for the Jaguars and was an All-Pro in 1997; Lageman (three years, $5.4 million) had 12 1/2 in first three years with the Jaguars; Smeenge played 84 games (47 starts) and had 34 sacks in six years; and Widell started three years.

Misses: Bouwens started only in 1995; Clark had one interception in 1995 despite starting every game and lasted only four games in 1996; and Washington had only two interceptions in two years (32 games) as a starter.

1996

Players signed (five): DT John Jurkovic, WR Keenan McCardell, QB Todd Philcox, LB Eddie Robinson and RT Leon Searcy.

Hits: All four who were signed to be impact players. Searcy (five years, $17 million) served as Mark Brunell’s blind-side blocker and missed only one game in four years; McCardell (four years, $5.8 million) caught 499 passes, including 30 touchdowns, in six years; Robinson (four years, $10.4 million) lasted two years, but had 112 tackles while starting 28 games; and played every game in 1996 and ’98.

Misses: None. The Jaguars went 0-for-3 on offer sheets to Chicago’s Alonzo Spellman, Indianapolis’ Quentin Coryatt and St. Louis’ Todd Lyght. That ended up being a good thing.

1997

Player signed (one): CB Deon Figures.

Misses: Figures (three years, $6 million) was Pittsburgh’s No. 3 cornerback and was unable to become a regular starter in the Jaguars’ secondary (only 17 of 32 games). He did have five interceptions in 1997. Figures was released after the 1999 preseason.

1998

Players signed (two): LB Bryce Paup and C Quentin Neujahr.

Hits: Neujahr started every game in 1998.

Misses: Paup, who had made the Pro Bowl the previous four years, was signed to a five-year, $22 million contract that made him the second highest-paid linebacker in the league, behind only San Diego’s Junior Seau. Paup had only 7 1/2 sacks in two years and complained about how he was used.

1999

Players signed (three): TE Kyle Brady, S Carnell Lake and DT Gary Walker.

Hits: The Jets didn’t match an offer sheet to Brady (five years, $14.4 million that included a record-for-a-tight-end $4 million signing bonus) and he played 120 games for the Jaguars, catching 241 passes and providing consistent blocking. Walker (five years, $18 million, $4 million signing bonus) started three years for the Jaguars and had 131 tackles and 22 1/2 sacks before he was picked by Houston in the expansion draft.

Misses: Lake (four years, $18 million, $5 million signing bonus) made the Pro Bowl in 1999, but missed 2000 with a foot injury and was cut after the 2001 preseason.

2000

Players signed (two): QB Jamie Martin and LB Hardy Nickerson.

Hits: None.

Misses: Nickerson, 35, signed a four-year, $16 million contract. Nickerson’s arrival as a middle linebacker allowed Coughlin to move Lonnie Marts to strong-side linebacker to replace Paup. Nickerson was limited to six games in 2000 because of a hamstring injury and knee surgery, but did play 15 games in ’01 and set a franchise record with 230 tackles. But he was cut in June 2002.

2001

Players signed: None.

2002

Players signed (four): WR Patrick Johnson, G Chris Naeole, WR Bobby Shaw and FB Detron Smith.

Hits: Naeole (seven years, $16 million) played six years for the Jaguars (2002-07) at guard, starting all 87 of his appearances.

Misses: Smith was cut in training camp when the Jaguars claimed Dan Alexander and Johnson and Shaw played only one year.