Just in: The Jacksonville Jaguars have just received sad, disappointing news while…
Jacksonville’s football season was one of the worst ever. After leading the AFC to a 6-2 lead, the Jaguars faltered and ended up with a 3-6 record, eliminating them from the postseason. A season after participating in and winning his first-ever playoff game, Trevor Lawrence’s rise was halted as the third-year quarterback took a step back.
The Jaguars are not winning a lot of games. However, in Lawrence’s fourth NFL season, the pressure is on this offseason to get the team back on track. In 2024, the Jaguars’ chances of making the playoffs or failing will be partially determined by how they manage their offseason.
Who’s in/out: Allen responded to the Jaguars’ refusal to offer him a contract extension with a record 17.5 sacks the previous season. They now have to decide whether to use the franchise tag or negotiate on the open market. Allen says he wants to return, and the Jaguars want him back, but it won’t be as easy to hold him as it was the previous offseason.
With 1,016 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns, Ridley led the team in receiving yards, so keeping him should be a top priority. However, the terms of the trade that brought him to Jacksonville have complicated his situation. If they extend his current contract, the Jaguars will owe the Falcons a second-round pick in the current draft rather than a third. Letting him walk is the risk of letting him enter free agency without an extension.
In a contract year, Josh Allen broke the franchise record for sacks. (Getty Images/Sam Greenwood)
In a contract year, Josh Allen broke the franchise record for sacks. (Getty Images/Sam Greenwood)
Important requirements for free agents
offensive line on the inside
Line of defense
Cornerback wide receiver
What causes the holes? It looks like the Jaguars may have to let go of expensive former Pro Bowl guard Brandon Scherff (see below). This would leave a gap in the front of a line that is already in need of assistance. Jacksonville’s ground game was mediocre the previous season, ranking 31st in the NFL with 3.6 yards per carry. The Jaguars need to make improvements in the wide receiver room to give Lawrence more options, with or without Ridley. The secondary needs support for the 26th-ranked pass defense in the league.
Do they possess the funds?
They have a sizable quantity. The Jaguars have the 18th-most salary cap space in the NFL ($30.1 million), according to Spotrac. Allen and Ridley’s retention would take up that cap space and necessitate some rearranging. The Jaguars’ poor track record in this area means they will have to rely on the draft to make moves.
Possible significant reductions
RG DT Folorunso Fatukasi, WR Zay Jones, and WR Brandon Scherff
Reasons for their possible disappearance: In 2022, Scherff agreed to a lucrative free-agent contract with the Jaguars after winning five Pro Bowls while playing for Washington. Since then, he has appeared in just two Pro Bowls and has a $24 million 2024 salary cap hit. Jones has a $11 million 2024 cap hit and finished the previous season with 321 yards and two touchdowns. In 2023, Fatukasi recorded three tackles for loss. The following season, he will be assessed a $12.8 million cap hit.
draft selections
First round: position 17.
Round two: No. 48
Third round: Compensatory No. 96
Fourth iteration
Round four (from the Saints)
Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Rounds (Compensatory)
the seventh iteration
Suitable draft fit
Jackson Powers-Johnson, an Oregon OL
Why not him? Powers-Johnson is a tremendous athlete and a powerhouse at 6-3 and 320 pounds. He is a versatile player who can play both guard and center, making him a great addition to a team in dire need of interior support.
What has the potential to impact fantasy football this offseason?
Because Trevor Lawrence has fallen short of expectations, his receiving corps may appear very different in 2024. Zay Jones and Christian Kirk could be cut, but Calvin Ridley and Jamal Agnew are unrestricted free agents. There are a lot of unknowns surrounding Jacksonville’s wide receivers who are set to enter free agency, but Kirk is the least likely to leave and would gain (along with Evan Engram) should Ridley depart. Ultimately, fantasy managers should be extremely disappointed by Press Taylor’s return to the position of offensive coordinator because, come 2024, we can anticipate more of the same, regardless of the player manning the routes.
