NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
Jacksonville Jaguars’ 2023 season: 9-8, missed playoffs
Overview: Jacksonville’s season was among the most disappointing in football. The Jaguars collapsed from a 6-2 start to a 3-6 finish to fall from contention for the AFC’s No. 1 seed to out of the playoffs. The ascent of Trevor Lawrence was put on pause as the third-year quarterback took a step back after playing in and winning his first career playoff game a season prior.
The Jaguars aren’t blowing things up. But the pressure’s on this offseason to get the franchise back on track in Lawrence’s fourth NFL season. It’s playoffs or bust in 2024, a prospect that will depend in part on how the Jaguars handle their offseason.
(Taylor Wilhelm/Yahoo Sports)
Key free agents
EDGE Josh Allen
WR Calvin Ridley
LG Ezra Cleveland
WR/return specialist Jamal Agnew
K Brandon McManus
CB Tre Herndon
Who’s in/out: The Jaguars declined to sign Allen to an extension to his rookie contract, and he responded with a franchise-record 17.5-sack campaign last season. Now they’re faced with the pressure of negotiating on the open market or using the franchise tag. The Jags want him back, and Allen says he wants to return, but keeping him won’t be as simple as it would have been last offseason.
Retaining Ridley should also be a priority after he led the team in receiving yards (1,016) and touchdowns (8). But his situation is complicated by the trade parameters that landed him in Jacksonville. The Jaguars would owe the Falcons a second-round pick instead of a third in this year’s draft if they extend his existing contract. Allowing him to hit free agency without an extension runs the risk of letting him walk.
Josh Allen set a franchise record for sacks in a contract year. (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Key free agent needs
Offensive line (interior)
Defensive line
Wide receiver
Cornerback
Why the holes? The Jaguars face the prospect of potentially releasing high-priced former Pro Bowl guard Brandon Scherff (see below). Doing so would create a void up front on…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/jacksonville-jaguars-2024-nfl-offseason-primer-pressures-on-after-disappointing-collapse-013310989.html
Author : Yahoo Sports
Publish date : 2024-02-23 01:33:10
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
