Jacksonville Jaguars and Cecil Shorts in Discussions for New Deal

Dec 1, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Cecil Shorts (84) catches the game winning pass in the end zone while being defended by Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden (23) in the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

The Jacksonville Jaguars have had a string of bad luck with wide receivers ever since the potent combination of Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell left, but one of few bright spots at that position has been Cecil Shorts III. Since being drafted out of Mount Union in 2011, Shorts has developed into a reliable option in the passing game and has put up respectable statistics despite some horrific quarterback play. One of former general manager Gene Smith’s few productive draft selections, Shorts apparently is in the long term plans of the franchise.

It doesn’t sound like we’ll hear anything too soon about a new deal, but it seems to be in the works if Shorts continues to be effective in 2014. Only 26 years old, Shorts could help form one of the best young receiving corps in the NFL if newly acquired rookies Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson can develop into solid players. Drafting those two guys in the 2nd round was more of a statement on Justin Blackmon’s standing with the franchise and not an indictment on Shorts. If not for injuries, Shorts probably would have had back-to-back 1000 yard receiving seasons.

The Jaguars currently don’t have a lot of players in line to get long-term deals, but Shorts is one of the few and hopefully it gets done.

-Daniel Lago

Yell at me on Twitter @dlago89