Jacksonville Jaguars: Keeping the offseason in perspective
By Luke Sims
New Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey is seeking a second opinion on a torn meniscus which has caused significant dismay among the fan base, but it’s important to keep the entire offseason in perspective.
If Jalen Ramsey ends up missing significant time this offseason or possibly into the season (four to six weeks or four to six months), there will be a dark cloud hanging over the Jacksonville Jaguars. For the second season in a row, the team’s top pick in the draft has gone down with injury.
But it is easy to let that dismay sweep over the us and quickly forget how good the rest of the offseason has been. Jalen Ramsey is an important piece, but if he ends up missing significant time it isn’t the end of the world for the team.
The offseason is so much bigger than just the first round selection by the Jacksonville Jaguars, especially in 2016.
The Jags spent big in 2016, bringing in Tashaun Gipson, Kelvin Beachum, Malik Jackson, Prince Amukamara, and Chris Ivory, among others. They have added key talent through free agency to bolster the flagging parts of the team.
This was followed up by a big draft. Ramsey was the first highlight, but his injury should not wipe out the impressive haul that also included Myles Jack (who many would have been happy with being drafted fifth overall), Yannick Ngakoue, and Sheldon Day, among others.
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Among teams that are becoming “whole,” the Jaguars have to be near the top. They have had a tremendous offseason filled with key acquisitions and moves (
). The team is making all the right moves.
Gil Brandt was right to rank the Jaguars at the top of his six teams with the best offseasons. The Jags’ successes in the 2016 offseason will yield dividends, even if there are some minor setbacks like an injury to the draft’s crown jewel.
At this point the Jags just aren’t sure how bad it’s going to be. It doesn’t look like it will be as significant as Dante Fowler Jr.’s injury in 2015 that saw him miss the whole season. Ramsey will play. It’s just a matter of making sure he is healthy and not rushing him out too early.
This entire offseason has been something special for the Jags. There’s no doubt about it. The Ramsey injury feels terrible and isn’t fun, but it is only a minor bump in the road to success.