Blake Bortles, Allen Robinson make Pete Prisco’s Top 100 list
By Daniel Lago
The Jacksonville Jaguars are going to have 5 representatives on the NFL Network Top 100, but Pete Prisco only found 3 guys worthy of his list.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have made substantial additions this offseason and the hype is starting build quickly on the upstart squad out of Duval. After making notable strides on offense in 2015, general manager David Caldwell made it his mission to improve the defense this offseason. Adding Malik Jackson, Tashaun Gipson, Prince Amukamara, Jalen Ramsey, and Myles Jack should make the Jaguars at least respectable if not above average on defense.
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Nothing personifies the positive attention surrounding the Jaguars more than the NFL Top 100 list. With
Allen Hurns,
Telvin Smith, and
Chris Ivoryalready making appearances, the Jaguars still have two more guys to go on the list.
Pete Prisco over at CBS Sports just released his list, and he only found 3 Jaguars worthy. The first one barely made the list at all:
"100. Blake Bortles QB / Jacksonville Jaguars"
"In his first full season as a starter, he threw for over 4,000 yards and had 35 touchdown passes, tying for second-best in the league. He does need to cut down on his interceptions after having 18 last season. But he played in a lot of come-from-behind situations."
According to Prisco’s list, Bortles is the 14th best quarterback in football. That’s about where I would slot him so I have no issue with his placement here. I’m sure Oakland Raiders fans probably take issue with Bortles over Derek Carr, but I think this is right.
The next guy on the list is someone I would have slotted higher:
"71. Allen Robinson WR / Jacksonville Jaguars"
"Robinson led the NFL with 31 catches of 20 yards or more and went to his first Pro Bowl. He had 80 catches with 14 touchdown receptions as he made leaping, snatch-the-ball catches his signature play."
Prisco has Robinson as the 11th best wide receiver in football, which I think is too low. His rankings on all the wide receivers are kind of wonky anyway – he has Brandon Marshall as the 3rd best receiver (20th overall player), and I don’t think he’s better than Robinson.
The last guy on the list is someone who is also ranked shockingly low:
"69. Malik Jackson DT / Jacksonville Jaguars"
"He signed a mega-deal with the Jaguars as a free agent after an impressive 2015 season and playoffs. He’s not going to post big sack numbers, but he’s an effective down player who can push the pocket. He’s really good against the run, too."
Jackson is the 6th ranked defensive tackle, but I would’ve expected someone like Prisco, a big proponent of interior pressure, to value Jackson more. He had Aaron Donald ranked 3rd overall, but I understand if Prisco penalizes Jackson a bit for playing on perhaps the most talented defense in the league.
Prisco doesn’t include Allen Hurns or Telvin Smith on his list, and understandably so. Those two guys were probably some of the more questionable players early on in NFL Network’s list.