The direction of the Jaguars going into next season
This season is a pivotal one for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Will the direction of the franchise take a step towards a Super Bowl or are they going to have another season of disappointment?
The moves that the Jaguars have made this season put them in a position of no return for the upcoming season. Signing Nick Foles means that the team believes they were a quarterback away from being a championship contender. It also means that they have less free cap space to add pieces around the ones they have.
Jacksonville needs to make the jump this season, Jalen Ramsey, Myles Jack, and Yannick Ngakoue are all set to be free agents in 2020. This year will decide if Jacksonville is going to go through another rebuilding period or do they feel confident enough in the direction of the franchise to keep the players they have.
The season started when Foles was signed It marked a new quarterback era and brought new hope to our city. The signing also put pressure on the team to have a successful season. The draft is going to be another vital step towards the success of the franchise. The Jaguars are going to need players who can make an impact this season.
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This begs the question, what constitutes a successful season? Well, Jacksonville needs to find some kind of success on offense. That is the most important aspect for the Jaguars this season. If the offense could limit turnovers and find ways to score, then it will lead to victories.
Jacksonville ranked 31st in points scored and 27th in yards last season. That being said they had the 4th best defense in points allowed and 5th best in yards allowed. The defense is still considered one of the best in the league. In order for this season to be considered successful Jacksonville will have to find themselves in the playoffs once more.
Other than on-field success, Jacksonville will need to re-sign some of these key players set to be free agents. Ramsey has been vocal about wanting a new long term contract.
"“I’ve said multiple times, over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again that I want to play for one team my whole career,” Ramsey stated according to ESPN’s Michael DiRocco."
Jack is one of the better young linebackers in the NFL and is one of the cornerstones of our defensive unit. Ngakoue is a talented young pass rusher who will most likely be looking to be one of the highest paid ends in the NFL. There is a high possibility that one of these players will not return after the end of their contracts.
If Jacksonville does in fact struggle this season then there is a chance that some of these players with large contracts or that are impending free agents may be traded to clear cap space for future signings and contracts.
Next. Where will the Jaguars finish in the AFC South?. dark
After a rebuild, the Jaguars may decide to change their defense first outlook and transition more towards a more offensive-minded approach. This year will truly be a make or break season for Jacksonville and if a step in the direction of an NFL Championship isn’t made then change could be the remedy for the Jaguars.