Are the Jaguars an elite team with Nick Foles under center?

With the addition of Nick Foles under center, do the Jacksonville Jaguars immediately rise to one of the NFL’s elite teams for 2019?

I’m not sure if the signing of Nick Foles to an $88-million contract makes the Jacksonville Jaguars an elite team, but it does give them a better chance to making another run at the playoffs.

I’m not buying into the notion that the Jaguars are now once again Super Bowl contenders. I’m also not one of the ones who put all the blame on the team’s horrendous 2018 season on the back of former quarterback Blake Bortles. The upgrade at the quarterback position was celebrated the day the franchise introduced their new signal caller to the media in how they praised him for his leadership ability and a Lombardi Trophy he won with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Dan Salem of FanSided’s NFL Spinzone makes valid arguments when discussing the topic.

"“Perhaps it is too kind to call Nick Foles an NFL star. He hasn’t even played enough regular season football to reach that level,” Salem writes. “At the very least, he has shown star ability on the biggest of stages. With the Jacksonville Jaguars‘ big gamble signing him this offseason, it begs the question of how much of a difference Foles can make and whether he’s a true franchise quarterback. The Jaguars certainly spent like he is.”"

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The difference right now for the Jaguars and their football situation is simple – he isn’t Bortles. He has command of the offense. He throws a tight spiral and he has solid chemistry in a short period of time with his receivers. Those things alone give this organization hopes that the 53 men that will make up the roster will be fighting for a playoff berth.

That, and a defense that is hungry to prove they are better than the effort they showed last season.

The Jaguars were able to sneak up on the rest of the NFL in 2917 because no one gave them a chance. The 2018 season was supposed to be another run toward the Super Bowl and after beating Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in Week 2, it looked like that would happen.

Then injuries set in.

Salem’s brother Todd states the obvious that everything is new for Foles and the Jaguars on offense. The fan base cannot expect a run to the Super Bowl immediately because no one is sure how everyone will adapt.

"“It is hard to imagine Foles stepping in and immediately leading this offensive squad to prominence. He is joining a new system with players he’s never thrown to before,” he writes.“He also doesn’t have a ton of game-breaking talent on his side. The strength of the Jags is certainly on the defensive side of the ball. It will be up to Foles to make sure the offense doesn’t blow it for the rest of them like it did last year.”"

The question on everyone’s mind is if Foles can take what he did in Philadelphia and apply those principles in Jacksonville. If he does, then this franchise will once again be considered elite. But in reality, that’s a big “if”.