The Jaguars have the best rookie class in the NFL

Per NFL.com’s Chris Wesseling, the Jacksonville Jaguars have the best draft class in the NFL. The Jaguars are ahead of Oakland and San Francisco.

The  Jaguars have a draft class that is getting national attention. And it all starts with quarterback Gardner Minshew.

According to Chris Wesseling of NFL.com, the Jaguars have a draft class that has impacted this franchise this season and will continue to help this organization grow in the future.

"“From sixth-round pick to franchise savior? Gardner Minshew has been a godsend for the Jaguars, generating a better passer rating (95.4 to 90.5), yards-per-attempt average (7.2 to 7.1) and TD-to-INT ratio (11:1 to 11:8) over his first seven starts than injured veteran Nick Foles has managed in eight starts for Philadelphia and Jacksonville since the beginning of the 2018 season,” Wesseling wrote.“The only three quarterbacks with a better TD-to-INT ratio than Minshew in 2019 are either former MVPs or Super Bowl winners: Russell Wilson, Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers. From escapability, to accuracy, to decision making, to third-down conversions, to elevating his surrounding talent and inspiring the fan base, Minshew has played like a young Tony Romo.”"

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While Minshew continues to be the revelation of the entire 2019 Draft, there are other pieces of the Jaguars puzzle that have worked out nicely – where the team filled needs from top to bottom – and have helped in the first half of the 2019 season.

By the way, I’m not sure if the Minshew-Romo comparison works. But I do think there is some Brett Favre in him in terms of his attitude and his ability to will this team down the field. He also displays moxie that this franchise has lacked.

As is the case with other teams, the entire draft class is what we are fans look at, hoping it collectively helps the team win now and in the future.

“If Minshew is the favorite for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, No. 7 overall pick Josh Allen would be a candidate for defensive honors in any season that didn’t include 49ers sensation Nick Bosa,” Wesseling adds. “With two more sacks along with three QB hits and a forced fumble against the Jets in Week 8, Allen is on pace to threaten Jevon Kearse’s rookie record of 14.5 sacks. He ranks third among all NFL edge rushers with 30 pressures this season, per Next Gen Stats.”

Allen’s emergence in the Jaguars pass rush, along with the impact play of Yannick Ngakoue give the Jaguars two edge rushers who will cause havoc this season while the defense continues to grow stronger with each game.

Second-round right tackle Jawaan Taylor has not gotten a lot of attention but has played well this season, working with an offensive line that is better than last season but is still learning to work as a unit. Taylor was once thought to be a first-round fit for the Jaguars but was a solid pickup in the second round. Jacksonville traded up in the second round to grab the University of Florida star.

Third-rounder Quincy Williams, who has replaced Telvin Smith on the roster and has made starts at linebacker, is making the transition from small college star to life in a faster, tougher NFL. Williams has dealt with injuries this season as well.

Jacksonville is at the top of Wesseling’s list, and just ahead of the Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers, two teams whose rookies are making an impact on both sides of the football.