Jacksonville Jaguars: Laviska Shenault will be the Rookie of the Year

The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted some rookies with great potential.  Which rookie will be the most productive in 2020?

It’s a question that has been asked recently.  Who will be the most impressive Jacksonville Jaguars rookie for the 2020 season?

There is no easy answer because many of the rookies look excellent on paper. C.J. Henderson could be our best cornerback, K’Lavon Chaisson is a great edge rusher, and DaVon Hamilton is a much needed interior defensive lineman who will help stop the run.

My choice to be the best of this year’s rookie class is Laviska Shenault, our second-round wide receiver out of the University of Colorado.

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To start, he was the Buffalos’  Most Valuable Player in 2018 and 2019. He was considered the best playmaker in the PAC-12 Conference. He received high praise upon being drafted by the Jaguars this past April.

"Per 247 Sports, “Laviska Shenault brings a skill set to the NFL that is simply different than any other receiver in this year’s draft.“He can line up at wideout and use his size to beat press coverage. He can line up in the slot and use his ability to navigate between the hashes because he is so uncanny for someone as strong as him. And then he can line up as a running back or even a quarterback in the Wildcat and carry the ball in short-yardage situations.”"

His ability to help with the return game is also a benefit for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The fact new offensive coordinator Jay Gruden can use his skill set in various packages on the field will also benefit the passing game. He is a great complement for wide receiver DJ Chark.  The Jaguars had great difficulty scoring in short-yardage situations last season. This is one area Shenault should make this team better.

Quarterback Gardner Minshew should thrive with a playmaker like Shenault on the opposite side of Chark or in the slot this season. He is a playmaker and the Jacksonville Jaguars will use often.

Finally, Shenault is known for his high character. In a piece written for 1010xl.com, his former coach at Colorado, Mel Tucker, described his strengths which should help the Jaguars this coming season.

"“Laviska has tremendous character and he is just a great young man to be around,” Tucker said. “He’s very unselfish, team-oriented and cares about his teammates. He’s mild mannered, very friendly, very coachable and was always good with the media. He’s a guy that everyone in boulder loved and respected. He’s going to be an asset to the Jaguar ballclub.”"

The only downside to this choice may be his troubling history of injuries while in college. He has had turf toe, shoulder, and core injuries. This injury history kept him from being chosen in the first round of the draft and the Jacksonville Jaguars, owning the 42nd pick in the second round, scooped him up.

Shenault did not perform at the Combine as he had hoped. The positive side is that he managed to, play through his injuries, and is healthy now.

I chose Shenault because he was great in college, is a very versatile player, and has high character. Those traits make him a potential All-Pro in the future for the Jacksonville Jaguars.