Jacksonville Jaguars more than just a quarterback away from contention

What else do the Jacksonville Jaguars need to contend?

A franchise quarterback is crucial to winning games on a yearly basis. Having a solid defense surely helps too, as the ‘Jags’ attested back in 2017 when they reached the AFC Championship in spite of quarterback Blake Bortles. Nowadays, it’s difficult to keep a good defense together, as free agency can keep organizations from retaining their core players. That’s where the draft comes in.

For teams to replenish their rosters, they need to be good at drafting, something this Jacksonville team hasn’t had much success at. If they keep the first overall pick and draft Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, they will have to surround him with a talented supporting cast.

Look at the Kansas City Chiefs, they have the best quarterback in football, but they also have one of the most explosive receivers in Tyreek Hill while tight end Travis Kelce is putting together a historical season.

On the other side of the spectrum, look at the Minnesota Vikings, they have a solid roster, but they haven’t been able to get over the hump with quarterback Kirk Cousins at the helm. To make matters worse, his contract is difficult to get out from and it’s hindering the team’s ability to add more talent or even to move on from him.