4 Jacksonville Jaguars with the most at stake in 2021

Will this be Andrew Norwell’s last year with the Jacksonville Jaguars?

The Jaguars made the decision to bring back all their starting offensive linemen from 2020 after allowing 44 sacks last season. The organization also kept offensive line coach George Warhop, so they must think the group can perform better in 2021. On the other hand, Jacksonville will take a cautionary approach with the unit. The Jags slapped the franchise tag on left tackle Cam Robinson but they haven’t offered him a multi-year extension.

The team will also keep a close look on guard Andrew Norwell. They asked the veteran to restructure his contract his offseason and is now set to become a free agent in 2021. An All-Pro selection for the Carolina Panthers in 2017, the Ohio State product signed a five-year contract worth $66.5 million to join the Jaguars in 2018.

Norwell has been a good-not-great guard over his three-year stint in Jacksonville but he has posted above-average Pro Football Focus grades in the last three seasons. In 2020, he posted a PFF overall grade of 67.9 and a pass-blocking mark of 80.3. Moreover, he didn’t allow a single quarterback hit and gave up just three sacks on 550 pass-blocking snaps.

If Norwell makes the Pro Bowl or is named a First-Team All-Pro for the second time in his seven-year career, the Jaguars may have no choice but to give him a contract extension. However, if the guard underperforms, the team will let him walk in free agency.