Jacksonville Jaguars: 4 potential first-time All-Pros in 2021

The Jacksonville Jaguars expect big things from Shaquill Griffin.

You might’ve heard that the Jaguars overpaid for former Seattle Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin this offseason. However, nobody forced them to sign the 2017 third-round selection. Instead, the team’s brass believes he can help them stabilize a cornerback room that was hit hard by injuries last season.

Griffin isn’t a ballhawk, having snagged just six interceptions over his four-year career. Also, he’s given up a completion rate of 57.1 percent or higher in the last three seasons. However, you can’t omit the fact he’s logged 48 passes defensed since 2017. Also, he’s made a Pro Bowl in 2019. Although he didn’t register a single interception that year, he posted 14 passes defensed and gave up just four touchdown passes. For the Central Florida product to earn an All-Pro selection in 2021, he would post even better numbers.

Probably, Griffin would have to give up at most two touchdowns and he also has to increase his number of interceptions. Four or five seem reasonable based on his past performance. Also, he needs to give up a completion rate of 50 percent or lower. Last season, former Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey earned a First-Team All-Pro after allowing a 50.7 percent completion rate and posting one interception and nine passes defensed. The fact the Los Angeles Rams had the best defense in the NFL last year also helped.

Griffin has quickly established himself as a leader on the Jaguars’ defense. Don’t be surprised if he has a breakout season in 2021.