Jacksonville Jaguars would be smart to extend these 3 players’ contracts

Jacksonville Jaguars player that could be extended No. 2 – DJ Chark

Of all the players the Jaguars could extend, wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. is easily the most deserving one. A 2018 second-round pick, he posted a 1,000-yard receiving season and made the Pro Bowl in 2019. He is arguably their best skilled-position player and should be compensated as such, so why haven’t the Jags given him a new contract yet?

Chark suffered a dropoff in production last year, hauling in just 53 receptions for 706 yards and five trips to the end zone. That’s not the kind of output that screams number one receiver. On the other hand, the former LSU Tiger’s performance was affected by the team’s inconsistency at quarterback. Had the Jags had more stability at the position, Chark’s numbers would have probably been better.

From a team standpoint, it makes sense to wait until the end of the season to have a clearer picture of Chark. With quarterback Trevor Lawrence behind center, his production will once again go up, and the front office could then make an offer proportional to his production. On the other hand, the Jags run the risk of Chark having a breakout season, which would force him to either pay market value or apply the franchise tag on him, which players aren’t usually fond of.

As head coach Urban Meyer has repeatedly said, the Jaguars had good players last year, and Chark was one of them. That’s why keeping him beyond 2021 should be a priority.