The Jacksonville Jaguars are currently 0-2 despite the fact that they underwent several changes. There are several reasons for their slow start in 2021. One of them is the lack of impact their rookie class has had.
Free agency gives NFL teams the opportunity to acquire talent, and round out their roster. However, the draft is their principal means to replenish their roster. This year, the Jaguars made nine selections, but none of them has been particularly impressive. In fact, some of them haven’t even played yet despite the fact that they are healthy.
Offensive tackle Walker Little and defensive tackle Jay Tufele have been inactive in the last two games, so what does head coach Urban Meyer has to say about them? He told the local media Monday that both are coming along nicely, and they’re making progress.
That’s fine and dandy but that’s not what you expect from your draft class. This wouldn’t be an issue if the Jags were winning it would be one thing but they’re 0-2. The fact that the team doesn’t think either rookie can currently help is worrisome. To add insult to injury, the team announced that Little has been placed on the COVID-19/Reseve list.
Ok, Tufele and Little are only two members of the Jaguars’ draft class, but what about their other picks? Keep in mind that running back Travis Etienne is out for the year with a Lisfranc injury and wide receiver Jalen Camp was released before the start of the season. How about their mid and late-round
picks? Here’s a look at how they’re all fare thus far.
These two Jacksonville Jaguars rookies have gotten the most playing time.
Trevor Lawrence, quarterback (first overall pick, first round)
The Jaguars had Trevor Lawrence compete for the starting job in training camp. Maybe they wanted him to earn him or show other teams what Gardner Minshew could do. Regardless of the reason, the former Clemson Tiger came out on the top and hasn’t looked back.
So far, Lawrence hasn’t been great but he hasn’t been atrocious either. Like any other rookie quarterback, he’s made some highlight throws and questionable decisions at times. Nevertheless, he has displayed flashes of the talent that helped him succeed at the collegiate level. Lawrence didn’t have a particularly good outing in Week 2 but he hasn’t shown any cause for concerns. He should only keep getting better.
Tyson Campbell, cornerback (33rd overall pick, second round)
The Jaguars traded Sidney Jones before the start of the regular season and Tre Herndon has been dealing with an MCL injury. This paved the way for rookie cornerback Tyson Campbell to get playing time. The former Georgia Bulldog has played 57 percent of the team’s defensive snaps but hasn’t done much of note. He’s been targeted 11 times and has allowed seven receptions (one of them for a touchdown) for a 63.6 completion rate.
As the 33rd overall pick in this year’s draft, the Jaguars surely expected Campbell to have a bigger impact. His biggest flaw has been his inability to track the football when he’s in the air. The coaching staff has been working with him to correct the issue. The young might turn out to be fine down the road but he’s not much of a difference-maker right now.
The Jacksonville Jaguars need these three rookies to step up.
Andre Cisco, safety (65th overall pick, third round)
The Jags are bringing Andre Cisco slowly. Even though the former Orangeman earned the highest Pro Football Focus grade among rookie safeties in the preseason, he started the season behind Andrew Wingard.
Ahead of the first game, defensive coordinator Joe Cullen said both Cisco and Wingard would alternate snaps but the latter got the starting nod and more playing time. Things didn’t change much in Week 2 and Wingard once again started and had more snaps. So far, Cisco has played 41 defensive snaps. That amount might increase down the road and he could even seize the starting job.
Jordan Smith, outside linebacker/defensive end (121st, fourth round)
Of all the Jaguars’ rookies that have been inactive in the first two games, Jordan Smith might get a pass. He’s been dealing with a knee over the last two weeks. Injuries are an inherited part of the game, the team’s brass didn’t expect the UAB product to be hurt. On the other hand, availability is the best ability and he hasn’t played a single snap this year. It will be interesting to see if he will be healthy enough in Week 3 to make his NFL debut.
Luke Ferrell, tight end (145th overall pick/fifth round)
Tight end was one of the Jaguars’ biggest needs this offseason. But instead of addressing the position early in the draft, they waited until the fifth round to take Luke Farrell out of Ohio State. So far, the former Buckeye has hauled in one reception for six yards. James O’Shaughnessy will be out for a few weeks after suffering an ankle injury in Week 2. This could prompt the coaching staff to give Ferrell a bigger workload in the following games.