The Jacksonville Jaguars are 1-15, which isn’t surprising when you consider this was always going to be a rebuilding year. Could they have won a few more games this season? Sure, but that’s one of the perks of being a young team. The Jags are learning how to win and they’re going to make mistakes along the way that are going to cost them games.
On the other hand, there have been several bright spots in the last six games, and several players deserve recognition. Most of them look like building blocks and will play a key role in the Jaguars’ rebuild. Here are the early 2021 season awards.
Jacksonville Jaguars special teams MVP – K Matthew Wright
This one was a tough call. Jamal Agnew could have very well gotten it too. After all, he had two touchdown returns in back-to-back games earlier this year. However, Matthew Wright was clutch when the Jaguars needed him the most and helped them earn their first victory of the season.
Heading into the game, it didn’t look like Wright was going to have a big role in the outcome. He failed an extra point and field goal against the Tennessee Titans the week before. Knowing he was coming off a less-than-stellar performance, would you have trusted him to make a couple of 50+ kicks? The Jaguars did and it paid off.
Moving forward, Wright will be the Jaguars’ kicker. The team released Josh Lambo not long after the game. If the Central Florida product keeps performing the way he did against the Miami Dolphins in Week 5, he will keep the job for a while.
Jacksonville Jaguars best FA addition on defense – CB Shaquill Griffin
The Jaguars gave their roster a makeover in free agency. They avoid pursuing big-name free agents for the most part. However, the Jags did sign several prominent players, including cornerback Shaquill Griffin, who has quickly become a fixture of the secondary.
The 2017 third-round pick has given up more than 40 receiving yards just once this season and that was against the Houston Texans in Week 1. Furthermore, he’s been tasked to travel with the opposing team’s number one receiver.
Now, Griffin’s impact isn’t limited to the football field. He was named team captain before the start of the season and has become one of the Jaguars’ most respected leaders in the locker room. There were some that questioned the decision to give Griffin a three-year, $40 million contract before the start of the season. He’s proving he’s worth every penny.
Jacksonville Jaguars’ best FA addition on offense – WR Marvin Jones
Again, Jamal Agnew deserved consideration because he’s becoming a reliable target in the passing game. Ultimately, Marvin Jones has had a bigger impact on offense and is currently leading the team in receptions. The 2012 fourth-round pick has become the Jaguars’ de facto number one receiver and picking up the slack after DJ Chark suffered a fractured ankle in Week 4.
Jones is currently on pace to register the second 1,000 yard season of his career. The Jaguars had the chance to pursue other bigger profile wideouts in free agency, such as Kenny Golladay. In the end, they opted to sign his former Detroits Lions teammate.
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive MVP – Edge Josh Allen
The Jaguars’ defense was one of the league’s worst last year. The fact they traded Yannick Ngakoue and Calais Campbell before the start of the season played a role. Not having a healthy Josh Allen also hurt. The 2019 first-round pick dealt with a knee injury in 2020 and was limited to just eight games.
Allen’s return has given the Jaguars’ defense a boost. This season, the Kentucky product has started all six games and has logged 25 total tackles, two tackles for a loss, and 2.5 sacks. Furthermore, he and Chappelle Russell were behind a key fourth-down stop that made the Jaguars’ first win of the year possible. Having said that, his impact goes beyond the stat sheet, as his presence opens things up for his teammates.
Jacksonville Jaguars offensive MVP – RB James Robinson
Running back James Robinson is proving his rookie campaign wasn’t a fluke. He was off to a slow start in 2021, carrying the ball a combined 16 times in the first two games. However, he has seen his usage go up in recent weeks. The former Redbird has posted the highest Pro Football Focus rushing grade since Week 3 but he’s also in the top 10 of most traditional statistics.
Although the Jags are building around rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence, they need to keep things balanced and avoid putting too much on his plate. That’s why they need to continue leaning on Robinson for the remainder of the season.
Jacksonville Jaguars best offensive rookie – QB Trevor Lawrence
This was a no-brainer. Who else besides Trevor Lawrence deserved consideration? The former Clemson Tiger is proving the Jaguars made the right decision when they chose him with the first overall pick of the 2021 draft. Although it may be a bit premature to use the franchise quarterback label when discussing him, he’s proving he has what it takes to play at a high level in the NFL.
Even though Lawrence has started just six NFL games, he’s showing good pocket awareness and the ability to make all kinds of throws. Also, his decision-making has significantly improved since Week 1. This is just the tip of the iceberg. If he continues to get better, it won’t be long before he becomes one of the league’s best young passers.
Jacksonville Jaguars best defensive rookie – CB Tyson Campbell
Cornerback Tyson Campbell earned this place by default. The truth is the Jags aren’t getting much from their 2021 rookie class and the former Georgia Bulldog is the best of the bunch. Defensive tackle Jay Tufele played a bit against the Tennesee Titans but got hurt during warmups in Week 6. Jordan Smith isn’t ready yet and Andre Cisco has seen his playing time decrease considerably in recent weeks.
Campbell could become a solid starting cornerback in the NFL. He’s shown flashes but has also looked overwhelmed. He missed the last two games with a toe injury but should return for Week 8. Maybe his time off the field will help him work on his fundamentals and the mental aspect of the game.