The Jacksonville Jaguars haven’t done a good job of getting the most out of their current roster. On the other hand, they are lacking talent at most position groups. Fortunately, they will have plenty of cap space to address all their pressing needs, and a recent list identified what may be the most important ones.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report touched on every NFL team’s shopping list for the 2022 offseason and he believes wide receiver, cornerback and offensive tackle are the Jaguars’ biggest needs next year. Knox notes Jacksonville has their quarterback of the future in Trevor Lawrence, so they don’t have to worry about the position next offseason or anytime soon for that matter. On the other hand, he thinks getting the former Clemson Tiger a legitimate number one receiver should be the team’s brass priority.
"Getting Lawrence a legitimate No. 1 receiver should be at the top of Jacksonville’s to-do list. DJ Chark Jr. is on injured reserve with a fractured ankle, while 31-year-old wideout Marvin Jones Jr. leads the team with just 529 receiving yards."
Knox goes on to say that the Jaguars need to add a premier cornerback and a reliable left tackle to protect Lawrence. He points out that Cam Robinson has played well but is slated to become a free agent next offseason.
While it’s true that the Jaguars need a bonafide number one wide receiver, they may have had bigger needs than cornerback and left tackle next offseason. Either way, they will have more than enough cap space to address whatever needs they want.
Per Spotrac the Jags are expected to have $71.54 million to spend next year. Moreover, they don’t have many priority free agents besides maybe DJ Chark Jr. and left guard Andrew Norwell. They could easily bring back both, make one or two impact signings, and use their early draft picks to upgrade other position groups.
Should cornerback be a priority for the Jaguars next offseason?
Although teams need as many good cornerbacks as they can get their hands on, it may not be among the Jags’ most pressing needs next offseason. Shaquill Griffin has been one of the team’s best offseason acquisitions and rookie Tyson Campbell is proving the Jaguars made the right decision with the 33rd overall pick.
Even though Griffin hasn’t logged an interception this season, he’s done a good job of traveling with opposing number one receivers. He’s posted a Pro Football Focus overall grade of 72.1 in 2021 and has only given up more than 50 yards receiving in a game once, and that was in the season opener.
On the other hand, Tyson Campbell has steadily improved after struggling in the preseason and early in the regular season. Over the last four weeks, he’s had three passes defensed and allowed 10 passes on 19 for 80 yards and no touchdowns. Moreover, he logged his first career interception against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 12. If the former Georgia Bulldog weren’t showing growth, cornerback would be a bigger need for the Jags next offseason but his recent success should make Jacksonville turn their attention to other position groups.
Having said that, the Jaguars could sign a mid-tier cornerback or use a mid-round pick on a cornerback to add depth to their group. Rudy Ford has lined up in the slot in recent weeks and is signed for another year but Tre Herndon is set to become a free agent next offseason.
Right tackle is a bigger need than left tackle for the Jaguars.
Earlier this year, the Jaguars chose to apply the franchise tag on left tackle Cam Robinson. All things considered, it hasn’t been a bad investment. The Alabama product has been solid in 2021. He’s allowed 29 pressures but hasn’t given up a single sack. On the other side of the coin, he’s set to become a free agent, and the team’s brass needs to decide if they want to bring him back.
Robinson will (rightfully) want to get the best possible contract, and if the Jaguars aren’t willing to pay him retail, they can promote Walker Little to the lineup. Another possibility is to sign a left tackle in free agency although the 2022 class isn’t particularly loaded at the position. Regardless of what they do at left tackle, they have options but they need to decide what they want to do with at right tackle.
Jawaan Taylor has allowed 26 pressures and three sacks this season. However, the biggest concern surrounding the former Florida Gator is the penalties he’s been racking up in 2021. He’s been flagged an alarming 11 times and is on pace to surpass his career-high of 14. In a fourth-quarter drive against the Falcons, the right tackle committed two penalties, a false start, and a holding, that cost the Jaguars 15 yards. Had the right tackle not been flagged, the offense would have probably gotten seven points instead of three and the outcome of the game might have been different.
Taylor will enter the last year of his rookie contract in 2022. The jaguars need to decide what they want to do with him. They could re-sign Robinson and move Walker to the right side. Or they could draft a right tackle and groom him behind Taylor.
What will the Jaguars do at wide receiver next offseason?
After taking Trevor Lawrence with the top pick in the 2021 draft, they no longer have to invest resources in the position for the foreseeable future. The Clemson Tiger has steadily proved this offseason and it looks like he’s the long-term answer. On the other hand, his supporting cast has been far from great, and the Jaguars need to surround him with more talent next year to ensure he is in a position to succeed.
That means bolstering a wide receiver room that is in need of playmakers. Laviska Shenault Jr. hasn’t made the leap some expected this season and Marvin Jones Jr. is better suited for a number two role. Losing DJ Chark Jr. to a fractured ankle in Week 4 affected the rest of the offense. Without the 2018 second-round pick, opposing defenses have had no trouble covering Jones, Shenault, and the rest of the Jags’ wide receivers.
To exacerbate the matter, wide receiver/return specialist Jamal Agnew suffered a season-ending hip injury in Week 11. While the Jaguars signed Jaydon Kendricks to handle return duties, Agnew’s absence on offense leaves a void the team will have a hard time filling.
Agnew should be 100 percent next year but Chark is slated to hit the open market. Even if the Jags bring him back, they need to add another receiver in 2022. They could target someone like Allen Robinson in free agency. They will also be in a prime position to draft Garrett Wilson of Ohio State. Either player could give a significant boost to the Jaguars’ wide receiver corps.