The Jacksonville Jaguars were pretty proactive when it came to acquiring talent this offseason. They made several signings in free agency and came out of the 2021 NFL Draft with nine players. However, the Jags don’t much to show for and are currently 2-10. The coaching staff deserves a fair share of the blame for the team’s lack of wins this season.
On the other hand, the Jaguars counted on several players to contribute this season but haven’t lived up to expectations. In particular, these five have seen their stock crash beyond repair.
No. 1 Jaguars player whose stock has crashed – Tre Herndon
You have probably heard that the best ability in the NFL is availability and unless you are Aaron Rodgers or Patrick Mahomes, you can always lose your job if you miss time. That’s precisely what happened to Jaguars slot cornerback Tre Herndon who has dealt with an MCL injury since the preseason.
Herndon made his regular-season debut in Week 4 but his performance over the next three weeks left much to be desired and was eventually benched for Rudy Ford, who had no experience lining up in the slot. You can even make the case that Herndon returned sooner than he should have. Even though he was active in Weeks 12 and 13, he didn’t get any defensive snaps and was relegated to special teams. Furthermore, he was inactive from Weeks 9 to 11.
Even since Ford took over, Herndon has seen his playing time decrease and it’s unlikely he will get a big workload this season unless the Jaguars’ secondary is ravaged with injuries. The four-year cornerback is set to become a free agent in the offseason, so this may be the last five weeks he wears the Black and Teal.
No. 2 Jaguars player whose stock has crashed – K’Lavon Chaisson
You never like to see players flop, especially when they were drafted in the first round, but outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson hasn’t done much of note since the Jaguars made him the 20th overall pick in last year’s selection meeting. The LSU product has suited up every game with six starts this season. However, he hasn’t had much of an impact and it doesn’t look like he will anytime soon.
Chaisson finished the 2020 season strong, logging 21 pressures in the last seven games but wasn’t able to pick up where he left off. Last year, you could pin his lack of production on the Jaguars’ defensive scheme. Back in LSU, he would rush the passer from a two-point stance but former defensive coordinator Todd Wash had him play with his hand on the ground. The new coaching staff moved him to strong linebacker this past offseason but the change hasn’t paid dividends.
There’s a chance Chaisson is a late bloomer and but he hasn’t shown much progress this season. At this point, he’s better suited for a rotational role rather than a featured one. The Jaguars will be in a position to draft either Aidan Hutchison or Kayvon Thibodeaux next offseason and if they do, Chaisson could become expendable.
No. 3 Jaguars player whose stock has crashed – A.J. Cann
Right guard A.J. Cann has been a fixture of the Jaguars’ offensive line since 2015, the year they made him a third-round pick. The South Carolina product has played 94 games with 95 starts during his stint in Jacksonville but he’s set to be a free agent, and there are several reasons why this may have been his last season with the Black and Teal.
Cann struggled early in the season and left Week 4 with an MCL injury. He’s been on the Injured Reserve list since then and it looks like he will be out for the year. Sophomore Ben Bartch took his place in the starting lineup and seems like a good bet to keep the spot for the remainder of the season.
If the Jaguars decide to move on from Cann, they can leave Barth at right tackle. On the other hand, they should also consider bringing in a free agent or using a mid-round pick on a prospect and have him compete for the job. Bartch has shown flashes and hasn’t reached his ceiling yet, but the team’s brass must revamp the offensive line next offseason. In fact, don’t be surprised if center Brandon Linder and left guard Andrew Norwell are the only returning starters in 2021.
Just like Cann, Norwell is slated to become a free agent in 2022 but he’s been the Jags’ best offensive lineman this season, which makes him more deserving of a new contract than Cann.
No. 4 Jaguars player whose stock has crashed – Andrew Wingard
On one hand, safety Andrew Wingard deserves to be commended. After going undrafted in 2019, he signed with the Jaguars and steadily moved his way up the depth chart. Mainly a special teams player during his rookie campaign, the Wyoming product played half the Jaguars’ defensive snaps last year and has started every single game this season.
This would be great if Wingard were playing at a high level but that hasn’t been the case. He did log the Jags’ first interception of the season but hasn’t fared well in coverage and his tackling technique is far from optimal, posting a 35.4 Pro Football Focus grade in that department. What’s worse is that the coaching staff refuse to give playing time to either rookie Andre Cisco or sophomore Daniel Thomas.
Moreover, the Jags released veteran Jarrod Wilson before the start of the season. He had more experience than Dewey and was arguably a better option. Then again, defensive coordinator Joe Cullen has expressed confidence in Wingard and described him as “reliable and though” when he was named the starter opposite Rayshawn Jenkins.
The Jaguars need to start Cisco next year or upgrade the safety position. Whatever they do, they can’t keep giving Wingard a feature role.
No. 5 Jaguars player whose stock has crashed – Jawaan Taylor
Back in 2019, right tackle Jawaan Taylor looked like a steal after falling to the second round. Although the Florida product showed promise in his rookie campaign, he regressed in his sophomore season and hasn’t been much better in 2021.
Taylor leads the team in penalties with 11 and has a 46.4 Pro Football Focus run-blocking grade. He has the athleticism and the tools to play at a high level, so it’s uncertain what’s stopping him from becoming a mainstay of the Jaguar’s offensive line. Surprisingly, he has not been benched in spite of his struggles.
You could make the case the coaching staff should give rookie Walker Little the chance to start at right tackle and see how he fares. That would allow them to assess the position and determine whether they need to address it next offseason.
The Jaguars have given Taylor a legitimate chance to prove he’s the long-term answer at right tackle but hasn’t been able to seize it. He will be in the last year of his rookie deal in 2022 but it doesn’t look like he will be a part of the Jaguars. Based on his play this season, he shouldn’t. Then again, he’s only 24 and could end up thriving. Nevertheless, the Jags should let another team deal with it.