5 steps Jaguars must take after cutting ties with Urban Meyer

2. The Jaguars must bring back DJ Chark, bolster wide receiver corps

This one has to do with the personnel side of the game. Although Urban Meyer brought several players that fit their vision, they also cut ties with a good chunk of the ones the previous regime had acquired. Tight end Josh Oliver was traded earlier this season. Linebacker Joe Schobert followed. Then it was quarterback Gardner Minshew and cornerbacks C.J. Henderson and Sidney Jones.

While none of those players haven’t had a significant impact on their new teams, you could make the case they could have contributed for the Jags this season. Moving forward, the team has to avoid that level of turnover and must keep their core contributors. DJ Chark Jr. is set to become a free agent and the front office needs to bring him back.

Before Chark suffered an ankle injury in Week 4 of the 2021 season, he was the team’s best wide receiver. He could get deep and more often than not drew coverage away from his teammates, which in turn allowed them to make plays. You could even argue the offense wasn’t able to recover from his absence as they have had a hard time making big plays and moving the ball since he went down.

While giving Chark a top market contract may not be feasible, the front office and Chark can surely compromise and agree to a contract that benefits both parties. The fact that he’s coming from a season-ending injury won’t make it easy but it shouldn’t be impossible either. Then again the Jaguars can’t stop there and must either sign a top wideout in free agency or draft one early in next year’s draft. They have the resources to bolster their wide receiver corps next offseason.