The Jacksonville Jaguars’ 50-10 loss to the New England Patriots showed the organization needs to make several changes this upcoming offseason if they want to play competent football in 2022. At the top of the Jags’ to-do list is cutting ties with general manager Trent Baalke. Once they find their replacement and hire a head coach, they need to get Trevor Lawrence some weapons.
If you want to know how much Lawrence would benefit from having a good supporting cast, look no further than fellow rookie Mac Jones. The New England Patriots signed tight ends Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry in free agency. They also locked up wide receivers Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne. While they aren’t All-Pro players, all of them have stepped up when called upon.
For starters, the Jaguars need to re-sign wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. Next on the list is adding a top wide receiver in free agency, which shouldn’t be a problem, as they’re set to have around $69 million in cap space, according to Spotrac. The problem with that is the market may not be as robust as it originally looked.
After breaking off talks about getting an extension done, the Green Bay Packers seem intent on keeping Davante Adams and they are willing to use the franchise tag on him if necessary. That’s what good teams do, do what’s necessary to retain their playmakers. On the other hand, Michael Gallup and Chris Godwin, two of the biggest names set to hit free agency, have suffered season-ending injuries and will need to recover during the offseason.
On the bright side, there will still be a few options available for the Jaguars if they want to bolster their wide receiver corps. Here are the best four.
Jaguars WR target No. 1 in 2022 – Mike Williams, FA.
Nothing is set in stone when it comes to players’ availability in the draft. While you can plug in some prospects right out of the game, others take time to adjust in the NFL. That’s why it may be premature to call someone a bust after only two years in the NFL. When the Los Angeles Chargers drafted wide receiver Mike Williams seventh overall in 2017, it looked like they had thrown a selection in the garbage bin, as he dealt with injuries and only hauled in 11 receptions for 95 yards.
However, the former Clemson Tiger showed promise the following year, catching 43 passes for 664 yards with 10 touchdowns. That was just the beginning, as he’s gone one to become a key cog on the Bolts’ offense. In Week 16 of the current season, he reached over 1,000 receiving yards for the second time in three seasons. Now, it’s uncertain whether Williams will hit the open market (the franchise tag is an option) but Los Angeles should have no trouble keeping him, as they are one of the three teams that will have more cap space than the Jaguars in 2022.
In case Williams does become a free agent, the Jags need to make a bid for his services. He’s averaging 15.1 yards per reception this season and his 6-foot-4 frame would be helpful in red-zone situations. With Gallop and Godwin nursing injuries, Williams may be in high demand in free agency and if Jacksonville needs to pay a premium for him, they need to do it.
Jaguars WR target No. 2 in 2022 – Jameson Williams, NFL Draft.
Hindsight is 20/20 but the Cincinnati Bengals showed how important it was to get their young quarterback some weapons this past offseason. They passed on Penei Sewell, the top offensive tackle prospect in the 2021 draft, to take wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. At the time, the selection was questioned because Chase sat out the 2020 season, and Cincy’s offensive line needed upgrades.
Things didn’t get much better during the offseason, as Chase had a hard time securing passes. However, things changed once the regular season kicked in and the LSU product went on to play like a vested veteran. In his first season in the NFL, Chase has established as one of the hottest wide receivers in the league, hauling in 79 receptions for 1,429 yards with ten touchdowns. After a monster performance and helping Bengals secure the AFC North for the first time since 2015, he should be the front runner for the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.
So what does this have to do with Lawrence, you may ask? The Jaguars need to get him help in the draft and Jameson Williamson may be the best wide receiver of the class. Even though Williams has held to seven catches for 62 yards, he was one of the most dominant wide receivers in college during his junior campaign at Alabama, tallying 75 receptions for 1,507 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Now, drafting Williams with the first overall pick in 2022 may not make much sense. But if the team’s brass is interesting in landing one of the top wide receiver prospects, they could look for a trade partner and move down a few spots. Trading down to take Williams would also help the Jaguars get extra picks, so this strategy should be discussed in the following months.
Jaguars WR target No. 3 in 2022 – Allen Robinson, FA.
The Jaguars shouldn’t rule out signing Michael Gallup and Chris Godwin. However, they need to take into account that both suffered season-ending injuries, and expecting them to be fully healthy in 2022 may not be realistic. On the other hand, if Mike Williams ends up staying with the Chargers, Allen Robinson could be the best wide receiver available in the open market.
The 2014 second-round pick has had a down season in 2021, hauling in 36 receptions for 388 yards with three touchdowns. Having said that, context is necessary. He missed two games and even lost ten pounds due to COVID-19. Also, the Chicago Bears’ quarterback situation has been less-than-optimal, which might have had an impact on the wideout’s production. In the previous three years, he caught 255 passes for 3,151 yards with 17 touchdowns.
The Bears used the franchise tag on Robinson in 2021 but using a second one may be cost-prohibitive, so he will hit free agency if they can’t agree to a deal. The Penn State product shouldn’t have a shortage of suitors and the Jags’ next front office needs to consider making a run for him if available.
Would Robinson return to Jacksonville after leaving in 2018? Maybe, it doesn’t hurt to try. Keep in mind that this is a whole different Jaguars team than the one he played for and there will be a new management in place this upcoming offseason. The Jags’ decision-makers could convince him things have changed since his departure. Offering him a top-market deal wouldn’t hurt either.
Jaguars WR target No. 4 in 2022, David Bell, Draft.
Here’s another path the Jaguars can take. If they use the first overall pick on offensive tackle or one of the two top edge rushers in the draft, they could target David Bell in the second round. The Purdue standout was one of the most productive wide receivers in college football in 2021, racking up 93 catches for 1,286 yards and six touchdowns.
In 29 games at Purdue, Bell caught 232 receptions for 2,946 yards with 21 touchdowns. Kyle Crabbs of The Draft Network describes him as a “route technician”, who “affords no shortage of variety in his routes“. Moreover, he believes he can thrive in both the quick game and vertically down the field.
Depending on how the draft unfolds, the Jaguars may need to trade up to land Bell at the end of the first round. If Bell isn’t their cup of tea, the team’s brass needs to consider taking Jahan Dotson, Chris Olave, or any of the wide receiver prospects that may be available late in the first round or early in the second. The one thing they can’t afford is to neglect their wide receiver corps in 2022.