Jacksonville Jaguars rightfully omitted from recent top 101 list

It looks like the Jacksonville Jaguars are on the path towards turning things around after hiring Doug Pederson as the head coach. However, there’s plenty of work to be done before the Jags can constantly win games. Adding difference-makers to the roster should be one of the team’s brass top priorities this offseason. Last year, Jacksonville didn’t have many impact players and this was reflected in a recent list.

Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus recently highlighted the top 101 players of the 2021 NFL regular season and no Jaguar made the cut. Monson doesn’t mention what criteria he used to make the list but this isn’t particularly shocking when you take into account that Jacksonville had a 3-14 record last season. Other teams without representation on the list were the New York Jets and the Houston Texans. The Detriot Lions had one of their players make the cut, rookie offensive tackle Penei Sewell, who popped up at number 67.

The Jaguars weren’t consistent in the 2021 NFL season.

Keep in mind that just like any other ranking, there’s a human element in it, and players that might have been deserving of being included were omitted. Having said that, the Jaguars didn’t have any players in 2021 that warrant consideration for the list but there are a few that could have appeared had they not suffered injuries or if they had been a bit more consistent.

James Robinson was one of the best running backs in the league early in the 2021 season but injuries and Urban Meyer’s head-scratching decision to bench him hurt his performance down the stretch. To make matters worse, the former Illinois State Redbird tore his Achilles in Week 15 of the 2021 season and will have to spend the offseason rehabbing.

Outside linebacker Josh Allen was one of the most dominant pass rushers in the NFL midseason but his performance took a dive late towards the end of the year. You could make the case that the disfunction surrounding the team took a toll on him. Similarly, linebacker Myles Jack lead the team in tackles but wasn’t responsible for many big plays. On the bright side, both players should benefit from the new coaching staff in place and should rebound next season.

The Jaguars have a few candidates to make PFF’s top 101 in 2023.

Production triumphs potential but the Jaguars currently have a few young promising players on the roster. The first one is Trevor Lawrence, who should improve significantly under the tutelage of Doug Pederson. However, the former Clemson Tiger isn’t the only candidate to make PFF’s top 101 next year. Running back Travis Etienne will return after suffering a Lisfranc injury that cut his rookie season short. With Robinson’s availability in question, E-T-N could have a big workload early in the 2022 season.

Also, cornerback Tyson Campbell got better as the 2021 season went on and should be even better in Year 2. Offensive Walker Little should also make a leap if he joins the starting lineup. The former Stanford Cardinal showed promise in the two starts he made at the end of the campaign.

The Jaguars are entering a critical juncture for the nth time over the last 11 years. But if they want things to be different this time around, they will need to acquire a few playmakers this offseason and get game-changing performances from some of the players already in place.