Should Jaguars trade WR Laviska Shenault to the Kansas City Chiefs?

Even though the free agency has slowed down in the past few days. there hasn’t been a lack of news and on Wednesday, the Kansas City Chiefs sent shockwaves throughout the league when they traded wide receiver Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins for five draft selections. Making it the second time in as many weeks that a top wide receiver changes clubs. Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Laviska Shenault isn’t in the same stratosphere as Hill or Davante Adams but he could be next.

Ben Standig of The Athletic reports the Jags could be moving Laviska Shenault Jr. Coincidentally, Standig believes Viska could replace Hill in Kansas City despite the fact that they may be interested in signing former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Keep in mind that this isn’t the first time Shenault is mentioned as a potential trade target. Just a few days ago, Michael DiRocco of ESPN reported the Jaguars wide receiver was on the trade block.

Shenault is coming off a down year in which he averaged less than 10 yards per reception. However, he’s only 23 and his performance might have been affected by the toxic environment former head coach Urban Meyer fostered in Jacksonville. Although the former Colorado Buffalo isn’t in the same echelon as Hill at this stage of his career, the Chiefs could certainly use him and he could flourish under the tutelage of offensive guru Andy Reid.

A second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Shenault has appeared in 30 games with 22 starts and has logged 121 receptions for 1,219 yards with five touchdowns. Throughout his career, the wide receiver has shown an affinity to create yards after contact and while he doesn’t have top speed, he can get deep, which is why the Chiefs and any other teams may be interested in acquiring him and why the Jaguars shouldn’t trade him.

The Jaguars shouldn’t trade Laviska Shenault to Chiefs or anyone.

Shenault showed promise as a rookie and was seen as a candidate to have a breakout season in 2021. However, the coaching staff didn’t really know how to best use the wide receiver, which explains why he regressed last year. Sure, he can play better. There are a few passes he should’ve come down with but he should get a clean slate under head coach Doug Pederson.

Coaches always talk about how they need to adjust their systems to their players instead of forcing them to fit and if that’s the case, Pederson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor should find a place for Shenault in the offense. Maybe the team’s brass brought in Christian Kirk and Zay Jones because they don’t think Viska is a good fit but he should get at least get one shot. Again, he’s young and talented. Keeping him could pay big dividends and there’s no reason to move on from besides being drafted by the previous regime.

It’s the head coach’s job to squeeze every ounce of talent from their players and the Jaguars’ brass can’t give up on Laviska Shenault without giving him a legitimate shot to see what he can do with adequate coaching.