5 Best Jacksonville Jaguars rookie seasons of the 2010s

No. 1 Jaguars best rookie season of the 2010s: Jalen Ramsey, 2016

Jalen Ramsey also unexpectedly slid to Dave Caldwell and the Jacksonville Jaguars front office when they landed him with the No. 5 overall selection in 2016. He was the highest regarded defensive back in his draft class and showed the league why during his rookie year.

No challenge was too big for Ramsey, as he proved himself both at the nickel spot and outside during his first season. The corner faced his share of star receivers, showing he belonged competing against the NFL’s elite. He also demonstrated how he could be deployed to either shadow the team’s best receiver or lock down one side of the field in coverage.

The star cornerback ended his rookie campaign with two interceptions, one defensive touchdown, 14 passes defensed, one forced fumble, 65 combine tackles, 55 solo tackles, two tackles for a loss, and one quarterback hit. He only allowed 54 receptions on 102 targets. He also earned a Pro Football Focus grade of 72.8 and came in second in rookie defensive player of the year.

Ramsey’s elite speed, instincts, and physicality were on display each week as his big-time play and even bigger attitude made a name for himself in the league. Jalen had a fantastic rookie year for the Jaguars and certainly displayed his elite skill set early on in his career.