5 Jacksonville Jaguars with big contract implications this year

No. 4 Jaguars player with big contract implications: Jawaan Taylor, RT

This one might turn out to be a tricky situation. A second-round pick in the 2019 draft, Jawaan Taylor has started every possible game for the Jaguars since Day 1. You have probably heard that availability is the best ability in a collision sport such as football and in that regard, the former Florida Gator is second to none.

On the other hand, Taylor hasn’t performed up to expectations over the last last two years and has in fact regressed after a promising rookie campaign. He posted Pro Football Focus overall grades of 60.4 and 56.5 in 2021 and 2020, respectively. The Florida native has allowed a staggering 92 sacks and has committed 18 penalties in the past two seasons. That’s simply not the kind of performance you expect from your starting right tackle.

The good news is that Taylor will have a chance to prove he deserves to keep his job this upcoming season. The bad news is he will have to compete with sophomore Walker Little in training camp, and if he loses, he might spend the last year of his rookie deal on the sidelines, which is a situation no player wants to find himself in.

On the bright side, Taylor could convince the Jaguars’ brass to give him a contract extension if he stands out this upcoming season. An alternative would be to apply the franchise tag on him, which is the same approach they took with left tackle Cam Robinson before giving him a multi-year deal earlier this year.