Jaguars dearth of playmakers leaves them out of PFF’s top 50 list

The Jacksonville Jaguars have had just one winning season since 2011 and while there are many reasons behind their lack of success on the football field, one of the biggest ones is their dearth of playmakers. This was reflected in Pro Football Focus’ list of top 50 players in the NFL right now.

The PFF unveiled the list in the snap of five days and no Jaguar made the cut. They weren’t the only team without representation though. The Houston Texans, the Detroit Lions, and the New York Jets didn’t have any players on the list either. Meanwhile, the Tennessee Titans had two (Derrick Henry and Kevin Byard) and the Indianapolis Colts had three (Darius Leonard, Quenton Nelson, and Jonathan Taylor).

In case you were wondering, defensive tackle Aaron Donald was the top player, offensive tackle Trent Williams popped up at No. 2 and quarterback Aaron Rodgers finished third.

What does the lack of top 50 players mean for the Jaguars?

The Jacksonville Jaguars have done a good job of replenishing a roster that was in need of playmakers at most position groups. However, they won’t have a chance to really see how much they’ve improved until they take the football field in Week 1.

It’s important to note that this isn’t a one-year thing. The Jaguars’ inability to amass talent dates back to the Dave Caldwell era. Back in 2017 and 2018, their defense was filled with playmakers but the organization wasn’t able to eventually replenish the roster, which in turn played a role in their 16-49 record over the last four seasons.

On the bright side, there should be reasons for optimism in Jacksonville, as there are several young players on the Jaguars roster that could end up becoming building blocks. Trevor Lawrence is currently the most prominent one but outside linebacker Josh Allen, running back Travis Etienne and cornerback Tyson Campbell could all make significant strides in the 2022 season.

Also, you could argue that Brandon Scherff was snubbed. The former Iowa Hawkeye joined the Jags earlier this year and was recognized as one of the top interior offensive linemen in the NFL by peers and analysts around the league. If he manages to stay healthy in 2022, he could land on PFF’s list next year.

The Jaguars don’t have any top 50 players and they may not be a playoff team yet but you could make the case that their 2022 version is the best one probably since 2017, and that should give fans a reason to smile.