Before the regular season started, the Jacksonville Jaguars seemed to be in a position to reclaim the AFC South after collapsing at the end of 2023. However, things haven't gone the way they expected. The Jags currently have the worst record in the league, and it looks like it will be a matter of time before they let Doug Pederson go. Then again, the head coach is far from the only reason they're struggling.
Pederson must definitely shoulder plenty of the blame, and so does general manager Trent Baalke for failing to properly revamp the roster. Similarly, several players the team expected to step up in 2024 have failed to make an impact. This begs the question, what are the team's biggest disappointments heading into the Bye? These five come to mind.
Arik Armstead, defensive end
When the Jaguars signed Arik Armstead to a three-year deal worth $43.5 million in free agency, it looked like they had addressed a massive need on their interior offensive line. After all, the former Oregon Duck had been one of the most dominant interior defenders in the league throughout his 10-year stint with the San Francisco 49ers. However, he's left much to be desired and part of it stems from the way the coaching staff has used him.
Armstead is at his best when he lines up inside, but oddly, he's mostly played on the edge this season. Not surprisingly, his production has been far from stellar. In 11 games, the 2015 first-round pick has logged 20 total tackles, 17 total pressures, and one sack. For comparison, former Jaguars defensive end K'Lavon Chassion has racked up 13 pressures and one sack in eight contests, and he's doing it at just a fraction of Armstead's salary.
Maason Smith, defensive tackle
The Jaguars raised eyebrows when they drafted defensive tackle Maason Smith 42nd overall in 2024. After all, they had bigger needs at the time and had already signed Arik Armstead. However, his upside made the former LSU Tiger too good to pass up in Round 2. Unfortunately, he hasn't had much of an impact this season. Quite the opposite.
Smith has been held back by an ankle injury, and when he's been healthy enough to contribute, he's been made inactive. All in all, he's appeared in just five games, registering one sack and five total tackles. Maybe the Louisiana native will eventually hit his stride but he's so far been underwhelming.
Ronald Darby, cornerback
The Jaguars released Darious Williams in the offseason in a cap-saving move. To replace him, they brought in Ronald Darby. At the time, the idea looked good on paper, as Darby was a dependable player in his last two stops and was considerably cheaper. However, the signing doesn't look nearly as good with the benefit of hindsight.
Darby has seemingly lost a step and has routinely struggled this season. In his defense, he's had a few strong outings but he's one of the reasons the Jaguars' secondary is one of the worst in the league. His completion rate surrendered of 73.7 is the worst of his career. The same is true for his five touchdown receptions allowed. At this rate, it's hard to see the former Florida Seminole return to Jacksonville next year.
Gabe Davis, wide receiver
Looking to improve Trevor Lawrence's arsenal of weapons, the Jaguars gave Gabe Davis a three-year deal worth $39 million in free agency. However, things haven't played out the way they expected.
Davis' catch rate of 47.6 was the worst on the team, and he was on pace to post career lows for both receiving yards and catches before suffering a season-ending injury in Week 11. Granted, nobody will celebrate when players get hurt, and it's fair to say that it's something beyond his control. Having said that, his first season in Jacksonville didn't go as planned.
Mac Jones, quarterback
Looking to add insurance behind Trevor Lawrence, the Jaguars traded for Mac Jones in the offseason. While the former Alabama standout struggled late in his stint with the New England Patriots, he also made the Pro Bowl and made the playoffs as a rookie. That must've made Jacksonville believe the offense would be in good hands in case Lawrence got hurt. That hasn't been the case.
No. 16 has been dealing with a shoulder sprain, and Jones has filled in for him during his absence. It hasn't gone well, as the offense has mustered a measly 13 points with the Jacksonville native at the helm. In fact, his underwhelming play has shown just how important Lawrence is.