The Jacksonville Jaguars didn't get much production from their 2023 rookie class last year. The group, as a whole, has performed a bit better this season but has still left a bit to be desired. With Evan Engram out for the remainder of the year, sophomore Brenton Strange will have a prime opportunity to make the bunch look much better.
Engram is out for the year after suffering a shoulder injury. He'll be placed on Injured Reserve and undergo surgery, effectively bringing his season to an end. In his place, Strange will line up at tight end and make his fifth start of the year against the New York Jets in Week 15. The former Penn State Nittany Lion is one of many sophomores who have been thrust into bigger roles in 2024.
Apart from right tackle Anton Harrison (first round) and defensive back Antonio Johnson (fifth round), the Jags got minimal production from their 2023 draft class last year. They expected running back Tank Bigsby (third round) to form a dynamic backfield tandem alongside Travis Etienne but he struggled and actively hurt his team. Strange, for his part, barely got any playing time, and was mostly a non-factor.
Fast forward to 2024, and Bigsby, Etienne, and even Parker Washington, all have gotten an uptick in playing time. Some of it is due to injuries, but the trio has done enough to earn an increased workload. More importantly, they've made the most out of it.
When Engram missed four games early in the season, Strange filled in for him and went on to haul in 12 receptions for 120 yards with two touchdowns. Bigsby, on the other hand, has outplayed Etienne at times and was breaking off big runs on a weekly basis earlier this year. He's slowed down in recent weeks but has remained productive, showing he wasn't a one-game wonder.
Washington has also stepped into a featured role with Christian Kirk suffering a season-ending injury. While his numbers haven't popped off the stat sheet ( 18 receptions, 236 yards, one touchdown), the offense as a whole has had trouble moving the ball and putting points on the scoreboard, so it's fair to assume that he would fare much better if Trevor Lawrence were behind center.
On the defensive side of things, Johnson supplanted Tre Herndon at nickel and got more playing time as the 2023 season progressed. He switched to safety — his natural position — in Year 2 but was benched in favor of Darnell Savage. However, Johnson has since returned to the starting lineup.
Also on defense, linebacker Ventrell Miller has outplayed 2022 first-round selection Devin Lloyd when given the chance and may compete for a starting role next year.
The Jaguars 2023 draft class has been making this strides this season
All in all, the Jacksonville Jaguars ended up making 13 picks last year. Of all the players they selected, three (Derek Parish, Raymond Vohasek, and Erick Hallett II) are no longer with the team. One, cornerback Christian Braswell, is on the practice squad, another has missed time with injuries (Cooper Hodges), and two more, Tyler Lacy (fourth round), and Yasir Abdullah (fifth round) have been underwhelming.
Still, six picks out of a 13-player draft class isn't that bad. Of course, Parker Washington, Brenton Strange, and Tank Bigsby have to keep making strides. The same is true for Antonio Johnson and Ventrell Miller on defense.
The truth is that general manager Trent Baalke got lots of flak at the time for prioritizing value over needs. In retrospect, the strategy doesn't look that bad. The 2023 class just needed time to hatch. That said, there are many other reasons you should still criticize Baalke.