The Jacksonville Jaguars have built a well-rounded wide receiver corps, and their tight end unit is arguably one of the deepest in the whole NFL. On the other hand, their backfield lacks experience after Devin Lloy's departure to the New Orleans Saints, but Chris Rodriguez and Bhayshul Tutun are expected to fill the void.
When you add it all up, the Jags' skill position group could be among the best in the league. However, an NFL analyst doesn't think it even ranks in the upper half of the league.
The Jaguars rank 18th in ESPN's skill position rankings
Bill Barnwell of ESPN ranked all offensive playmaker groups in the NFL and placed the Jaguars at No. 18, arguing that they could be in great shape if they can get the best version of their wide receiver corps. However, he isn't overly optimistic that it will happen and offers his reasoning for it.
"Thomas inspired concerns about his desire to catch balls in tight spaces and never seemed to get right in 2025 as he battled injuries," Barnwell wrote. "Meyers has been a solid pro for years, but after he cooled off down the stretch, his rate stats were right in line with where they had been for most of his time with the Patriots and Raiders."
Barnwell continued, "I've been a Washington fan for a while, but this same organization signed Dyami Brown to play ahead of him last offseason. And Hunter, who is expected to major in cornerback and minor at wide receiver this year, struggled to become a steady and reliable member of the passing attack in his first season, posting a 12-yard game the week before that big performance in England."
It's worth noting that the Jags got the same spot as they did in last year's ranking, and they popped up at No. 16 back in 2024, so the needle hasn't moved much.
Shockingly, the Indianapolis Colts were the highest-ranked team in the AFC South at No. 14, while the Houston Texans got the 24th spot, and the Tennessee Titans finished at No. 25.
Brian Thomas Jr. and Parker Washington will lead a Jaguars surge
Bill Barnwell is right that there are a handful of things that could hold the Jaguars offense back next season, but some of his concerns are overblown. For instance, Travis Hunter did suffer a season-ending injury last year, but he's by no means injury-prone. He's ahead of schedule on his recovery and should have no trouble picking up where he left off last year.
Sure, Hunter got off to a slow start to his rookie campaign, but once he hit his stride, he showed just how much of a playmaker he is. The former Heisman Trophy winner should benefit from all the matchups he'll get on offense. And if he settles at cornerback, the Jacksonville secondary will get a boost.
On the other hand, there's no doubt that Thomas was underwhelming last year, but he fared much better once the coaching staff adjusted his role. Moreover, he's aware that he wasn't at his best last year and is doing everything he can to get back on track. Coupled with a clean bill of health, the 2024 first-round pick is ready to recapture the level he reached as a rookie.
Similarly, it's hard to see Parker Washington regressing after his breakout campaign. If anything, he should be even better next season, as he's expected to have an expanded role on offense. It's odd that Barnwell brougth up the Dyami Brown signing. He failed to live up to expectations, without a doubt, but it doesn't have a bearing on how Washington will perform next season.
Leaving aside the wide receiver unit, the Jaguars will also have a heavy use of their tight ends next season, as they'll deploy two or even three at the same time as often as possible. Brenton Strange has proven he's a devastating blocker and a pretty good pass catcher. With Nate Boerkircher in the mix, head coach Liam Coen can get creative with the play design.
Simply put, the Jaguars have the firepower to light up the scoreboard week in and week out next season. By the end of the year, they'll have made this ranking look silly.
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