The Jacksonville Jaguars are 5-2 following the 31-24 win over the New Orleans Saints. One of the reasons for their recent success is their roster is filled with lots of talent. Trevor Lawrence has picked up where he left off last year and Josh Allen has been among the most dominant pass rushers in the league this year.
Also, safety Andre Cisco, linebacker Foyesade Oluokun, and wide receiver Christian Kirk are playing at a Pro Bowl level. That said, they are not the only players on the Jaguars' roster performing at a high level. There are a handful others who have played surprisingly well this season. In particular, these three have stood out.
No. 3 Jaguars player who's exceeded expectations in 2023: Anton Harrison, OT
It may be odd to bring Anton Harrison as someone who's exceeded expectations, given that he's a first-round pick. But some players need more time than others to hit their stride and the former Oklahoma Sooner most definitely struggled early in his rookie campaign.
Harrison was mostly fine as a pass protector in the opener but didn't fare well in the running game. Then, he struggled to stop defensive lineman Chris Jones in Week 2, in what he dubbed his welcome to the NFL moment. At the time, the decision to let Jawaan Taylor walk in free agency and draft Harrison 27th overall didn't look great but the latter has turned the corner since then.
In recent weeks, Harrison has been much better in pass protection and the running game. His best performance of the season might've come against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6, when he gave up no sacks or pressures on 37 blocking snaps. And against the Saints on Thursday Night Football, he was pivotal in ensuring Trevor Lawrence was protected.
.@Jaguars offensive line did not surrender a sack; nor allowed the franchise to get hit! Not once. Almost unheard of in any game this season #duval #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/M8cQ7N7CbL
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) October 20, 2023
Anton Harrison will probably experience a few rough moments the rest of the way but he will also keep making strides. Don't be surprised if he's put it all together by the end of the season.
No. 2 Jaguars player who's exceeded expectations in 2023: Walker Little, OL
One of the biggest questions surrounding the Jacksonville Jaguars early in the offseason was what they would do with Walker Little. They gave left tackle Cam Robinson a long-term deal last year, so plugging Little at right tackle seems like the most likely option with Jawaan Taylor expected to leave in free agency.
Little, a second-round pick in 2021, had mostly filled in for Robinson in his first two NFL seasons. He competed with Taylor for the starting job on the right side last year but lost. Still, Little flashed whenever he was given a chance. When Robinson hurt his meniscus late in the 2022 season, Little replaced him and the offensive line didn't miss a beat.
When Taylor signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency, Little was his obvious replacement, but Robinson was slapped with a four-game suspension for violations to the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy and Little took his place at left tackle.
Little was a Day 1 starter and did a great job of protecting Trevor Lawrence's blind side the first four games of the season, giving up just one sack and five pressures on 179 pass-blocking snaps.
Once Robinson returned from his suspension, Little moved to left guard, arguably the team's weakest link up front, in Week 5. Unfortunately, the former Stanford Cardinal suffered an MCL injury that's forced him to miss Weeks 6 and 7.
The good news is that head coach Doug Pederson told the media that Walker Little could practice a bit in the upcoming days. He might not suit up against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 8 but it's encouraging to hear that he's trending in the right direction. Once he's back, he'll pick up where he left off.
No. 1 Jaguars player who's exceeded expectations in 2023: Darious Williams, CB
The Jacksonville Jaguars spared no expenses in last year's free agency and added several key contributors on both sides of the ball. One of them was cornerback Darious Williams. They already had Tyson Campbell and Shaquill Griffin in the fold but they need a third corner to round out the group.
Although Williams had mostly lined up outside throughout his career, he started the 2022 season in the slot. He struggled a bit but he fared much better when an injury to Griffin forced Jacksonville to move him to the boundaries. Williams didn't register a single interception last year but he was still a valuable piece of the secondary, leading the team with 16 passes defensed, one more than Campbell.
Recognizing that Williams is a better fit in the perimeter, the coaching staff placed him opposite Campbell to start the 2023 season. So far, the decision has paid off. In seven weeks this season, Williams has already registered three interceptions, including a pick-six against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4. He needs one pick to tie his career-best of four set in 2020.
Defense wanted one too 🤷♂️@Dee_Willl2 | #ATLvsJAX on FOX/ESPN+/NFL+ pic.twitter.com/aZWdj4H8PA
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) October 1, 2023
Tyson Campbell has missed time with a hamstring injury but Darious Williams has stepped up in his absence. The former is still the best cornerback on the Jaguars roster but the latter has made a name for himself and has proven the team's brass made a good decision when they gave him a three-year deal worth $30 million last year.