3 Jaguars players who are definitely entering their last season in Jacksonville

Brandon Scherff is definitely entering his last season with the Jaguars

One of the Jaguars' biggest weaknesses last year was the offensive line. They couldn't protect Trevor Lawrence or open lanes in the running game. But instead of giving the unit a makeover, the only meaningful move they made in the offseason was signing veteran Mitch Morse in free agency. This makes sense because Luke Fortner regressed in 2023 and the team's brass needed an immediate upgrade at center.

Fortner aside, the Jaguars made an effort to keep the offensive line from 2023 intact, believing that injuries prevented the group from gelling last year. They re-signed left guard Ezra Cleveland after trading for him at the deadline and restructured Brandon Scherff's contract to ensure he stayed in Jacksonville next season.

This was a sound decision when you take into account that Scherff was one of the Jags' best hog mollies last year. Despite the fact that he played through injuries, he only gave up two sacks and a manageable 15 pressures. Moreover, he managed to start all 17 games for the second straight season. This is noteworthy because he hadn't suited up for a full season since 2016, his sophomore campaign.

If healthy, there's a chance Scherff can be even better than he was last year, but even if he doesn't regain his Pro Bowl shape, the Jaguars believed that it made more sense to bring him back rather than letting him walk and look for his potential replacement in either free agency or the draft. That said, there's a strong chance they'll let him hit the open market in 2025.

The Jags have a potential replacement for Scherff in Cooper Hodges. If he makes a strong impression in 2024, he could compete for a starting job next year. And if he doesn't, the front office could use an early-round pick on a guard next year. Maybe they could re-sign Scherff at a discount but they'll certainly have their fair share of options if they take a different route.

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