3 Jaguars who will make the Pro Bowl for the first time in 2024

As we approach the 2024 NFL season, plenty of Jacksonville Jaguar players could be primed for an outstanding campaign.

Last season, only two players on this team were first-ballot selections to the Pro Bowl: Josh Hines-Allen, and Ross Matiscik, who was also their lone First-Team All-Pro.

Both players are back for the 2024 campaign and eager to get that honor once again. Next season, these three Jaguars could join them in receiving a Pro Bowl selection for the first time in their respective careers.

Travis Etienne, running back

Coming off a difficult 2023 season that saw him only average 3.8 yards per carry, Travis Etienne has plenty of reasons to play hard in 2024. Given the contract his Clemson teammate Trevor Lawrence just got, and his overall value to this offense, he’ll want to prove he deserves similar wages to premiere running backs like Derrick Henry and Josh Jacobs.

Etienne’s option was picked in April, but if he can post a third successive 1,000-yard season, he might force Trent Baalke to pay up with a massive extension by the end of this campaign.

Even though he regressed statistically last season, Etienne still had a solid campaign. One thing we saw a lot more of from him in 2023 was some big plays in the pass-catching department, averaging 8.2 yards-per-catch with a touchdown grab against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He had 476 yards receiving.

So why will Etienne be better on the ground in 2024? Well, for one, he should have a lot more help along the front lines in Mitch Morse, who'll replace Luke Fortner at center. Moreover, Cam Robinson, Brandon Scherff, and Anton Harrison are all healthy.

It’s the same reason Trevor Lawrence should be better statistically this season, as both Lawrence and Etienne showed in 2022 that they can excel when a strong O-Line aids them. Morse is an experienced blocker who made Josh Allen and James Cook look really good with his stellar blocking in Buffalo last year.

Tank Bigsby is entering his sophomore campaign with the Jags and averaged five yards or more per carry in two of his three pre-season contests. With a healthy and upgraded O-line, he’ll get more touches and likely produce more than we saw in 2023. That, in turn, will benefit Etienne, with coach Doug Pederson already saying they want to reduce Travis’ workload. Last season, Etienne had 267 touches out of the backfield for 1,008 yards, while he only had 220 carries the year before and racked up 117 more rushing yards (1,125).

Etienne has the motivation, the help up front, and a capable No. 2 in Bigsby. All of which may add up to a Pro Bowl selection.

Travon Walker, defensive end

With the incredible season that Josh Hines-Allen had in 2023, a solid sophomore campaign by Travon Walker was almost forgotten. The highly touted man who rose up the draft ranking to become the No. 1 pick in 2022 quietly had a very good season, registering a career-high 10 sacks and 10 tackles for loss.

Ryan Nielsen’s aggressive play calling and emphasis on blitzing more should greatly benefit Walker. Even before his franchise record of 17.5 sacks this past season, Josh Hines-Allen was consistently the Jags’ best rusher over the past few years.

Arik Armstead is a big presence, and his size alone will be something opposing offenses will need to be mindful of. That should open the door for Walker to utilize his speed and ability to shed blockers to great effect, just like he did throughout his college career.

Travon should have a lot more help bringing the heat in 2024 and will have a lot more freedom to take risks and go after the quarterback than we saw under Mike Caldwell.

Foye Oluokun, linebacker

Making tackles is seen as a mere routine for linebackers, but it deserves more praise when you make as many as Foye Oluokun has over the past two seasons. Just like a kicker on field goals and converts, what the Yale product does is often dismissed as no big deal. However, the 29-year-old middle linebacker, who’s led the league in tackles over the past two seasons, could finally earn a Pro Bowl nod if he can maintain that consistency.

In 2023, Oluokun had 2.5 sacks, one full sack more than Roaquan Smith of the Baltimore Ravens, who was selected to the 2024 Pro Bowl as middle linebacker. Oluokun’s best single-season total for sacks was three with the Atlanta Falcons in 2020.

Nielsen’s defense may be able to unlock something in Foye that we’ve yet to witness in his NFL career: an ability to get to the quarterback more often. He’s proven he can bring guys to the ground countless times, but if he can increase his number of sacks, that will surely draw more attention from fan voters. He’d get much more consideration if he improves in that department, as he should under Nielsen.