If you ask any random fan who follows any other NFL franchise, they probably won't mention the Jacksonville Jaguars as a dark horse contender in 2024. That's understandable for a couple reasons. For starters, the Jags don't get nearly as much coverage from the national media as other clubs get. On the other hand, they're coming off a disappointing season, and they need to win a few games before they can be taken seriously again.
Working in the Jags' favor is that they revamped their roster in the offseason. While they didn't make as many splash signings as they did in 2022, they certainly made several moves that should help them get over the hump. This begs the question, which are Jacksonville's biggest strengths heading into the regular season? These three positions come to mind.
Offensive tackle is a a strength for the Jaguars
The offensive line was, in general, a weakness, last year. They couldn't protect Trevor Lawrence or open lanes in the running game. The bright spot, though, were the edges. On one hand, right tackle Anton Harrison struggled early on but finished 2023 season. He should keep improving in Year 2.
On the other hand, left tackle Cam Robinson served a suspension for violations to the performance-enhancing drug policy to start the season. Walker Little did a commendable job filling in for him, giving up just one sack and five total pressures in four games. Once Robinson returned to the lineup, Little returned to the sidelines.
The Jaguars could've moved on from Robinson in the offseason and freed up nearly $17 million in space — no chump change by any means — but instead opted to keep him around. This decision, while costly, makes sense when you take into account that he's become a leader in the trenches. It's also worth noting that the Alabama product has been the subject of trade talks since the end of 2023 but as of this writing, it looks like he'll be a Jaguar in 2024.
Little was also seen as a potential trade target but remains on the roster, giving the Jaguars a dependable swing tackle to lean on. But if that wasn't enough, the front office used a fourth-round selection in this year's draft on Javon Foster.
Barring any moves before the start of the season, Foster won't see the field much in 2024, but that's mostly because Jacksonville is stacked at the position.
Safety is a strength for the Jaguars
As recently as 2021, safety was one of the Jaguars' biggest needs. They signed Rayshawn Jenkins and drafted Andre Cisco to remedy the issue. The former was released earlier this year in a cap-saving move while the latter has gone on to become a mainstay of the defensive backfield.
To replace Jenkins, the team's brass will move Antonio Johnson back to safety. A fifth-round pick in last year's draft, the East St. Louis, Illinois native played safety at Texas A&M but lined up in the slot most of his rookie season. His playmaking skills earned him more playing time as the season progressed.
With Jenkins and Johnson slated to start at safety, Andrew Wingard will once again be the primary backup at the position. The player affectionately known as Dewey was an undrafted free agent in 2019. He worked his way up the depth chart and earned a starting job in 2021. However, he's much better suited for a reserve role. Then again, his leadership skills are second to none, which is why he was named team captain last year.
Taking the fourth spot at safety is Daniel Thomas. Although the former Auburn Tiger hasn't gotten much playing time on defense the past two years, he's carved a niche on special teams. The Jags valued his contributions so much that they brought him back on a two-year deal.
If the Jaguars decide to carry five safeties in 2024, the last spot could go to either undrafted rookie Josh Proctor or sophomore Erick Hallet II.
On a related note, the Jaguars signed Darnell Savage in the offseason. This is noteworthy because the former first-round pick mostly played safety for the Green Bay Packers but also played nickel at times. In Jacksonville, he'll tentatively man the slot but could move to safety if the injury bug strikes.
Quarterback is a strength for the Jaguars
As important as the quarterback position is to succeed in today's NFL, the backup is equally important. You can have an elite passer but if he goes down with injury, you'd better hope the second-stringer will keep the team afloat for as long as the starter is gone. In the Jaguars' case, it looks like they're set.
Trevor Lawrence is just coming off a somewhat unremarkable season but the Jaguars know that he's their guy, so they rewarded him with a contract that makes him one of the highest-paid passers in the league. With Lawrence in the fold, Jacksonville should be the favorite to dethrone the Houston Texans as the AFC South champions in 2024.
But if Lawrence misses time * knocks on wood *, the Jags acquired a competent backup in Mac Jones. Like Steezy Trev, Jones was a first-round pick in 2021 and made the Pro Bowl as a rookie. However, he regressed the past two seasons and was benched several times. By the end of 2023, the New England Patriots had seen enough of him and traded him to the Jags for just a measly sixth-round pick before the start of free agency.
Jones seems to be enjoying his time in Duval and is making the most out of it. There's a strong chance he'll leave in 2025, so he'll do as much as he can to rebuild his stock next season. That means making the most of every rep he gets in training camp and the preseason, so if his number is called, he's ready to go.
But if the Jaguars endured bad injury luck in 2024 and lost Lawrence and Jones, they could resort to C.J. Beathard. While he's not a starting-caliber quarterback, he could come in a couple games and avoid enough mistakes to help the Jaguars win. He did that last year, coming close to upsetting the Cincinnati Bengals. Later in the season, he won a game against the Carolina Panthers while Lawrence sat out the matchup.
With Jones in the mix, Beathard will now be QB3. All things considered, the Jags have a solid trio at quarterback.