4 catastrophes the Jacksonville Jaguars must avoid during the 2023 season

Catastrophe 2: The Jaguars don't get much production from their pass rush rotation

Pass rush was seen as one of the Jaguars' biggest needs in the offseason but they didn't do much to address it besides drafting Tyler Lacy and Yasir Abdulla in Rounds 4 and 5, respectively. The fact that defensive end Arden Key crossed enemy lines and signed with the Tennessee Titans didn't help matters.

Key could line up at several positions on the Jaguars' defense. That flexibility allowed the coaching staff to deploy him in different ways, which in turn helped his teammates find more favorable matchups. The Jags are counting on Abdulla and Lacy to lessen the impact of Key's departure but they might need time before they're ready to contribute. This wouldn't necessarily be a cause of concern if outside linebackers Josh Allen and Travon Walker were proven commodities but they both have room for improvement.

Make no mistake, Allen is Jacksonville's most talented edge rusher but he needs to put up better numbers in 2023. Similarly, Walker showed flashes as a rookie but he needs to make a leap in Year 2 if the Jaguars want to consistently bring the heat up front.

On the bright side, Allen and Walker are entering their second year in defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell's system. That should help them improve and have a bigger impact next season. If the pass rush doesn't show progress in training camp, the Jags might need to look for outside help but that's something they'd rather avoid. Instead, they're expecting their young players to hit their start as soon as possible but until further notice, the pass rush remains a question mark.