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4 grave offseason mistakes the Jacksonville Jaguars must avoid in 2024

• The Jaguars must avoid a handful of scenarios in the offseason if they want to bounce back from a disappointing end to the 2023 season.

By Carlos Sanchez

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) is helped up by center Luke Fortner (79) after
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) is helped up by center Luke Fortner (79) after / Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA
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2. The Jaguars must sort out the interior offensive line

This is an extension of the previous entry. The Jaguars couldn't get Trevor Lawrence adequate protection or get the running game going because the interior offensive line was ill-prepared. While center Luke Fortner should be commended for playing every single offensive snap each of the last two seasons, he hasn't improved as much as the Jaguars would've liked since they made him a third-round pick in 2022.

As former NFL general manager Mike Tannenbaum says, the center touches the ball on every single play, so teams must ensure they have a good one. The Jaguars don't and making upgrades to the position should be at the top of their to-do list. Whether they go for a vested veteran such as Andre James or Aaron Brewer in free agency, or draft someone like Jackson Powers-Johnson, the Jaguars cannot go into the regular season with Luke Fortner as the starter.

On top of that, the Jaguars will need to decide what to do at left guard. They can check off that box if they re-sign Ezra Cleveland. A second-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland arrived via trade last year. He was supposed to bring stability at left guard but injuries held him back. It's fair to think that he can bounce back and have an even bigger impact if the Jags give him a new deal. If they don't they'll have yet another hole to fill.

There's also veteran Brandon Scherff. Named team captain in back-to-back seasons, he's made 34 consecutive starts at right guard since joining the Jaguars in 2022. Scherff is entering the last year of his contract and is set to have a massive hit of $22 million next season. By releasing him, the team's brass could free up $9 million in space.

At 32, Scherff may have a few years left in him but he's dealt with injuries the past two years. The Jags could roll the dice and bring him back or cut him and add a new starter at right guard. The bottom line is that the Jaguars must address all three positions on the interior offensive line. If they don't, they'll once again struggle to set the tone at the line of scrimmage.

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