4 Jacksonville Jaguars players who cannot afford to get complacent in 2023

No. 1 Jaguars player that can't get complacent: Rayshawn Jenkins, S

The Jaguars tried to revamp their roster in Urban Meyer's first (and last year) at the helm. Some of the players they signed went on become key contributors while others hardly moved the needle. There were also those who underperformed under Meyer but bounced back once Doug Pederson go the reins. One of those players was safety Rayshawn Jenkins who had a solid yet unspectacular first season with Jacksonville.

A fourth-round pick by the Los Angeles Chargers, Jenkins inked a four-year deal worth $35 million in 2021. When the Jags gave him that contract, they surely expected a dynamic safety that would make plays in the defensive backfield. Instead, they got a player that got ejected for punching an opposing wide receiver and didn't register a single big play.

Looking back, Jenkins deserves blame for his lack of impact in 2021 but the Jaguars' brass was also at fault for not putting him and other players in the position to succeed. This is why everyone got a clean slate when head coach Doug Pederson arrived and Jenkins made the most of it.

Not only did the former Miami Hurricane banner year but he played a huge role in a couple of wins. First, he had a walk-off pick-six against the Dallas Cowboys and later forced a fumble that outside linebacker Josh Allen returned for a touchdown to help Jacksonville beat the Tennesee Titans in the finale.

In retrospect, Jenkins was one of the Jaguars' most valuable players of the 2022 season, and they'll have a favorable chance of keeping a stronghold of the AFC South if he once again plays at a high level.

Here are other recent Jaguars stories you might also like: