No player goes into the NFL hoping they'll get the bust label but plenty of them will ultimately get it. That's the nature of the business. Whether it's injuries or infectiveness, some players will simply fail to live up to expectations. The Jacksonville Jaguars know this firsthand, having brought in their fair share of disappointments the past ten years.
Granted, some players need time to hit their stride, but there's a point at which teams can no longer wait for them. In the Jaguars' case, they have a few you could safely call busts and fans will nod in agreement. This list will take a look at four such players.
For the sake of fairness, running back Tank Bigsy and tight end Brenton Strange didn't make the cut. As underwhelming as they were last year, they deserve the benefit of the doubt before they get the dreaded bust label. So which Jaguars players have left no doubt and can be safely dubbed flops? The next four get the nod.
4. Chad Muma, linebacker
Teams usually draft players in Rounds 3 and 4 with the expectation that they'll eventually become starters or impact contributors. That hasn't been the case with linebacker Chad Muma. Having drafted Devin Lloyd in the first round, the Jags had no need for another linebacker but still double-dipped at the position and took Muma in the third round.
At the time, Muma was seen as a value pick, having slid despite the fact that he was one of the top linebacker prospects in 2022. However, he's not done much of note during his stint with the Jaguars, starting four games and tallying 62 tackles. In his defense, he's behind Lloyd and veteran Foyesade Oluokun, but if he showed enough in practice, the coaching staff would've found a way to give him more playing time. That hasn't been the case.
It hasn't all been bad though. Muma flashed as a rookie in relief of Lloyd but he returned to the sidelines after getting hurt. The issue was that he should've been better in his sophomore campaign but he wasn't. He was called upon, he was a liability in coverage and run defense. While there's a chance he could make a leap in Year 3, nobody will bat an eye if he doesn't.
3. Luke Fortner, center
Progress isn't linear, and that's true in pretty much every field. In the NFL, players could show progress, then regress, and later get back on track. But in Luke Fortner's case, he hasn't simply shown enough over the last two seasons to make you think he'll eventually put it all together.
A third-round pick in 2022, Fortner was a Day 1 starter as a rookie and was the only Jaguars player who's played every possible offensive snap the past two years. But as commendable as that achievement is, he's a big reason the offensive line struggled to protect Trevor Lawrence in 2023.
Routinely overpowered at the line of scrimmage, the former Kentucky Wildcat gave up 28 total pressures and three sacks last year. Similarly, he struggled as a run blocker, registering a subpar Pro Football Focus grade of 40.0 in that department.
The only reason Fortner might've stayed in the starting lineup was that the Jaguars didn't have any better options available. That should change this offseason. Ideally, the team's brass will use an early-round pick to find his potential replacement (Jackson Powers-Johnson anyone?). They could also sign a veteran like Andre James or Aaron Brewer in free agency.
But if Jacksonville doesn't want to pour many resources into the position (they should), they need to at least bring in someone to compete with Foster for the center job. Either way, he isn't suited for a starting role at this stage of his career. The sooner the Jaguars come to terms with it, the faster they'll be able to upgrade the center position.
2. Folorunso Fatukaski, defensive tackle
You could argue that defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi doesn't deserve to be on the list because he wasn't drafted by the Jaguars and instead joined them via free agency. However, a player isn't just a bust because he doesn't live up to his draft billing. He could also get the moniker because he signed a top-market contract and his production doesn't match his salary.
In Fatukasi's case, he was one of many free agents Jacksonville brought in 2022 that helped them win the AFC South and make the playoffs that year. Having signed a three-year deal worth $30 million he was supposed to collapse the pocket and clog up running lanes. However, he's struggled to fill his role since his arrival. Although he's stayed relatively healthy during his stint in Jacksonville, he's dealt with several injuries that might've affected his performance.
But even when he's been at 100 percent, Fatusaki has not had an impact, registering 48 total tackles and 1.5 sacks in 30 games. In his defense, he's not expected to have high sack totals but rather take on blocks so his teammates can make plays. Unfortunately, he's been unable to do so on a consistent basis. The former UConn Husky hasn't been much better against the run, posting Pro Football Focus grades of 43.4 and 60.7 in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
The bottom line is that the Jaguars haven't gotten enough bang for their buck when it comes to Fatukasi. The fact that he's set to make $12.7 million in 2024 and the team's brass would only free up $3.5 million makes his lack of impact even more disappointing.
1. K'Lavon Chassion, edge rusher
Former Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell had plenty of misses during his eight-year tenure. And no player may exemplify his failure to identify talent than edge rusher K'Lavon Chaisson. In fact, he's arguably one of the team's biggest busts the past five years. Now, Chaisson didn't choose to go to Jacksonville. That falls on Caldwell and the front office. That said, there's a point in which players must hold themselves accountable for their failure to contribute.
In Chaisson's case, he was the 20th overall pick in the 2020 draft. That in itself put plenty of pressure on his shoulders to deliver but even if he hadn't been a first-round selection, he didn't have many things going in his favor as a rookie. For starters, he was expected to play with his hand in the ground after mostly rushing the passer from a standup position at LSU.
Also, working against Chaisson was that he wasn't originally projected to be part of the Jaguars' rotation. Behind Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue, he was going to have a chance to hone his skills. Unfortunately, he was pressed into a featured role when Campbell and Ngakoue were traded in the offseason. To nobody's surprise, the player known as Swiper was underwhelming as a rookie, registering one measly sack and 29 pressures.
Chaisson returned to his preferred two-point stance in 2021 but he once again failed to make an impact. Then, head coach Doug Pederson arrived the following year, and he got a clean slate. Again, he was unable to seize the opportunity and saw his playing time decreased. Having had a minimal impact in his first three seasons, he had his fifth-year option declined.
But because the Jags had no options, Chaisson was their No. 3 pass rusher behind Josh Allen and Tavon Walker in 2023. While he posted a career-best two sacks, he was, for the most part, a non-factor.
Heading into free agency, it's possible that Chaisson's disappointing stint in Jacksonville. If that's the way things will end, you can go ahead and discuss his name in the same breath as Taven Bryan, and Luke Joeckel.