The Jacksonville Jaguars won't be letting the Houston Texans run away with the division for the second straight year in 2024. Right after the season ended, the team's brass looked back at all the issues that kept them out of the playoffs and fixed most of them. First, they revamped their coaching staff and later addressed several key needs in free agency.
On top of that, the Jags should be much healthier. While not the only reason, injuries played a huge role in the team's collapse to end 2024. If that wasn't enough, a handful of players who flashed last year should have a bigger impact next season, including the next four.
4. Antonio Johnson, defensive back
When the Jags released Rayshawn Jenkins, it seemed like Antonio Johnson was going to be the first in line to replace him. After all, Johnson lined up in the slot as a rookie but his natural position is safety, so it would've made sense to plug him in next to Andre Cisco. However, that plan has come to a halt, at least for now.
Jacksonville inked Darrell Savage in free agency and his three-year deal worth $21 million shows that he isn't getting paid to be a backup. Unless he plays nickel, he'll tentatively start next to Cisco come Week 1. That means Johnson will remain in the slot, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Even though Johnson may have a better chance of reaching his ceiling at safety, he held his own at nickel last year. Although the former Texas A&M Aggie missed time to start the season, he showed out once he was given a chance, registering two interceptions, one forced fumble, and three interceptions. He should be even better in Year 2.
The biggest reason to expect a leap from Johnson is that he'll play for defensive backs coach Kris Richard, who's routinely gotten the most out of his players. Under Richard's tutelage, the sophomore should be able to pick up where he left off last season, whether he plays safety or nickel.
3. Trevis Gipson, defensive end
The Jaguars were surprisingly active in free agency, sparing no expense to make upgrades to several position groups. While they didn't address their pass rush right away, they eventually inked defensive end Trevis Gipson to bolster their rotation.
A fourth-round pick by the Chicago Bears in 2020, Gipson flashed as a rookie but it wasn't until his second season that he turned heads, registering seven sacks and five forced fumbles. However, the Tusla product wasn't able to build on his sophomore campaign and took a step back in 2022, tallying a measly three sacks. One big reason for his regression is that he switched to standup linebacker after previously playing with his hand in the ground.
Gipson entered the 2023 offseason at the cellar of the depth chart, struggling to find his footing as an outside linebacker. He was waived before the start of the regular season and was quickly claimed by the Tennesse Titans. Unfortunately, the change of scenery didn't help the Texas native much, as he was a healthy scratch through most of the year.
If you believe that the third time is the charm, Gipson is poised to succeed in Jacksonville. Under defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, he'll line up in a three-point stance, where he's had the most success throughout his career.
When you add that Nielsen's area of expertise is the defensive line, there might not have been a better fit for Gipson to rebuild his stock than Jacksonville. The Jaguars, for their part, added depth behind Travon Walker and Josh Allen without having to break the bank.
2. Ezra Cleveland, guard
Is Ezra Cleveland underrated? He's certainly not an unknown commodity but it's fair to say that his first season in Duval didn't go the way he or the Jags envisioned. A second-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2020, Cleveland joined the starting lineup as a rookie and played 49 consecutive games before a foot sprain ended the streak. But despite the injury, the Jaguars traded for him at the 2023 deadline.
Unfortunately, Cleveland couldn't hit his stride in Jacksonville, mostly because of other injuries he suffered. The fact that he wasn't able to develop a rapport with his teammates didn't help matters. But despite his struggles, the Jags wanted to bring him back.
Set to become a free agent, Cleveland got a three-year deal worth $24 million to remain in Jacksonville. At first sight, it seemed like the front office overpaid for his services but it's easy to see why keeping him around was their priority. For starters, the former Boise State Bronco should be at full strength. Add the fact that he'll get to spend a full offseason with the Jaguars, and he will be in a position to bounce back in 2024.
1. Tank Bigsby, running back
There's no way to sugarcoat it, Tank Bigsby was underwhelming as a rookie. A third-round pick last year, Bigsby was expected to form a 1-2 punch at running back alongside Travis Etienne and wear defenses down as the game progressed. Unfortunately, things didn't go the way the team's brass hoped. In fact, his NFL debut was one he would surely like to forget.
In the opener, Bigsby was responsible for two turnovers. First, he couldn't reel in a pass that ended in the hands of cornerback Tony Brown. He later picked off a live ball that defensive end DeForest Buckner took away from him and returned it to the end zone for a defensive touchdown. Things didn't get much better the rest of the season.
Against the San Francisco 49ers, Bigsby once again couldn't secure a pass. And once again, it was picked off. Compounding the issue is that the former Auburn Tiger lost two fumbles in 2023. Not surprisingly he was bumped down the depth chart.
But despite his growing pains, the Jaguars' brass hasn't given up on Bigsby. Head coach Doug Pederson expects him to have a bigger impact in Year 2, and that's reasonable. Some of his mistakes were the result of sheer bad luck. Furthermore, he should be able to work on his fumbling woes. Granted, it's not an area of concern, but he needs to do a better job of holding onto the football if he wants to get playing time.
If Bigsby secures the football and leaves his rookie struggles in the past, he should be able to become the playmaker the Jaguars think he is. It would also help if he carries a rabbit's foot with him at all times. Just in case.