5 X-factor who must show out for the Jaguars to make the playoffs in 2024

The Jacksonville Jaguars are looking to recapture the AFC South and return to the playoffs after failing to achieve both feats last year. To pull it off, they'll be leaning on proven veterans such as Trevor Lawrence and edge rusher Josh-Hines Allen. That said, the Jags will need a few other players to step up next year.

These are players who have flashed or are coming off an underwhelming season. Either way, all of them will need to dazzle if Jacksonville wants to bounce back in 2024. With that in mind, here are the team's biggest X-factors heading into the regular season.

DB Antonio Johnson is an X-factor for the Jaguars in 2024

Antonio Johnson was projected to be a first or second-round pick in last year's draft. However, he ended up going to the Jaguars in the fifth. Fast forward to 2024, and it looks like they got themselves a steal. Originally, the coaching staff wanted the East St. Louis, Illinois native to solely line up at safety but it wasn't long before they started experimenting with him at nickel.

Although a hamstring injury forced Johnson to miss four games to start 2023, he showed the ability to make plays as soon as he got playing time, registering two interceptions, one forced fumble, and three passes defensed. Early on, he got a modest amount of snaps in the slot but displaced incumbent Tre Herndon by the end of the year.

Having shown his playmaking prowess as a rookie, Johnson has now moved to safety. He'll replace last year's starter, Rayshawn Jenkins, next to Andre Cisco in the defensive backfield.

Johnson most definitely has what it takes to thrive in a featured role. Having said that, it's fair to wonder if his strong finish to 2023 will carry over into his sophomore campaign.

RB Tank Bigsby is an X-factor for the Jaguars in 2024

Unlike most of the players on this list, sophomore Tank Bigsby won't start in 2024. That said, he'll be thrust into a bigger role in their backfield rotation. A third-round pick in last year's draft, the former Auburn Tiger was slated to take on some of Travis Etienne's workload. Unfortunately, that's not the way things played out.

Bigsby struggled throughout most of his rookie campaign and was phased out in favor of D'Ernest Johnson by the end of 2023. But as unremarkable as he was, he didn't lose the team's confidence in him. In fact, they expect him to have a big impact next season. So far, he's rewarded that trust with a promising preseason.

If Bigsby does become the Jaguars expected, he'll wear down defenses and Etienne will stay fresh, which will in turn lead to better performances and a more balanced running game.

OG Ezra Cleveland is an X-factor for the Jaguars in 2024

Offensive linemen don't get the spotlight unless they're truly remarkable or they mess up. Either way, they're as important as other players to a team's success. Not surprisingly, the Jaguars chose to keep 10 big ones, as general manager Trent Baalke likes to call offensive linemen, in their initial 53-man roster. One who's under pressure to deliver is Ezra Cleveland.

Cleveland, a second-round pick in 2020, made 49 consecutive starts for the Minnesota Vikings dating back to his rookie season. However, a foot sprain put an end to the streak. But despite being hurt, Jacksonville traded for him midseason. The plan was for the former Boise State Bronco to solidify the left guard spot but he was unable to do it because he wasn't truly healthy.

Still, Baalke saw him as a building piece in the trenches, so he gave Cleveland a three-year deal worth $24 million in free agency. Now, the Washington native will need to prove that last year was an outlier and not a sign of things to come.

DE Travon Walker is an X-factor for the Jaguars in 2024

Having drafted Trevor Lawrence the year prior, Jacksonville chose to bet on Travon Walker's massive upside with the top overall pick in 2022. So far, they've gotten mixed results. The former Georgia Bulldog had a quiet rookie campaign, but that was mostly the result of playing standup linebacker full-time after mostly playing with his hand in the ground in college.

But once Walker got acclimated to his new position, he became the game-wrecker the Jags expected, registering 10 sacks last year. He'll now return to his preferred three-point stance in Ryan Nielsen's defense. Add the arrival of defensive tackle Arik Armstead, who'll command pressure inside, and the Thomaston native is poised to have a breakout season in 2024 and once and for all prove that the Jaguars were right to pass on Aidan Hutchinson.

WR Brian Thomas Jr. is an X-factor for the Jaguars in 2024

The Jaguars drafted Brian Thomas Jr. to fill the void left by wide receiver Calvin Ridley when he bolted for the Tennessee Titans in free agency. Even though it's a daunting task, especially for a rookie, the former LSU Tiger has proven that he's up to the challenge.

Thomas had a promising offseason and followed it up with an even better training camp. He was then able to showcase his playmaking skills against other teams in the preseason. The Louisiana native passed the test with flying colors, making a head-turning play in each of the three matchups.

That was the preseason, though. Thomas must now prove that he can be a deep threat and open things up on the Jaguars offense. In fact, it's not hyperbole to say that he could be the missing piece that could propel Jacksonville back into the playoffs and maybe even to the AFC Championship.

Does it sound like a tall order? Probably, but that's why they drafted him, and heading into the 2024 season, it looks like Thomas is ready to roll.

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