Analyst rightly sets high expectations for Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024

After a disappointing end to the 2023 season, owner Shad Khan has made it clear he expects big things from the Jacksonville Jaguars moving forward. Rightly so, as he's made a massive investment in the team the past few years. So what kind of expectations should the owner set for the Jags in 2024? Adam Rank of NFL Media recently weighed in.

In his State of the Franchise series, Rank says 2024 will be a success for Jacksonville if they make a playoff run, noting that as recently as 2022, they gave the Kansas City Chiefs fits in the divisional round.

"Many people don't seem to remember that the Jaguars were giving the Chiefs all they could handle in the 2022 Divisional Round; they had a real chance to win that one on the road. I know last season ended on an exceptionally deflating note. Again, though, we shouldn't ignore that Jacksonville finished with a winning record. If the Jaguars can cut down on the turnovers and improve a bit defensively, they figure to be back in the playoff picture -- and don't be surprised if they prove to be a tough out in the postseason."

After making the playoffs and winning the AFC South in 2022, the Jags were seen as a Super Bowl sleeper last year. They went 8-3 to start the season but managed to win just one of their last six games. Looking back, several factors played a role in the team's collapse.

For starters, general manager Trent Baalke failed to adequately address the roster in the offseason, leaving a handful of needs unaddressed. Injuries also played a role. But it wasn't until Trevor Lawrence was hampered by injuries that the team faltered.

The silver lining is that the top brass got to work after the season ended. They revamped the coaching staff and took care of most needs in the offseason. For that reason, anything short of qualifying for the postseason will be considered a failure.

Working against the Jags, the AFC South got considerably tougher. The Texans remain the team to beat and the return of Anthony Richardson from a shoulder injury should reinvigorate the Indianapolis Colts. On top of that, the Tennessee Titans made enough additions in free agency that should help him compete week in and week out even though they're in rebuilding mode.

The Jaguars must make a deep playoff run, win AFC South, despite tough road ahead

Besides locking up franchise cornerstones such as Trevor Lawrence and Josh Allen, Shad Khan has spared no expense to ensure their players have the best facilities. After building Miller Electric Center, the owner, in partnership with the City of Jacksonville, will spend $1.4 billion in renovations to EverBank Stadium.

While he's proven to be a patient owner, Khan knows it's time for the Jaguars to take the next step and become a perennial contender. He has the right people in place to make it happen, but more importantly, the roster has enough talent to pull it off.

The Jags have a franchise quarterback in Trevor Lawrence and he's got enough weapons at his disposal to keep up with the scoring powerhouses in the NFL. The defense also has playmakers at all three levels. That should be more than enough for head coach Doug Pederson to make a playoff push.

When you take into account that he showed he can go all the way with the Philadelphia Eagles, Pederson should feel plenty of heat if he comes up short in 2024. It may sound harsh but if he's previously accomplished the feat, what's stopping him from doing it again?

The truth is that the Jacksonville Jaguars are flying under the radar ahead of the 2024 season. But internally, expectations should be at an all-time high.

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