Jacksonville Jaguars ranked remarkably low for dearth of impact moves in offseason

The Jacksonville Jaguars entered the offseason in good shape, so they focused on fortifying their roster and adding depth to several positions groups instead of making blockbuster moves. Although the Jags are in a favorable position to return to the postseason and seize the AFC South, they didn't do nearly enough in the eyes of Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports.

Benjamin recently ranked all 32 NFL teams based on the moves they made in the offseason to improve. He placed Jacksonville at No. 27, pointing out that they couldn't keep offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor and defensive end Arden Key.

"Their big makeover came a year ago. Keeping TE Evan Engram is smart considering how effectively he emerged as a Trevor Lawrence outlet. Losing OT Jawaan Taylor and pass rusher Arden Key isn't ideal, but they also didn't necessarily need to match the price tag there. Keep in mind their biggest unofficial addition actually arrived during the 2022 campaign. WR Calvin Ridley, who's got the polish and speed to be a No. 1 alongside Christian Kirk. "

Although the Jaguars did lose Taylor, who signed a four-year deal worth $80 million with the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency, they have a more-than-adequate in-house replacement in Walker Little, who's flashed intriguing starting potential over the last two years. On top of that, they drafted Oklahoma offensive tackle Anton Harrison in Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft, so they're set in edges even though Cam Robinson will serve a suspension and miss games for violations to the league's performance-enhancing drug policy.

On the other hand, defensive end Arden Key's departure to the Tennessee Titans stung, as become a key cog of Jacksonville's pass-rush rotation last year. However, the team's brass has filled the void Key left with the addition of Yasir Abdullah in the draft. Although he might need a bit of time to hit his stride, he's a potential upgrade to Key.

The Jacksonville Jaguars had a fine offseason even if it lacked appeal

Giving a low mark to the Jaguars for not making more moves in the offseason even though they didn't need to is odd. Maybe they could get on the phone with the Arizona Cardinals and try to trade for defensive back Budda Baker but the truth is that they already have a handful of core contributors and there weren't many free agents that would have given Jacksonville a huge boost on either side of the ball.

Keep in mind that the Jaguars were facing a cap crunch in the offseason, so they knew they couldn't make many splash signings. That's not necessarily a bad thing though. Depth was an issue for the Jaguars last year but the front office took care of it in free agency and the draft. While injuries are a inherent part of the sport and clubs don't have control over them, the Jags are in a good position to withstand a few next season.

Overall, the Jacksonville Jaguars didn't have a flashy offseason but that won't hinder their chances of making noise in 2023. In fact, those low-key moves they made in free agency and the draft could help them get over the top in 2023.