Jaguars announce 5 team captains for 2024: 1 new player gets the nod, 2 return

The Jacksonville Jaguars checked off a crucial box for the 2024 NFL season when they announced their team captains. They will have five in total. Two of them made the cut last year, two previously earned the distinction and there's one who got the nod for the first time in his career.

Trevor Lawrence is a team captain for the fourth straight season. He's got the honor every year since Jacksonville drafted him first overall in 2021. For his part, linebacker Foyesade Oluokun earned his third consecutive distinction since he signed with the Jags as a free agent in 2022.

Punter Logan Cooke was first named team captain in 2022. This is the second nod he gets in his career. On the other hand, edge rusher Josh Hines-Allen got honor once again after not getting it the past two years. He earned it back in 2020 and 2021.

The fifth captain is Evan Engram. This is the first time in his career, dating back to his stint with the New York Giants, in which the former Ole Miss rebel gets such a prestigious distinction.

Right guard Brandon Scherff was team captain the past two seasons but isn't in 2024. Safety Andrew Wingard also got the nod in 2023.

Players select team captains, generally because of their impact on and off the field. The Jaguars have had five every year during head coach Doug Pederson's tenure in Jacksonville.

All 5 Jaguars' captains were deserving of the distinction

While there were several players worthy of the distinction naming too many players team captain would water down the importance. Think about it, if everyone is a captain, nobody really is. Back in 2020, the Jacksonville Jaguars had eight captains. They had seven the following year. Simply, that's too many.

All things considered, all the players who got the nod were deserving of it. Doug Pederson says Trevor Lawrence has embraced his leadership role even more than he has in previous years. Josh Hines-Allen said in the offseason that he had taken a step back but was looking forward to having a bigger impact off the field.

Like Hines-Allen, Logan Cooke is one of the team's longest-tenured players, so it makes sense that he's well-respected around the locker room. Lastly, Evan Engram was previously seen as a talented but inconsistent player when he was with the Giants. He's turned the corner since landing in Jacksonville.

On the other hand, nobody would've batted an eye if defensive tackle Arik Armstead had been named team captain. A 10-year veteran, the former Oregon Duck saw everything and even made the Super Bowl twice during his time with the San Francisco 49ers. He's the kind of player who's always looking to help the younger guys.

The same is true for Mitch Morse, who signed with the Jags in free agency. A second-round pick in 2015, the former Mizzou Tiger is now playing for his third team. During the offseason, he was providing guidance to other players on the offensive line.

Ultimately, Jaguars players believed the five players they chose were the most deserving of their honor. Having checked off that box, they can now turn their attention to their matchup against the Miami Dolphins in Week 1 of the regular season.

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