Jaguars WR corps get shockingly low spot in PFF 2023 ranking

The Jacksonville Jaguars signed wide receivers Zay Jones and Christian Kirk last year and both of them went on to post career numbers. However, the Jags thought their offense could still use more firepower, so they also traded for Calvin Ridley. Heading into the 2023 season, Jacksonville has one of the most talented wide receiver corps in the league but Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus doesn't think it's one of the top 10.

Sikkema ranked all 32 receiving rooms in the league and placed the Jaguars at No. 16, noting that they got much better after the Urban Meyer debacle and the addition of Ridley should make the offense keep trending up.

"The Jaguars made a big turnaround from the Urban Meyer disaster in just one season, winning the division and making the playoffs. they followed that up by getting even better on offense by adding Calvin Ridley to a room that already had Christian Kirk, Evan Engram, and Zay Jones. The last time Ridley suited up for a full season (2020), he earned an 84.7 receiving grade and went over 1,300 receiving yards. "

As Sikkema noted, Ridley posted pretty good numbers in the last full season he played. Following his suspension for betting in football games, the Alabama product showed up at offseason workouts in great shape, both physically and mentally. His addition to the offense will allow Kirk to line up in the slot, where he's the most effective.

There's also Zay Jones, a 2015 second-round pick who had previously flashed playmaking skills but hadn't put it all together. In his first season for the Black and Teal, the former East Carolina Pirate posted career highs in receptions (82) and targets (823). Even after the addition of Ridley, he should be able to put up similar numbers in 2023.

While there's not much depth behind the starting trio of Jones, Kirk, and Ridley, there are some intriguing options. Tim Jones could make strides after hardly making noise last season. Similarly, Parker Washington is an intriguing rookie talent with the skillset to thrive in the slot. Last but not least is return specialist Jamal Agnew, who has created big plays on offense when called upon.

The Jaguars have a top 5 wide receiver corps in the NFL for 2023

Is it hyperbole to say that the Jags have one of the best wide receiver units in the league? Perhaps to those that haven't followed them closely over the last two years and that's fair. The Jaguars didn't give the national media many reasons to get ample coverage in the past but things are different now. So which teams got a higher spot in Sikemma's ranking? Let's take a look:

• Baltimore Ravens
• Los Angeles Rams
• Los Angeles Chargers
• Kansas City Chiefs
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Buffalo Bills
• Las Vegas Raiders
• Minnesota Vikings
• Dallas Cowboys
• Seattle Seahawks
• San Francisco 49ers
• Miami Dolphins
• Philadelphia Eagles
• Cincinnati Bengals

The Baltimore Ravens landed at No. 15 due to the presence of Odell Beckham Jr., Rashod Bateman Jr., and rookie Zay Flowers Jr. Beckham last played in Super Bowl 56 and spent 2022 recovering from an ACL injury. Bateman has his work cut out before he proves he's a good WR2 or even a No. 1. Meanwhile, Flowers hasn't played a down yet. Nevertheless, Sikkema thinks they're better than the Jaguars, and you could make the case for most of the teams in the top 15, with a few exceptions.

The Philadelphia Eagles (No. 2), for example, are stacked at wide receiver. the same is true for the Cincinnati Bengals (No. 1), and the Miami Dolphins. (No. 3) These three clubs deserve their respective places at the top of the ranking but the same can't be said about clubs like the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs. Both of them have weapons at receiver but not nearly as many as Jacksonville.

In the end, it's up to the Jacksonville Jaguars to prove they have one of the best wide receiver units. In the meantime, you can bookmark this post and come back at the end of the 2023 season the see whether Sikkema got it right. Maybe this writer is the one that's overhyping the Jaguars and their receiver corps. Time will tell.