It won’t be that long before NFL Network begins their Top-100 Players show on July 22, which is certain to have at least two members of the Jacksonville Jaguars on it. However, if the anticipation is killing you, our comrade Doug Farrar made a top-100 list of his own for Touchdown Wire, which included three Jaguars in defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, cornerback Jalen Ramsey and defensive lineman Calais Campbell.
Here’s what he had to say about all three players, as well as our thoughts on their listing:
64. Yannick Ngakoue, edge rusher, Jacksonville Jaguars
By: Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire
A third-round pick out of Maryland in 2016, Ngakoue didn’t generate a lot of buzz in his draft class, but he’s become one of the premier edge defenders in the NFL over the last three seasons. He dealt with an ankle injury in 2018, but that didn’t stop his production — he totaled 64 pressures, with 10 sacks, 24 quarterback hits and 30 quarterback hurries, along with 14 tackles, five assists and 21 stops.
Ngakoue works very well in conjunction with Calais Campbell in packages that put Campbell inside the tackle and Ngakoue outside, but it doesn’t really matter who’s around him. Ngakoue makes life very difficult for enemy blockers with a ridiculously fast first step, and at 6-2 and 246 pounds, he’s got more power to push with a bull rush than you might imagine. He’s also improved as a run defender in every year of his career — a dynamite inside counter might have something to do with that — and he should continue to become one of the league’s most dangerous guys on the outside.
Ngakoue recently held out of OTAs because he wants a second contract, and he’s earned that. He’s slated to make a bit over $2 million in his fourth professional season, and he deserves far more.
56. Jalen Ramsey, CB, Jacksonville Jaguars
By: Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire
Jacksonville’s defense fell off last season from a championship course, going from first in Football Outsiders’ opponent-adjusted metrics in 2017 to sixth in 2018. The buy-in didn’t seem to be what it was before, and schematic issues seemed to pop up more than expected. Still, the Jaguars’ outside cornerbacks—Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye—were strong for the most part, and Ramsey maintained a lockdown style for the most part, allowing 53 catches on 97 targets for 749 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Ramsey will always be a boom-and-bust player because he’s so aggressive, but when he’s playing on point, he’s very hard to deal with. Few cornerbacks in the league have his combination of length, quickness, and downfield speed.
26. Calais Campbell, edge rusher, Jacksonville Jaguars
Edge rushers tend to fall off in consistency and productivity when they hit their 30s, but Campbell didn’t get the memo. He’ll be 33 years old when the 2019 season starts, but his two years in Jacksonville (after nine seasons in Arizona) have been as productive as any in his career. In 2018, he was good for 53 total pressures, 11 sacks, 11 quarterback hits and 31 hurries. Stout against the run as well, he compiled 50 tackles, 12 assists and 56 stops, which led all edge defenders.
At 6-8 and 300 pounds, Campbell’s ability to stay at the top of his profession is even rarer because he doesn’t have the typical edge rusher’s frame. He’s fast enough to get around the edge to the quarterback, but it’s his pure strength, technique and understanding of timing and tempo off the snap that make him special. The way he (No. 93) throws Texans right tackle Kendall Lamm (No. 74) out of the club on his way to a sack of Deshaun Watson is a perfect example.
Campbell is great off the edge, but he can also create pressure from the three-technique and nose tackle positions. He’s especially effective when aligned on the same side as fellow pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue in a package the Jaguars should use more often.
Our thoughts
The rankings of Campbell and Ngakoue are pretty accurate in my opinion. On NFL Network’s Top-100 Players list for 2018, Ngakoue was ranked No. 88, and although Farrar’s list is a completely different one, it’s proof that the nation is beginning to recognize the fourth-year pass rusher over time. That said, the No. 64 spot isn’t all that bad for Ngakoue, who got off to a slow start in 2018 with teams keying in on him, but eventually found his way to the quarterback.
As for Ramsey, the No. 56 spot isn’t a terrible ranking when considering 2018 wasn’t as strong as 2017 for him, but I think he should’ve still been ranked inside of the top-40 mark somewhere. As Farrar said, schematical issues surfaced throughout the season and most would say Todd Wash should’ve utilized more man coverage to better suit his strengths. Still, allowing just 53 catches on 97 targets for 749 yards and two touchdowns isn’t a bad season by any means.
