When/if the Jacksonville Jaguars take the field in 2020, they will look significantly different than the team fans saw in 2019 due to a great deal of turnover. The reason for that is because they needed to reallocate money, with several aging veterans eating up their salary cap.
Despite the steep contracts the Jags had on their roster, the last two seasons were lackluster as they registered a 5-11 record in 2018 and a 6-10 record last season. Clearly, a new direction was needed to change their luck.
Now, after retooling and acquiring a variety of starters this offseason, the team will need a lot of their new acquisitions to perform well heading forward. Here are three in particular that we think can change their fortunes this season:
Joe Schobert
Since Paul Posluszny left, things haven’t felt the same in terms of the Jags having a defensive field general. Things haven’t felt the same in the locker room, either. That’s exactly why Joe Schobert’s addition was huge for the Jags in free agency.
With the standard Posluszny set for leading the Jags on and off the field being so high, fans shouldn’t expect him to be exactly what Posluszny was. However, he has started in 49 games and played in 61 in the AFC North, which means he’s seen a lot of quality opponents. That will definitely be valuable as he puts the Jags’ defense in position while also giving them a little more in coverage than Posluszny could.
In the end, Schobert’s signing could be significant for getting the Jags’ defense back to what it was, especially when considering all of the young players they will have on the unit.
K’Lavon Chaisson
While C.J. Henderson was the Jags’ first pick of April’s draft, hardly ever do cornerbacks change a team’s fortunes, though they can be very impactful like Jalen Ramsey. The Jags’ second first round selection, K’Lavon Chaisson, can though and there is proof all over the league (Von Miller, Aaron Donald, J.J. Watt, etc.)
Sure, it appears as though Josh Allen is on the path to being “the guy” for the Jags, but we’ll have to see if he can follow up the success from his rookie season (which most are optimistic about). Still, even in a case where Allen is the next Donald or Miller, that doesn’t mean Chaisson can’t be good alongside him. A prime example is the impact that Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis had as a duo for the Indianapolis Colts.
As for Chaisson, he has the tools and is as athletic as they come. Many have compared his abilities to those of Aldon Smith, which would be huge for the Jags.
Laviska Shenault Jr.
This is a similar situation to Chaisson’s and Allen’s as Laviska Shenault Jr. will be paired with D.J. Chark Jr. If they can pan out together, that would be a big plus for the Jags’ future and offense. This is something Jags fans have personally seen in the past with Keenan McCardell and Jimmy Smith as well as Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns.
We already know what Chark can do as he proved to be one of the league’s best deep threats. However, in 2019 it was clear he needed another star to play on the outside alongside him. Shenault, who the Jags selected in the second round of April’s draft, is someone the Jags feel can clearly be that.
Shenault was arguably the most powerful receiver in the 2020 draft, playing on the outside, in the slot, and backfield for Colorado. It would be huge if he could be a threat for their offense when defenses focus on Chark. Simply put, in today’s NFL, it’s about having a variety of offensive weapons and the Super Bowl Champions in Kansas City are proof.
