The 2020 NFL season is projected to start as normal according to commissioner Roger Goodell and the Jacksonville Jaguars will look to surprise some of the doubters this season.
The fanbase has been awaiting the return of a successful Jaguars team since their deep playoff run in 2017. With anticipation high, here are some bold predictions for the Cardiac Cats for the 2020 season:
The Jaguars will outperform their projected win total
It appears that most pundits feel that winning will be very hard to come by for the Jags this season.
According to SportsLine’s computerized model on CBS Sports, the Jags are projected to finish the season with no more than five wins. The Jaguars finished with a 6-10 record in 2019, which exceeded expectations in a way.
My prediction is that the Jaguars will surpass even last year’s total and finish with a 7-9 record. While it won’t make the playoffs, it would surpass people’s expectations by a mile.
It would be a season similar to that in which the 2017 Buffalo Bills had as SportsLine predicted the Bills to finish with only seven wins before the season started. However, they would go on to finish 9-7 and secured their first playoff berth since 1999.
The talent is certainly there on the Jags’ roster. They had a well-received draft in which they selected former Florida Gators cornerback C.J. Henderson and Louisiana State edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson in the first-round. They also landed an incredible potential playmaker in Colorado receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. Some gems in the later rounds would involve offensive tackle Ben Bartch and defensive tackle Davon Hamilton.
From a free agency perspective, the Jaguars signed former Cleveland Browns Pro Bowl linebacker Joe Schobert, which filled a huge hole in the middle. The Jags also brought in former Cincinnati Bengals Pro Bowl tight end Tyler Eifert with hope that he can get back to his 2015 form where he scored 13 touchdowns on 615 receiving yards.
Things may not be so doom and gloom in Duval after all.
The Jaguars will have three players in the Pro Bowl again
While the win projections may not be so modest, there is still some sign of hope within the franchise. That hope could be in the form of another multiple player Pro Bowl year for the Jaguars.
Last season the Jaguars would finish 6-10 but would have a total of three players selected to the Pro Bowl. Wide receiver D.J. Chark had a highly successful season where he caught 73 balls for 1,008 to go along with eight touchdowns. That performance would earn him his very first Pro Bowl nod.
Another first-time Pro Bowler would be star edge rusher Josh Allen who would make the team as a rookie with his 10.5 sacks on the season. The last participant would be former Jaguars defensive lineman Calais Campbell, who was no stranger to the Pro Bowl having gone to four previously before the 2019 season.
My prediction is that the Jaguars will once again have three players in the Pro Bowl. Chark will have another Pro Bowl selection in his future as he has solidified himself as a true receiving threat. Josh Allen has a great opportunity to also repeat a trip to the Pro Bowl as he has all the potential to become the NFL’s next premier pass rusher. The third player who I believe could get a Pro Bowl nod is center Brandon Linder, who was a top-5 ranked center according to Pro Football Focus last season.
Gardner Minshew II will throw 30 touchdown passes and 4,000 or more passing yards
Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew II took the fan-base by storm with his electric personality and also some spectacular moments on the field.
Minshew would finish the season with 21 touchdowns and only six interceptions to go along with 3,271 passing yards in 14 games played and 12 started.
With a full season under his belt and a year of adapting to NFL defenses, Minshew should be even better in the 2020 season. He showed a lot of promise in the first five games of last season where he garnered nine touchdowns and only one interception with a 105.6 passer rating. If healthy, Minshew should easily surpass the 30 touchdown mark and improve from an already encouraging season thanks to the front office adding new receivers.
D.J. Chark will have a 1,000 yard and a ten touchdown season
This one isn’t outside the realm of possibilities as Chark has shown that he can be the NFL’s next breakout receiver. In just two years, he already has a 1,000 receiving yard season in only his second year in the league.
With the offense under the direction of new coordinator Jay Gruden, Chark could be poised for more looks as he displayed a great chemistry with Minshew and Gruden has shown to do well with young quarterbacks.
Russell S. Baxter from Fansided also believes that Chark could very well be the next great wideout:
“You get the sense that the 23-year-old pro is capable of even bigger things in 2020 and that could very well happen this year with new offensive coordinator Jay Gruden taking over for John DeFilippo.”
Time will only tell if Chark can replicate the same success as he did in 2019 but he certainly has the skill set and the quarterback to make it happen.
