With the 2020 NFL Draft being over for several weeks, we’ve had some time to soak in the rookie class the Jacksonville Jaguars were able to put together. After fixing things in terms of the salary cap, the team wisely made all 12 of their draft selections which could give them a solid nucleus if a majority of their picks pay off.
Needless to say, with Dave Caldwell’s and Doug Marrone’s jobs potentially being on the line, they will need their 2020 class to produce immediately just as their 2019 class did. That said, we came up with four bold predictions for the class (including some for their undrafted players, too) as they have the talent to be big contributors for the franchise if there is football this season.
C.J. Henderson acquires more picks than Jeff Okudah
Many scouts felt that C.J. Henderson was a better athlete than Jeff Okudah, though Okudah was clearly a better overall player. The comparison between the two will continue into their NFL careers as both were top-10 selections at the cornerback position.
When looking at the Jags’ schedule (ranked 22nd), it’s significantly easier than that Okudah will face as a rookie with the Detroit Lions (ranked fifth). It’s easy to see why as he’ll be tested early in his career facing receivers Davante Adams, Allen Robinson, and Adam Thielen twice in 2020 and will have to deal with the elite receivers from the NFC South in Julio Jones, Mike Evans, and Michael Thomas.
Meanwhile, Henderson could face up to two rookie quarterbacks in Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, and Joe Burrow. He’ll also have Josh Allen and K’Lavon Chaisson wreacking havoc in the trenches and presenting him ample opportunities to snag some picks during his rookie season.
When the 2020 season is over, I could see Henderson snagging approximately four picks while Okudah may be off by one or two due to the experienced quarterbacks and receivers he’ll face.
K’Lavon Chaisson has a more productive rookie season than Yannick Ngakoue did
The Jags’ future with Yannick Ngakoue is uncertain so the team drafted K’Lavon Chaisson with the No. 20 overall pick. Most tend to think it’s a strong possibility Ngakoue won’t sign the franchise tender and suit up. If that ends up being the case, it should set up Chaisson for some solid production.
While many will question his ability to play a full season, Chaisson would give the Jags a better athlete on the field than Ngakoue if he can stay healthy. He’s also a player who holds the point of attack better and can help more against the run although his primary job should be to get to the passer.
When putting together all of these factors, Chaisson could have a better rookie season than Ngakoue did (23 tackles, eight sacks, a pick, and four forced fumbles). With him set to see some time at SAM linebacker, defensive end, and in coverage (potentially), he could total in the range of 25 to 40 tackles, and maybe even tie Ngakoue’s rookie forced fumble number. It also wouldn’t exactly be a shocker if Chaisson hit 8.5 to nine sacks on the season as the Jags have big plans for him while using more 3-4 looks.
Laviska Shenault Jr. with be a top-5 receiver in YAC/receptions average
When popping in the tape, Laviska Shenault’s bread and butter was clearly his ability to gain yards after the catch. With running back caliber strength and a physical style of play, he was hard to bring down during his time in Colorado. In fact, he averaged 7.6 yards after the catch, and according to Pro Football Focus, he broke a tackle for every 3.73 catches.
The aforementioned figures indicate that Shenault will do a lot of the dirty work for the Jags and coach Marrone has even hinted at him getting snaps from multiple positions. That could put him in line to be a top-5 receiver in terms of his YAC average in 2020 if he can stay healthy.
Per Next Gen Stats, three rookies led the league in their YAC/receptions category in 2019. Those rookies were A.J. Brown (8.8), Deebo Samuel (8.5), and Noah Fant (8.5). That said, it isn’t farfetched to think that Shenault could have similar success.
Collin Johnson will be the Jags’ go-to red zone threat at receiver
The Jags had issues getting into the red zone last year, converting just 40.4% of their attempts. That was a figure good for 31st in the league with only the Pittsburgh Steelers (35%) below them.
So how can they fix this issue? With a 6-foot-6, 222-pound target like fifth-round selection Collin Johnson, that’s how.
With such an abysmal figure, the Jags will almost certainly be better in the red zone. That should especially be the case with Jay Gruden becoming their new offensive coordinator. During his last three seasons in Washington, the Redskins were able to average red zone percentages of 48.8% or higher, significantly better than the Jags. That said, he may stress Minshew utilizing Johnson during training camp sessions as he possesses the ability to put balls that only his guys can get to.
Don’t be surprised to see Johnson register 10-13 red zone targets in 2020 and four to five touchdowns in the process.
Undrafted safety J.R. Reed becomes a starter
Many feel that fifth-round selection Daniel Thomas could replace Jarrod Wilson as a starter on defense and I definitely agree that it’s possible. The veteran hasn’t been a bad player by any means, however, he also hasn’t made a lot of impact plays. That could cause the staff to see what Thomas brings to the table.
Unfortunately, Thomas’ addition has caused many to overlook another talented safety in Georgia’s J.R. Reed, who was a leader for one of college football’s best defenses in 2019. While there he was a player who flourished due to never being out of place and it earned him overall grades of 89.0 and 81.0 during his last two seasons in red and black, per Pro Football Focus.
If the Jags’ staff could get him to be more of a reactor, Wilson may want to look out because the team would then have one heck of a player and someone who could replace him in the lineup. The preseason would be the perfect place to make that case as the Jags will face some respectable teams.
Undrafted RB James Robinson makes the final 53-man roster
Like J.R. Reed, running back James Robinson is one of many undrafted players who the Jags were fortunate to land as he also was a draftable prospect. While at Illinois State, he garnered Associated Press All-American and all-conference honors after acquiring 364 carries (an FCS high) for 1,917 rushing yards (5.3 average), and 18 touchdowns on the ground. Those figures were good enough to get the team to the 2019 FCS quarterfinals where they lost to North Dakota State.
If there is a preseason, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Robinson get a lot of carries and flourishing. After all, he’s used to being a lead rusher for his squad and at 5-foot-9, 219-pounds, his bruising style could catch the eyes of the coaching staff and earn him a roster spot.
