With the Super Bowl behind us, teams are forced to move on from the 2022 season and look towards 2023. In a series of articles, we will recap the past season, and look at how teams are positioned at their skill positions for next September.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Current Available Cap Space: $10.442 Million (per Spotrac)
Upcoming Draft Picks – 1st (24th), 2nd (56th), 3rd (88th), 4th (120th, 126th), 6th (183rd, 200th, 207th)
There’s no doubt that the 2022-2023 season will go down as a huge victory for the Jacksonville franchise after the debacle that was the Urban Meyer “era” in 2021 . The team improved by 6 wins this past season, won their division and won a playoff game. Most importantly, however, was the hiring of Doug Pederson and his aid in the development of Trevor Lawrence.
Highly touted coming out of Clemson, the Jaguars 1st overall pick essentially wasted a season under Meyer, and it was imperative for the franchise to get him back on track. While Jacksonville traditionally struggles to lure in big free agent targets, they have a strong foundation to build upon and an owner in Shad Khan who has shown he is willing to spend.
After their spending spree in the 2022 offseason, the Jags have been fairly quiet so far in free agency and look to be hoping for internal growth to take them a step further in 2023. With Lawrence still on his rookie deal, the Jags have a small window to surround him with as much talent as possible before they back up the Brinks truck and make him one of the highest paid players in league history.
Coaching:
Head coach Doug Pederson is a Super Bowl champion coach and brought his offensive acumen with him to Duval at the start of the 2022 season. In Pederson’s first year with the team, quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw for 472 more yards, 13 more touchdowns and 9 less interceptions than he did under Urban Meyer.
Known to be a quarterback whisperer, Pederson’s work with Lawrence, and the offense as a whole, was a breath of fresh air in 2022, as Lawrence was finally able to tap into his vast potential. Pederson adds 10 years of experience playing quarterback in the NFL to his 14 years as a coach, including 5 seasons as the head coach of the Eagles, bringing Philadelphia the franchise’s first Super Bowl victory, despite going into the game with backup quarterback Nick Foles.
Press Taylor joined Pederson in 2022 as the new offensive coordinator following a season as a senior assistant with the Colts. Taylor worked in a variety of roles prior to that within the Eagles organization, and was part of the staff while Pederson was head coach. During his season in Indy, the Colts ranked second in rushing yards per game and tied for 9th in the league in points per game.
Taylor is known for running a balanced offense, getting both Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne involved. Taylor wasn’t perfect in his first season as offensive coordinator, but he’s only 35 years old and working with Pederson should grow nicely into his new role as he takes on extra responsibilities.
Defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell is another former player turned coach, turning his 11 year career as a linebacker into a 14 year coaching career before taking over as the defensive coordinator for Jacksonville. With coaching stints in Philadelphia, Arizona and New York prior joining the Jags, he was also the inside linebackers coach for a vaunted Tampa Bay Buccaneers unit led by superstar Lavonte David and later joined by Devin White.
Caldwell’s defenses notoriously are strong against the run, and while the Jags defense still struggled in 2022, it showed vast improvements despite having to learn an entirely new system for the second straight season. An additional offseason and continuity within the lineup will go a long way towards Caldwell having more defensive success in 2023.
Quarterback:
Trevor Lawrence was drafted to be the franchise quarterback 1st overall in 2021. But his rookie season didn’t go as planned. That all turned around in 2022, as with proper coaching, Lawrence showed the skill, poise and maturity that had him rated so highly coming out of college. He made the Pro-Bowl in his second season and was the 11th ranked quarterback in overall rating (per PFF).
At 6’6” and 213 lbs , Lawrence has all the physical tools to take another step forward in his development this coming season. Lawrence was forced to learn a new offense in both of his seasons in the NFL, so having a full offseason to sharpen the finer points instead of trying to learn an entirely new playbook will also help Lawrence find even more success.
Lawrence showed massive development throughout the season, as his sparkling 104.6 QB rating from weeks 9-18 led the NFL during that span, adding three 4th quarter comebacks to help lead the Jags to the playoffs. The 2nd year quarterback’s leap forward in the second half of the season, playing like a top 5 QB, has expectations sky high for him entering 2023.
Behind Lawrence, the Jaguars re-signed career back C.J. Beathard to a two year deal. Pederson is a man who believes in continuity and bringing Beathard back to share with Lawrence his experiences is a nice move. Beathard is a solid backup with the experience and intelligence to run the offense in a pinch, but it’s off field work that makes him such a valuable signing.
The Jags also signed former CFL standout Nathan Rourke to a 3 year deal, as he makes his first attempt at cracking an NFL roster. Rourke, 24, worked out with roughly 12 teams after the CFL season came to a close before agreeing to terms in Jacksonville. While he probably won’t get many opportunities to get on the field, the chance to work with Pederson and his staff (which also includes former CFL MVP Henry Burris) will be vital for his personal development going forward.
Wide Receiver/Tight End:
The 2022 season was a memorable one for Jaguars receivers, as the offense finally showed some balance to go with the production after an exciting offseason.
Many laughed at the contract handed to Christian Kirk prior to the 2022 season which, unfortunately, is the premium Khan needed to pay to bring free agents to the Jags. Fortunately for Khan, Kirk proved to be worth every penny, immediately becoming Lawrence’s go to target to the tune of 84 receptions and a shade over 1,100 yards, good for a top 20 finish in both categories. He, along with fellow offseason signings Zay Jones and Evan Engram, finished the season as the Jaguars top 3 receivers.
While Kirk was the undisputed #1, Jones had a surprisingly good season himself, finishing with 82 receptions for 823 yards and 5 touchdowns, averaging 10 yards per reception. He had a standout performance in week 11 against the Ravens, turning his 14 targets into 11 receptions and 145 yards. While Jones had a productive season as the teams WR2, there’s a large possibility that his personal numbers will take a step back in 2023 due to the addition of Calvin Ridley to the offense.
Ridley was a surprise mid-season trade acquisition from the Falcons, as he was in the midst of serving his year long suspension for gambling on NFL games while sitting out due to personal reasons. Ridley hasn’t played a game since Week 6 of the 2021 season, so working out some rust this offseason will be key in getting him up to speed come the start of the season.
There’s some risk that he won’t be able to return to his full form, but this move is absolutely worth it. When we last saw Ridley in uniform, he earned his way into talks of being a top 7 wide receiver across the league. Early reports have Ridley working with Lawrence on the field as soon as the new league season began, and he seems to have a renewed commitment to the game. If he can come in and show the talent he flashed in Atlanta, the Jags could all of a sudden have one of the top wide receiver rooms in the league.
The team did lose veteran Marvin Jones to Detroit in free agency, and his veteran leadership will be missed in the locker room. With Jamal Agnew back for another season as their WR4/special teamer, this group still has depth to go with their top end talent.
Despite a hot and cold season, the big game performances from Evan Engram convinced the Jags to use their franchise tag on the 28 year old tight end. Engram, who has yet to sign the tag or report to the OTAs, would be scheduled to make $11.343 million this season on a one year tag.
It sounds like both team and player are looking into a longer term deal, but not much progress has been made thus far. Engram, a 2017 1st round pick for the Giants, brought in 73 of his 98 targets for 766 yards and 4 touchdowns in his first season in Duval.
He had an 11 catch, 162 yard 2 TD performance late in the season against the division rival Titans, and racked up 93 critical yards and a touchdown in the team’s playoff victory against the Chargers. The flashes of domination are frustrating, as far too often he disappears for long stretches. He was held to under 30 receiving yards in 9 of the teams regular season matchups in 2022, and at 28 it seems like we now know what to expect from the tight end – inconsistency with the odd flash of brilliance.
The Jaguars lost both their backup tight ends in Dan Arnold and Chris Manhertz to free agency, leaving 2nd year Luke Farrell as the defacto #2 on the depth chart. The group as a whole didn’t suffer any injuries this past season limiting Farrell’s snaps, but the team seems to have faith in his abilities to step up in a larger role.
With the amount of highly skilled tight ends coming out in this year’s draft, it’s certainly a position the Jaguars should be looking at when their 1st round pick rolls around. If they cannot work out a long term deal with Engram, they will only have him for one more season so drafting his successor and having him take a season to get up to speed in the NFL would be a prudent move.
Running Back:
Travis Etienne lost his rookie season due to injury and he took some time at the start of the 2022 season to get acclimated to the NFL. When he got up to speed, the Jags handed him the keys by trading away James Robinson and Etienne delivered.
Looking like a threat to score every time he touches the ball, Etienne looks to continue his ascension into the upper echelon of running backs. Etienne finished the season with 1,125 rushing yards on 220 carries, adding another 316 receiving yards on 3 receptions. The elusive, do it all back looks to take yet another step forward in 2023 and after playing in all 17 games for the Jags, it looks like the health concerns are finally behind him.
Jacksonville are supporting Etienne with a nice cast of backups in JaMycal Hasty, Snoop Conner and free agent signing D’Ernest Johnson.
Conner will bring the bruising between the tackles running style with his 5’10” 222 lbs frame, complimenting Etienne’s more elusive style.
Hasty, who the Jags were able to claim off of waivers from the 49ers, is known as an extremely intelligent player who uses his low center of gravity to his benefit. He also brings an extra pass catching element to his game.
Johnson is one of the better backup running back signings this past season. In his 4 years in Cleveland, Johnson averaged 5.2 yards per carry (albeit on limited touches) but also played a major role on special teams. His versatility is a coach’s dream, and Pederson has already talked about his excitement of getting him involved within the team’s offense.
The running back room is what every team in the league asks for. With Etienne healthy and proving that he can handle the role of a do it all 3-down back, the franchise has supported him with reliable, smart veterans who can step up in a pinch.
Offensive Line:
The Jags offensive line took a step forward in 2022, but have since lost standout tackle Jawaan Taylor in free agency, leaving a massive hole that the team will be looking to fill internally. Taylor hadn’t missed a start in his 4 seasons in Jacksonville, and turned his stellar play into a massive 4 year, $80 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.
5 time pro bowl guard Brandon Scherff is under contract for another 2 seasons and played a full season in 2022 for the first time since 2016, despite battling minor injuries throughout most of the season. He provides the group not only with top level guard play but veteran leadership, so having him on the field for another full season will be critical in the development of the unit as a whole.
Luke Fortner, a 3rd round 2022 selection, played consistently at center as a rookie and showed signs of being a long term solution at a critical position. He’ll need to improve in his 2nd year in the league, as he was the 34th overall center in the league (per PFF), but earning crucial reps in his first season in the league with Lawrence at quarterback will be critical in his development.
The group’s depth was tested when starting left guard Ben Bartch (week 5) and starting left tackle Cam Robinson (week 15) both suffered season ending injuries. Veteran guard Tyler Shatley stepped up in the absence of Bartch, and will look to compete this offseason to retain a starting role, while Walker Little looks to take over a starting tackle position in his 3rd season.
While the loss of Taylor will be felt throughout the line, the Jags group have proved their resiliency this past season. They can probably look to add a swing tackle either through late free agency or the draft to maintain their impressive depth. There will be a lot of pressure on Little to step into a full time role at a key position, but the Jaguars front office seemingly has confidence in his abilities to step up this coming season.
Defense:
The Jaguars defense made strides in 2022, but still have a ways to go in their development before the team can be considered a true Super Bowl contender. After investing serious draft capital, including last year’s 1st overall pick, on that side of the ball, the defense is teeming with potential that just needs to take the next step in their development.
The Jags defensive line is a group of unheralded players, and playing as a down lineman in Caldwell’s 3-4 system isn’t the most glamorous of positions. The group lost standout Dawuane Smoot to injury at the end of the season, but was led by nose tackle DaVon Hamilton who finished the year with 56 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
The team let Smoot leave in free agency (although he has yet to sign with a new club as he recovers from a torn ACL), but opted to re-sign Adam Gotsis and Roy Robertson-Harris, negating what could have been a major offseason of turnover along the defensive front. With Foley Fatukasi also returning, this group will be the focal point to the Jaguars ever improving run defense, while hoping to improve on the pass rush progress they showed at the end of the season and into the playoffs.
The linebacker position underwent massive changes with the hiring of Caldwell as he began building his ideal defense. Josh Allen, the 2019 7th overall selection, was the lone 2022 starter who was on the roster in 2021. The Jaguars selected Travon Walker (1st overall), Devin Lloyd (27th overall) and Chad Muma (70th overall) in the 2022 draft, to go along with signing Arden Key (now with the Titans) and Foye Oluokun in free agency. To say this is a position of emphasis would be like stating that the sky is blue.
Oluokun turned out to be a major signing, as he led the league in total tackles with 184, adding in 2 sacks and 9 QB pressures in his first season in Jacksonville. Josh Allen finished the season as the team leader in sacks with 7. Their rookie backers showed their youth at times, but the potential that is there is worth being patient while they suffer some growing pains.
The Jags linebacker core is just loaded with young, athletic defenders and having a tackling machine like Oluokun controlling the game between the numbers, the rookies have a valuable presence to look up to. If the Jags are looking to take the next step, this young core will be ready to take on larger roles and dominate this coming season.
There still are a few question marks in the defensive backfield for the Jaguars, but they certainly have shown promise. Entering 2022, the club expected a better performance from Shaquill Griffin, but he was only able to play in 5 games due to back issues and clearly looked to be on the downside of his career when he did suit up. The team released him this offseason to save more money against the cap, and he has yet to find a new team.
Tyson Campbell operated as the defacto #1 corner, and had a strong season by all accounts, finishing 4th on the team in tackles with 70, adding in 15 passes defended and 3 interceptions. He was a reliable back throughout the entire season, and showed flashes of being really really good at times as well. If he can raise his floor a little further, the Jags might have a real star as he enters his 3rd season.
Unfortunately the Jags struggled for most of the season to find someone to play opposite of Campbell. Darious Williams was tagged to be the team’s nickel cornerback, but struggled with the role early in the season before eventually settling into outside corner near the end of the season. The team resigned Tre Herdon, who took over the nickel role, to try and solidify that position in 2023. Cornerback is certainly a position the Jags will be looking at with one of their first picks in the coming draft as they look to find a more consistent option opposite of Campbell.
At safety, former 3rd round pick Andre Cisco is blossoming into a star before our eyes, showing his turnover creating ability after seamlessly stepping into a starting role after barely playing in his rookie season. Paired with Rayshawn Jenkins, who performed well in his first year with the club, the Jaguars have an impressive safety tandem that should only improve entering the 2023 season. Rotational safety Andrew Wingard performed well in limiting snaps giving the Jags some reliable depth at the position.
The defensive backfield was a question mark at the start of the 2022 season, especially with the veteran players clearly taking a step back. Thankfully the Jags embraced the youth movement, and look to have two key pieces in place in Campbell and Cisco to continue to build the defensive backfield around.
Overall, Jacksonville is a young developing team that plays in what looks to be one of the weakest divisions in the league. While Khan and GM Trent Baalke were unable to splurge in free agency for the second consecutive season, the team that they have built in Jacksonville has impressive talent from top to bottom.
They’re still one of the youngest teams in the NFL, and they did a good job of retaining many key parts of their squad. Losing Taylor will put a lot of pressure on the offensive line to step up this season, and the team needs to get the situation with Engram worked out, but this franchise is so far ahead of the previous debacles the organization has dealt with. If things keep trending in this direction, the Jaguars will no longer have to pay a premium for free agents as players will be chomping at the bit to play for the franchise.
-Devon Gallant
Twitter: @DevGallant
Photo: Atlanta Falcons. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.