There’s a certain type of pressure that comes with always finishing in first. The Jacksonville Jaguars are no exception. It takes a lot of hard work to earn the top pick in the NFL Draft.
But there they were again in 2021, finishing with the first selection. Maybe they should hang a banner.
“Back-to-Back Number One Overall Picks 2020-2021.”
Now that’s a moneymaker right there. Regardless, the Jaguars have been one of the most irrelevant teams going now for a while. This is true despite being in the AFC Championship Game only five years ago, proving that we really do live in the wildest timeline.
Now armed with a new head coach that can maybe maximize franchise quarterback-hopeful Trevor Lawrence, can Florida’s forgotten team finally find relevance again?
How about number 2?
Out of all the things the Jaguars can do in 2022, this might not only be the easiest achievement, but also the most impressive. There’s a certain kind of stench that comes with being a bad NFL team. Skunks might look like cute animals, but you’ll never want to be up close and personal with one. In a way, skunks pioneered social distancing before it was popular.
The Jaguars have been the skunks of the NFL, trying to do anything to rid themselves of the stench. Tomato sauce baths and endless showers didn’t work. Instead they opted to throw everything out and shop at a new store. Thus entered Urban Meyer, who went on to have probably one of the craziest rookie year’s in coaching history.
The truth is that Lawrence didn’t stand a chance, none of the Jaguars did. It was doomed from the start, but owner Shad Khan did what he felt was something outside the box, desperately trying to bring wins to northern Florida.
That’s admirable from Khan, and certainly much better than the alternative that we see so often from teams. It’s better to spend money in hopes of figuring out how to win, than to be cheap and have no chance. Khan deserves to be praised for moving on from Meyer when it was clear that the two were not a fit.
With that being said, 2021 was a throwaway year in Jacksonville. There is no way we could possibly figure out anything based on the circus that masqueraded as a football team.
Starting Over
So now enters Doug Pederson as the next head coach, tasked with developing Lawrence into a star. Now, Pederson might not be a great head coach, but he is a Super Bowl Champion. Also, did you see what he made Carson Wentz into? Exactly.
Lawrence will be far and away the Jaguars 2022 team MVP, even though he won’t be taking home the league award, which warrants the +15000 price on Caesar’s. In essence, this will be Lawrence’s real rookie year, which is fascinating because it’ll be the same deal for fellow Clemson teammate Travis Etienne Jr.
Despite missing all of last season with a foot injury, Etienne will be primed to have a breakout year, as well as a stellar fantasy season. Worried about fellow running back James Robinson? Well, fans were once worried about the Alvin Kamara backfield timeshare with Mark Ingram in New Orleans, which worked out quite well.
Over on defense, expect defensive end Josh Allen to continue wreaking havoc, especially after the addition of rookie Travon Walker to play opposite him. Bottom line, the Jaguars roster is young and inexperienced, but solidified by some high-priced veterans. There will be growing pains, especially for the young guys that essentially received a crash course in how the NFL is not supposed to work.
BetBasics Best Bet
Before I give out the pick, this point must be made. I like the Jaguars in 2022, I do. But not enough for this. FanDuel has set the team’s win total at 6.5. While it may not seem high, it is. Sure, they play in one of the weakest divisions in football. They will be better.
However, they’ve won four games over the last two seasons. The switch probably won’t be flipped overnight, so let’s take advantage and bet the under at -110. It’s hard to win seven games in the NFL no matter who you are, but the Jaguars first need to learn how to win before we can get crazy. How about we get away from the Meyer experience for one year before jumping to drastic conclusions. Improvement for the 2022 Jaguars is just not owning the first overall pick, meaning there is tons of room for growth.