The Jacksonville Jaguars come into the 2024 NFL season falling just short of the playoffs last season with a 9-8 record in a season where the division was there to lose up until a costly four-game losing streak towards the end of the season sank the odds of the Jags in the playoffs. Coming into training camp, I have a few hot takes for this retooled Jags roster in year three of the Doug Pedersen era.
As mentioned in the 49ers hot takes article, these hot takes will not be the basic ones you hear from the media outlets but from a fan who views teams differently than most people. With that said, let’s get straight into it.
Lukewarm
The Jaguars win the AFC South
Looking at the AFC South standings coming into the season, it’s looking like it’ll be a 2 team race to win the division between the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Fanduel has the odds set at +105 for the Texans and +270 for the Jaguars to each win the division, and if the Jaguars play to their projected record of 10-7 or better, I don’t see any doubt that this division is theirs. Yes, CJ Stroud and that offense are going to be lethal, and as long as Will Anderson Jr. is anchoring that defensive line, he will cause problems for any opposing offensive line, but the Jags are playing with a chip on their shoulder. They have a point to prove that the AFC South belongs to the boys in Duvall County.
Trevor Lawrence Plays Up to the Level of His New Contract
For those who live under a rock, T-Law signed a five-year, $275 million extension with $200 million guaranteed back in June, which drew much criticism regarding whether he deserved this massive extension.
To put it rather nicely, you're mistaken. If we’re looking at last season, everyone blames him for the team's collapse, which you can blame on him if he was healthy. He wasn’t. When he’s healthy, he’s a top quarterback in the league. There was a turnover issue as he threw 14 interceptions last year compared to 21 touchdowns, but his offensive line wasn’t exactly great, as in 2023, they had the 26th-best line. There’s a slight improvement as they are now ranked 23rd in 2024 with the addition of Mitch Morse, but for everyone who’s saying, “oh he not worth that money” or “oh he’s just going to get injured again,” you all need to chill. He’s going to be just fine and be worth every penny.
Hot
Joshua Hines-Allen Wins DPOY
Let’s get hot now, shall we? Joshua Hines-Allen, previously known as Josh Allen, is a 27-year-old OLB who’s very much in his prime right now. Last year, he had a calm 17.5 sacks, which set the Jaguars' single-season record. The two-time Pro Bowler also only needs 10.5 sacks to become the franchise leader in sacks, which, for someone who just turned 27, is the time for him to solidify himself as the best defensive player in the league.
His ability to fly off the edge and routinely make offensive tackles question why they chose the front lines is essential for a defense that isn’t the greatest overall. As long as Hines-Allen can stay healthy and reciprocate what he did last year, it’s a slam dunk for his first DPOY award.
Brian Thomas Jr. Becomes the Jags' Top Boundary Option By the End of 2024
When the Jaguars drafted Brian Thomas Jr. in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft, I thought it was a match made in heaven. He didn’t necessarily get the hype he deserved out of LSU due to Malik Nabers casually existing and being the WR1 there, but Thomas Jr has the tools to be a WR1 easier than many people realize. He has a 4.33 40-yard dash; he’s got elite size for a wide receiver at 6’3, 205 pounds. He’s only 21 years old, and he will excel in being Trevor Lawrence's deep ball merchant, allowing him to excel in expectations and easily be a top-30 receiver by the end of the season. This is no knock on Christian Kirk, who is an excellent receiver himself, but Brian Thomas is a better fit into the play style of T-Law and coach Pedersen, and this upcoming season will show that.
On Fire
ETN Puts up 1400 Scrimmage Yards for the Third Straight Season
Did you know that Travis Etienne and CMC are the only two running backs with 1400+ scrimmage yards in each of the past two seasons? You do now. One gets talked about as the best running back ever and gets on the Madden cover, while the other quietly does his thing outside the spotlight.
If the Jags want to find success this upcoming season, ETN needs to keep doing what he’s been doing: rushing for over 1,000 yards (which he did), receiving over 400 yards (which he did), and scoring 10+ touchdowns (which he did). Everyone focuses on what Lawrence, Hines-Allen, Evan Engram, and Christian Kirk will do, not what Etienne will do. He’s quietly one of the best running backs in the league that no one outside the local Jacksonville media talks about.
This team is sneakily set up to be very good. Only time can tell if Dougie P can get the boys from Duval to the Promised Land.
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