The only benefit to finishing with the worst record in the league for the second year in a row is that there’s truly nowhere to go but up. The Jaguars will certainly hope to see at least some signs of improvement with a new coaching staff and a (hopefully) retooled roster in place in 2022.
While it would be wise to keep expectations in check, CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin felt confident enough about the Jags’ potential that he listed them at No. 1 on his list of the squads that are most poised to make major strides next year.
Here’s his reasoning.
They top the list because, frankly, they were so bad in 2021. Even finishing below .500, at 7-10 or 8-9, would constitute a major step forward for a franchise that can’t get out of its own way. New coach Doug Pederson was the right choice to revive the culture after the failed Urban Meyer experiment, and his personable presence alone should bode well for Trevor Lawrence, who can seemingly only go up from here. While their front office is a question mark, they’ve also got premium cap space and draft picks to bolster the lineup around their young QB. It’ll be hard for them not to be better.
It’s hard to argue with the logic here. If only by virtue of the fact that one of the youngest rosters in the league in 2021 will be more experienced with several additions likely coming down the pipeline. Even a near-.500 finish would be a marked improvement for a team that has finished with a losing record in 10 of the last 11 seasons.
The Jags need to see improved play from Lawrence, who struggled with decision-making as a rookie and led the league in interceptions as a result. However, his play improved near the end of the season, especially in the season finale against Indianapolis, when a fantastic performance ended the Colts’ playoff hopes.
As Benjamin says, it would be hard for Jacksonville to not be better.