This offseason has come with many hurdles for players in the NFL due to COVID-19, especially the rookies. Most have yet to join their respective teams for as much as one workout, or even settle in to the respective cities they will be playing in. Up …
This offseason has come with many hurdles for players in the NFL due to COVID-19, especially the rookies. Most have yet to join their respective teams for as much as one workout, or even settle in to the respective cities they will be playing in.
Up until this week, Jaguars rookie receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. was among the many rookies who hasn’t been able to settle in at the city of Jacksonville. That said, he made his arrival to Duval official Monday via his newly made YouTube channel. In his first video, Shenault was seen at TIAA Bank Field while expressing his excitement to meet the community and teammates.
Just released my first Youtube video, go like it and subscribe to my channel to see more….Link in my bio🌊🌊🙏🏾🙏🏾🖤🔥 pic.twitter.com/T3Zw38LzBZ
Shenault was selected by the Jags with the No. 42 overall selection in April’s draft out of the University of Colorado. He was a versatile weapon for the Buffaloes, playing receiver, slot receiver, wildcat quarterback, and running back. He finished his career with 149 catches for 1,943 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
With the Jags lacking weapons on the offensive end, the hope is that he can now bring that same versatility to the roster and aid Gardner Minshew II to greater heights. Hopefully, he’ll be able to also join D.J. Chark Jr. and an outside receiver, giving the Jags a weapon who can garner intermediate and short passes for the offense.
The Jags needed a No. 2 WR heading into the draft and got one in Laviska Shenault in Round 2. As a result, he could have an early impact.
Coming into the 2020 NFL Draft, most projected the Jacksonville Jaguars to take a receiver early and they did just that. In the second-round, they pulled the trigger on the versatile Laviska Shenault Jr. from Colorado in efforts to find an No. 2 on the outside to pair with D.J. Chark Jr.
Upon selecting him, it was clear the Jags really liked the pick as the front office and coaching staff raved about the multitude of positions he played (receiver, slot, wildcat quarterback, running back) while at Colorado. While injuries came up as a concern amongst the media, the Jags’ staff also emphasized how solid he was prior to 2019 as they basically felt he would’ve been selected higher in 2018.
Of course, as a second-round selection it appears the Jags are going to put a lot on his plate as a rookie, especially when considering his versatility. As a result, NFL.com’s Cynthia Frelund ranked him eighth in terms of production in her rookie receiver projections for 2020.
Per PFF, Shenault’s Colorado receiving snaps last season broke down as follows: He aligned wide on 107 snaps, was in the slot on 75 snaps and in the backfield on 27 snaps. Since 2018, Shenault had the most yards after the catch among Pac-12 receivers (1,060), per PFF. Injuries add context to his 2019 season for sure, but the takeaway is that he’s versatile and physical with a lot of upside. Shenault projects as WR No. 59 due to questions about the Jags’ offense overall and whether or not he’s fully healthy.
With the offseason preventing teams from having organized team activities and minicamp, Shenault will be behind come training camp so it’s a possibility that Chris Conley and Chark will get a lot of snaps on the outside. Additionally, Shenault’s route-running will need to be polished, which often times takes repetition for a young player. Still, Shenault’s versatility could help him get on the field in other ways while the team eases him into playing on the outside.
As for the rest of the receivers that made the list, CeeDee Lamb, Henry Ruggs III, Michael Pittman Jr., Justin Jefferson, and Jerry Jeudy came in at the top-5 spots, respectively. Denzel Mims, Brandon Aiyuk, Shenault, Tee Higgins, and Jalen Reagor filled the next respective spots.
The Jags will be dealing with a lot of turnover in 2020, which means they are going to need some of their new faces to change their luck.
When/if the Jacksonville Jaguars take the field in 2020, they will look significantly different than the team fans saw in 2019 due to a great deal of turnover. The reason for that is because they needed to reallocate money, with several aging veterans eating up their salary cap.
Despite the steep contracts the Jags had on their roster, the last two seasons were lackluster as they registered a 5-11 record in 2018 and a 6-10 record last season. Clearly, a new direction was needed to change their luck.
Now, after retooling and acquiring a variety of starters this offseason, the team will need a lot of their new acquisitions to perform well heading forward. Here are three in particular that we think can change their fortunes this season:
Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Schobert
Since Paul Posluszny left, things haven’t felt the same in terms of the Jags having a defensive field general. Things haven’t felt the same in the locker room, either. That’s exactly why Joe Schobert’s addition was huge for the Jags in free agency.
With the standard Posluszny set for leading the Jags on and off the field being so high, fans shouldn’t expect him to be exactly what Posluszny was. However, he has started in 49 games and played in 61 in the AFC North, which means he’s seen a lot of quality opponents. That will definitely be valuable as he puts the Jags’ defense in position while also giving them a little more in coverage than Posluszny could.
In the end, Schobert’s signing could be significant for getting the Jags’ defense back to what it was, especially when considering all of the young players they will have on the unit.
The Jags receiving corps got stronger after the draft and there is a lot that needs to be sorted out behind star D.J. Chark.
Earlier in the week, we started our depth chart projections for the Jacksonville Jaguars. With the quarterbacks, running backs, and tight ends all covered, here are our projections for the wide receivers position:
Projections to make the final 53-man roster
Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
WR1: D.J. Chark Jr.
D.J. Chark was the most improved player on the Jags’ roster without a doubt. He also proved to be their top receiver, becoming the first receiver since Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns (2015) to garner 1,000 receiving yards.
It didn’t matter who the quarterback was, Chark shined and received a Pro Bowl nod after making highlights after highlights. The crazy part is that he’s just scratching the surface and is only 23 years old.
WR2: Chris Conley
Chris Conley was one of the Jags’ veteran additions during the 2019 free-agency period and will enter 2020 as the Jags’ most experienced receiver as a sixth-year player. He had some issues with drops in 2019 but still managed to register 47 catches for 775 yards and five touchdowns.
As a new offensive coordinator to the Jags’ organization, Conley is a player I think Jay Gruden will be more than comfortable with as the No. 2 alongside Chark. However, it wouldn’t shock me if Laviska Shenalt received a lot of looks as the No. 2, too, but health is a concern with him and he’s also extremely raw.
WR3 (slot starter): Dede Westbrook
The Jags will roll out a lot of multiple receiver sets under Gruden and one can understand why when looking at the potential they have. Gruden has also been known to get a lot of production from the slot and that became clear when looking at the success of Jamison Crowder, who registered 221 passes for 2,628 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns throughout four seasons with Gruden and the Washington Redskins.
Westbrook is just as talented as Crowder and could serve the same role for Gruden’s offense in Jacksonville. After all, it’s where he’s flourished and his 2018 season is proof of that as all five of his touchdowns came from the slot.
WR4: Laviska Shenault Jr.
He was the Jags’ second-round addition of April’s draft and they have big-time plans for him. Shenault was extremely versatile while with Colorado playing as an exterior receiver, a slot receiver, running back, H-back, and as a wildcat quarterback.
Jags coach Doug Marrone says he’s already asked Shenault what kind of load he’s willing to take as a versatile weapon and the rookie is up for the challenge. That said, look for the Jags to be creative with Shenault while working him in slowly as an exterior receiver.
WR5: Keelan Cole
Having Keelan Cole as a No. 4 to No. 5 receiver on this roster is proof that the Jags at least have depth at receiver though the results may not be completely what fans want. He’ll enter the season with 1,600 career receiving yards, a 15.4 yard per catch average, and seven touchdowns.
With the depth chart now crowded Cole may have to see a lot of time on the field through special teams. It might be even wise to consider him in a returners role to protect the receivers further up the depth chart from injuries.
WR6: Collin Johnson
Collin Johnson was the second receiver drafted by the Jags in April’s draft as the team took him in the fifth round. At 6-foot-6, 222-pounds, there is a lot to be excited about with Johnson as he gives the Jags a massive jump-ball target to help Gardner Minshew II out.
There are questions as to if Johnson will be able to separate on the next level and he’ll also need to improve with breaking/sinking into his routes. However, if there is any receivers coach who could turn him into a solid pro it’s the Jags’ own Keenan McCardell.
Chad Johnson finally got his workout with C.J. Henderson and was impressed with what he saw out of the young corner.
The Jacksonville Jaguars first-round selection of Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson was one that could pay off in the near future as they got a splendid man-to-man defender. During his time in Gainesville he was so good at his job that he didn’t allow more than 20 receptions and didn’t give up more than 390 yards during his last three seasons there.
C.J. Henderson in three straight seasons at Florida
Former NFL star Chad Johnson had to find out just how good the young corner was for himself and set up a workout between himself and Henderson for some one-on-ones with Carolina Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater tagging along. Sure enough, Henderson was up for the challenge and made a believer out of Johnson.
May God be with the Jaguar receivers that have to deal with @HendersonChris_, that mother [expletive] is nice in bump-n-run, even with the small sample size of work today i nowunderstand why he was taken at 9đź”’
Johnson, who has frequently challenged members on the Jags’ roster, reached out to Henderson and Detroit Lions first-round cornerback, Jeff Okudah, after they were drafted in April via Twitter. Due to both being Miami natives, Johnson and Henderson finally made it happen and it appears they had some fun along the way.
Johnson also challenged the Jags second-round pick, Laviska Shenalt Jr., for a workout so he can see what the Colorado receiver is working with and also likely give him some pointers about the position. With the uncertainty as to when players can return to their respective facilities, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the two link up in the near future.
The Jags are going to need a lot of production out of their rookie class and will even need some of them to overachieve to make the playoffs.
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.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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.
James and Smith jumped in the booth to record yet another episode of “Bleav in the Jags” where they evaluated the Jags’ Day 2 picks.
With the 2020 NFL Draft in the books, the Jacksonville Jaguars  had to make a key decision on one of their current stars on the roster, Leonard Fournette, whose contract option was due to be picked up. With them declining the option, Jags Wire contributor Phil Smith and I decided to jump in the recording booth and discuss the topic on episode 15 of “Bleav in the Jags.”
We also continued our player analysis on the Jags’ 2020 draft class and discussed the selections of Laviska Shenault Jr. and DaVon Hamilton. To put it simply, the Jags got solid athletes in both and we looked into their pros, cons, and the outlook for each individual.
Lastly, we took a look at the recent CBS Sports’ article by Cody Benjamin which listed the Jags as a 2021 suitor for Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. While we believe it’s hard to look that far into the future and an unlikely scenario, we looked at some key points that do make it a possibility.
All that and more was discussed and the full episode can be heard below.
For the most part it looks like the nation’s journalists like what the Jags did in the 2020 NFL Draft.
The 2020 NFL Draft is in the books and it certainly has been one for the ages.
This year provided an interesting spin on the draft. Due to the social distancing guidelines caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the draft was done virtually with the coaches and player personnel of all 32 teams making their selections from their respective homes. Once the picks were in NFL commissioner Rodger Goodell would then read them off from his home and the rest is history.
The new format didn’t deter viewers as the 2020 NFL Draft would go on to be the highest watched in history as Day 1 and Day 2 would go on to average 11.6 million views, according to Grant Gordon of NFL.com.
The Jacksonville Jaguars were a part of this historic affair as they put together a solid draft that could see them build very well towards the future. While some teams missed the mark with their selections, here is how the nation’s best draft analysts viewed the Jags draft.
“Jacksonville picked up two star SEC defenders (Henderson and Chaisson) to meet critical needs in the first round, then selected worthwhile prospects in the second (Shenault) and third rounds (Hamilton) to sew up a nice first two days of the draft. They started Day 3 with Bartch, who I thought was worthy of a top-75 selection. He plays with a nasty demeanor, and should be able to line up at tackle or, eventually, slide inside if needed. Scott provides more depth in the secondary. Quarterman’s just a great football player who will start in the middle at some point in his pro career (with the Jags or someone else). Thomas is a better athlete than football player at this point, and is likely a special teamer. Johnson is a nice outside complement to Shenault. Luton will compete for playing time if Gardner Minshew falters in 2020 and should at least be a solid backup in the league for a few years.”
“Tear-down-and-rebuild of an elite defense starts with the two first-rounders. Shenault is a creative play-caller’s dream and Bartch is a high-ceiling developmental project.”
“The Jaguars seem firmly in rebuilding mode, and they pushed that process along. They landed the draft’s second-best CB, CJ Henderson, and its second-best pass rusher, K’Lavon Chaisson, in the first round. They participated in the run on WRs with the second-round choice of Laviska Shenault Jr. About all that went wrong is that the Jaguars did not find a team willing to trade for RB Leonard Fournette or pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue.
 “Henderson is a perfect pick for Jacksonville after parting ways with Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye. Combine that with Chaisson at No. 20, and those are two huge additions to the Jags defense. Taking Shenault on Day 2 filled another need at wide receiver, and Hamilton bolsters their run defense. One of the better picks for Jacksonville on Day 3 was Scott, another nice addition to the secondary. Overall, a busy and effective draft for a rebuilding Jaguars squad.”
“Seems they’re building toward 2021 – Trevor Lawrence? – but nevertheless picked reputable players, including first-round CB C.J. Henderson, who should address a glaring need following Ramsey’s departure. Pass rusher K’Lavon Chaisson (Round 1) – taken with a pick obtained for Ramsey – and WR Laviska Shenault Jr. (Round 2) could need a transition year, which isn’t a knock but adds to the feel that this club is in a weird limbo. Speaking of which, disgruntled DE Yannick Ngakoue remains.”
Overall, the media received the Jaguars selections very well which could be an encouraging sign for things to come. It has been a tumultuous few weeks in Jacksonville with disgruntled defensive end Yannick Ngakoue battling with management and numerous accusations of the organization tanking for current Clemson star quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
However, the Jaguars can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that they did a solid job putting together a good, young team that could potentially compete sooner than people may think.
Ever wondered what Collin Johnson would look like in black and teal?
The Jacksonville Jaguars addition of Texas receiver Collin Johnson was arguably their biggest of Day 3. The young receiver was quite popular while with the Longhorns as he put together a solid collegiate career, totaling 188 catches for 2,624 career receiving yards and 15 touchdowns.
Just like Jags fans and NFL fans in general, his alma mater was pretty pumped about him being selected with the No. 165th selection. In fact, they were so excited they shared his new look as he’ll be turning in his burnt orange and white uniform for a black, teal, and white uniform in the pros.
Johnson will come into a pretty solid receiving corps that includes Pro Bowler D.J. Chark, Dede Westbrook, Chris Conley, Keelan Cole, and second-round selection Laviska Shenault Jr. The hope for fans is that Shenault and Johnson can join Chark on the outside, which should allow the Jags to kick Westbrook back into the slot where he’s the most dangerous.
With the 2020 NFL Draft wrapped up, here are highlights of each selection.
Seven draftees on defense and five on offense. That’s the ratio the Jacksonville Jaguars finished with when all of their 2020 NFL Draft selections were made.
To open the draft on Day 1, the Jags selected two Southeastern Conference defenders in C.J. Henderson and K’Lavon Chaisson. On Day 2 they finally went offense by taking receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. but ended the day by going back to the defensive side with defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton.
In round four the acquired some help on the offensive line by selecting Ben Bartch, then closed the round with two more defensive selections in linebacker Shaq Quarterman and cornerback Josiah Scott. In round five they added a player on each side of the ball by taking safety Daniel Thomas, then receiver Collin Johnson.
In the sixth round, they finally went all offense by snagging quarterback Jake Luton and tight end Tyler Davis and their last selection, taking in round seven, was another defensive back in Chris Claybrooks.
Here’s a set of highlights for all 12 picks made by general manager Dave Caldwell on Thursday and the weekend:
1.9: CB C.J. Henderson, Florida
1.20: EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson, Louisiana State
2.42: WR Laviska Shenault Jr., Colorado
3.72: DT DaVon Hamilton, Ohio State
4.116: OL Ben Bartch, St. John
4.137: CB Josiah Scott, Michigan State
4.140: LB Shaquille Quarterman, Miami (FL.)
5.157: Safety Daniel Thomas, Auburn
5.165: WR Collin Johnson, Texas
6.189: QB Jake Luton, Oregon State
6.206: TE Tyler Davis, Georgia Tech
7.223: DB/KR, Chris Claybrooks, Memphis
Throwback to when Chris Claybrooks opened a game with a 94-yard kickoff return.
