When looking at the class from top to bottom, fans would be hard-pressed to find a team that got more out of their 2019 draft class than the Jacksonville Jaguars. While it may have gone under the radar of most casual fans, the good people at Pro Football Focus seemingly paid close attention to the group and named quarterback Gardner Minshew II, pass-rusher Josh Allen, and right tackle Jawaan Taylor to their annual All-Rookie team this past week.
Of the three, Minshew came away with the highest overall PFF grade (70.3), which was also more than first-round selections Dwayne Haskins and Kyler Murray. According to PFF analyst Ben Linsey, Minshew especially thrived with deep ball throws, accumulating a 129.0 passer rating on passes 20 or more yards, which was a total good for the best in the league.
Allen made the cut alongside San Francisco 49ers pass-rusher Nick Bosa due to ranking behind him with the second highest pass-rushing grade (70.2) of any rookie on the edge. He also was slightly behind Bosa in total pressures with 49, pressure rate (13.7%) and win rate while pass-rushing (15.7%).
Lastly, Taylor was praised by PFF for his pass-blocking success mostly. He was the only rookie offensive tackle in the league to register 500 or more offensive snaps and record a pass-blocking grade higher than 60.0. He was also one of 20 right tackles to allow a pressure rate lower than 6.0%.
Heading into 2019, the Jags had clear needs at both quarterbacks and right tackle, so the analytics and grades compiled by PFF are certainly encouraging for the futures of Minshew and Taylor. As for Allen, he made a respectable Jags pass-rush even better, and if he continues the fast growth fans witnessed in 2019, the Jags’ have their franchise player on the roster to take Jalen Ramsey’s place.