The 2020 season was a dark and gloomy time for Jacksonville Jaguars fans who saw the last remaining key parts of their 2017 AFC Championship roster shipped away. To make matters worse, the team endured its worst season in team history afterward, registering just one win.
However, the Jags’ 1-15 season provided a brighter future, putting them in position to part ways with their old regime, which for the most part was a huge mess. Most importantly they were able to secure the No. 1 overall pick at the perfect time before the highest-graded prospect since Andrew Luck entered the draft.
As many are aware, that moment is in the history books and the Jags did indeed select Trevor Lawrence as expected. And while some still can’t believe the former Tiger is now a Jag, it became officially official on July 5 when Lawrence signed a four-year deal worth $36.8 million.
Now, it’s time to see if he can turn the franchise around like fans of the NFL witnessed other highly regarded quarterbacks do. Like many fans in Duval, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox is high on that coming to reality, deeming Lawrence the Jags’ biggest reason for optimism heading into training camp.
Lawrence, the No. 1 overall pick out of Clemson, has been touted as a can’t-miss prospect ever since his freshman season. He won a national championship as a true freshman and led the Tigers to the College Football Playoff in each of his three seasons.
More importantly, though, Lawrence has all the physical tools needed to thrive at the next level.
As long as Jacksonville can avoid setting up Lawrence to fail, he should begin turning around the franchise as early as this season.
Despite winning just one game last season, the Jags have a respectable group in place to help Lawrence as a rookie. There are receivers like DJ Chark, Laviska Shenault Jr., and veteran Marvin Jones Jr., as well as James Robinson, who was a 1,000-plus yard rusher last season. And while he’s just as unproven as Lawrence, the Jags also spent the No. 25 overall pick on explosive tailback Travis Etienne, who shared the backfield with the rookie quarterback at Clemson.
Nobody is exactly expecting the Jags to make the playoffs, but if Lawrence can have a rookie season like Justin Herbert, they will make a lot of progress in 2021. Then again, the AFC South isn’t the strongest division, and repeating the success of the former Oregon quarterback may just sneak the Jags in the postseason by some miracle.