Jags’ 2019 draft class named second-most productive by ESPN

The Jacksonville Jaguars failed to meet expectations by a mile in 2019 but they simply couldn’t have asked for more out of their rookie class. Josh Allen led all rookies in sacks with 10.5, Jawaan Taylor was the only rookie in the league to play …

The Jacksonville Jaguars failed to meet expectations by a mile in 2019 but they simply couldn’t have asked for more out of their rookie class. Josh Allen led all rookies in sacks with 10.5, Jawaan Taylor was the only rookie in the league to play 100% of his snaps and Gardner Minshew II accumulated a 6-6 record as a starter. Simply put, had it not been for their rookies, the team would’ve been looking at less than five wins.

With Pro Football Focus recently releasing its wins above replacement metric, ESPN used their figures to rank every 2019 draft class in the league. The Jags’ ultra-productive class found themselves at the No. 2 spot of the list, only under the Washington Redskins’ rookie class.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars

Why they’re ranked here: Anytime you can get the most valuable rookie in the NFL (Gardner Minshew) in the sixth round of the draft, you’re going to finish pretty high on this list. The Jaguars also got promising performances from early picks Josh Allen and Jawaan Taylor, both members of the PFF All-Rookie Team.

How their top pick fared: Allen (No. 7 overall) finished second among rookie edge defenders in total pressures and pressure rate, just behind No. 2 pick Nick Bosa. Allen wasn’t as dominant as his 10.5 sacks would suggest, but he had a strong rookie season.

Best value pick: People seem to forget that Minshew (No. 178 overall) was dealing early in the season before being benched for a returning Nick Foles. Even with worse play after returning as the starter, he was our highest-graded rookie quarterback.

Heading forward it appears Minshew could remain the starter for the Jags as he certainly did enough in 2019 to get a shot in 2020. He finished the season with a 60.6% completion rate (285-of-470) for 3,271 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and six picks.

The Jags will continue to start Taylor at right tackle after the promise he showed in just one year. After acquiring the second-highest PFF grade on the offensive line (63.9), his biggest issue will be to clean up his penalty issues after acquiring 15 on the season, good for the second-most in the NFL.

Lastly, Allen looks like he could end up being a franchise pass rusher. In addition to his sack total of 10.5, he was able to accumulate 31 tackles and two forced fumbles. That was good enough to make him the first-ever Jags rookie to make the Pro Bowl.