In a year where a lot didn’t go right for the Jacksonville Jaguars, many would agree that the team’s 2020 draft class did their part. Count NFL.com’s Gennaro Filice amongst those who were impressed with the group as he gave the Jags’ class an A- in his recent review of the league’s draft classes.
A big reason for praising the class, of course, was the impact of rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew II, who went 6-6 as a starter.
Let’s start with the most interesting development in an otherwise-forgettable Jaguars season: MINSHEW MANIA!! OK, I won’t go completelyoverboard here, because let’s be honest: At least some of the allure had to do with the mustache and the headband and the distinct je ne sais quoi that tickled the average football watcher’s fancy. That said, the Jock Strap Kingposted a 21:6 TD-to-INT ratio and went 6-6 as a rookie starter for a team that finished the season at 6-10. Fumbles were an issue, but overall, he clearly outplayed prized free-agent signee Nick Foles.
As many would imagine, Filice also praise the performance of the Jags’ first-round selection, Josh Allen, as he lead all rookies in sacks in 2019 with 10.5.
Five rounds and 171 picks prior, the Jags had Allen fall right into their lap, and the no-brainer selection paid off in a major way, racking up 10.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Resident draft guru Daniel Jeremiah ranked Allen as his No. 5 overall rookie (second on defense, behind only Nick Bosa) and offered this enticing appraisal: “He has the potential to eventually lead the league in sacks.”
Without a doubt, the Jags got two of the most productive rookies in the whole 2020 class between Minshew and Allen, but when you add in the fact that right tackle Jawaan Taylor was the only rookie in the league to play 100% of his snaps, it’s hard not to have hope about the future production of the roster.
In his review, Filice looked ahead to the needs of the Jags heading forward. He stated what many have echoed and that’s the fact that the Jags need to pay Yannick Ngakoue and deemed Marcell Dareus as a player who could be released or restructured to make the cap space for Ngakoue’s deal. He added that Calais Campbell was in the same boat as well as cornerback A.J. Bouye.
Of the three, I believe Campbell, who is the heart and soul of the defense is the most likely to stay. Releasing Dareus, which I feel is likely, would be a tremendous relief off the cap as he’d free up over $20 million.
Bouye on the other hand may have a 50-50 shot to stay or be released. He’d free up over $10 million if released. His fate could boil down to whether or not he wants to restructure, and if he doesn’t, the Jags may look in the draft for an answer.