Jags receivers corps ranked among worst in the NFL by PFF
One of the biggest questions for the Jacksonville Jaguars heading into this offseason was their receivers room. Now, free agency and the draft have passed, but questions remain about the unit.
The Jags started the offseason by signing two receivers in free agency in Christian Kirk and Zay Jones, both of whom are set to earn a reasonable amount of money. They also signed former New York Giants tight end Evan Engram in free agency. Then in the draft, the Jags elected to pass on selecting a receiver but were able to sign a draftable prospect in Kevin Austin.
When factoring in all of these moves, many critics in the football community weren’t all that impressed with the additions at receiver. It appears Pro Football Focus also feels that way, as they recently ranked the Jags’ receivers corps 28th in their league-wide look at the position.
What it boiled down to for Ben Linsey was the fact that the Jags didn’t get a top-end talent at the position, and as a result, their receivers group found themselves in the fourth tier of the rankings.
The Jaguars threw plenty of money at their receiving corps with the signings of Christian Kirk, Zay Jones and Evan Engram. That gives Jacksonville more depth, but the team still lacks the top-end options for Trevor Lawrence to throw to. Kirk is the closest thing to it, but even he has averaged just 1.52 receiving yards per route run over the [ast two seasons (66th among 127 qualifying wide receivers). The biggest improvement should come from the incoming coaching staff putting Lawrence and his receivers in a better position to succeed.
The Jags’ decisions at receiver came in an offseason where several No. 1 receivers were traded. The one that made the most sense for the Jags was Amari Cooper, who was traded from Dallas to Cleveland for fifth and sixth-round picks in April’s draft. The Jags were interested but weren’t able to put a better offer on the table than the Browns, which left many Jags fans wondering if their team had missed out on a good deal.
As for the players they were able to acquire at the position, Kirk seems like he has the best chance to be a No. 1. While he never registered 1,000 receding yards in a season while with Arizona, he proved to be a talented individual who did a little of everything. However, a key part of his game is his ability to challenge teams deep at times, which would be a huge attribute for second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence to have by his side this season.
Another name to watch who could bolster the receivers group is Travis Etienne. While he’s predominantly a running back, he’s been getting looks as a receiver in organized team activities and has impressed in the process.
As pointed out by Linsey, a lot will depend on Doug Pederson getting the most out of the group. He shouldn’t be doubted in the process, either, as he was able to win Super Bowl LII with a group that consisted of Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor, and Torrey Smith as his top receivers. He also had Zach Ertz on the roster, but even with the Pro Bowl talent, there wasn’t a single pass-catcher on the roster who hit the 1,000-yard or 900-yard receiving mark.
If it’s a coach who can get the most out of the present group, it’s Pederson. Ultimately, time will tell if he can make history repeat itself and shock the football community by making the Jags’ receivers group respectable.
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