From breakout offensive campaigns to defensive performances worthy of awards, these are four bold Jacksonville Jaguars predictions for the 2024 NFL season.
Four Bold Jaguars Predictions For The 2024 Season
Trevor Lawrence Takes A Leap
Jaguars fans and some other NFL fans around the league know how good Trevor Lawrence can be, but the rest of the NFL world looks down on Lawrence’s performance in his young career. With a tumultuous rookie year, followed by up-and-down seasons with a new head coach, Lawrence has always been on the verge of greatness, and with being thrust into the top ten quarterbacks. The first bold prediction for the Jaguars 2024 season is that Lawrence makes that leap.
Another year under Doug Pederson and Press Taylor, combined with having Evan Engram and Christian Kirk together for continuity, makes for a strong supporting cast among the returning players. Travis Etienne Jr. will be a good compliment to Lawrence and will make the defense aware of the running game, unlike before he solidified his role in Jacksonville. Most important, are the additions of Mitch Morse at center along with Gabe Davis and rookie Brian Thomas Jr. at wide receiver.
These additions have a massive impact on the Jaguars, as they are all arguably direct improvements, or have the potential to be incredible additions, over their previous counterparts. Morse replaces Luke Fortner at center, which might be the best move the Jaguars made all offseason. Fortner struggled mightly in the center of the offensive line, and now Morse comes in and provides veteran stability to the center of the offensive line. Davis takes over the Zay Jones role, which is very easily replaceable, and he can do the role much better than Jones. Thomas is the only major question mark, but between stellar combine performances, good offseason work, incredible college film, and a progressively improving preseason, Thomas is setting up to be a major focal point of the offense.
Overall, the Jaguars offense has improved compared to any year that Lawrence has been under center. With this improved supporting cast, Lawrence is primed to break out and have a season that could earn him MVP consideration.
Evan Engram Leads the Tight Ends
As a part of the Lawrence breakout, Engram and many others would find success. The biggest beneficiary of the Lawrence breakout would be the Jaguars tight end Engram. He’s coming off a high-volume, lower-efficiency season. That volume could repeat in 2024, especially with Engram being a safety valve for Lawrence. His role in 2023 allowed him to get a lot of attention from Lawrence, but the offense’s struggles capped his potential due to the lack of verticality and blocking. Both of those issues have been addressed in free agency and the NFL draft. All signs point towards a great season from the Jaguars offense, and the player that will benefit the most is Engram.
When Engram came to Jacksonville, he showed how great he could be, something plenty of people in the league thought he could do with the New York Giants. Now, entering his third season in Jacksonville, Engram has the chance to be one of the best tight ends in the NFL. Engram will lead all tight ends in both receptions and receiving yards in 2024. A much better offense, combined with a breakout quarterback performance, means that Engram will be seeing some of the most work among all the tight ends in the league.
Josh Hines-Allen Leads the NFL in Sacks
Another prediction revolving around a specific stat, Josh Hines-Allen can make a name for himself with a stellar 2024 season. He’s been the only high-quality pass rusher in Jacksonville for a while now, and with Travon Walker beginning to find his stride, Hines-Allen was able to generate plenty of pressure in 2023. But, Arik Armstead and other young talent coming in to revamp the defensive line will drastically help Hines-Allen by diverting attention away from him.
Teams can no longer just double-team Hines-Allen, as the rest of the defensive line is drastically improved from years prior. He had some incredible seasons as the only pass rusher, but after signing a massive contract and the Jaguars bringing in talent along the defensive line, there should be a lot more opportunities for Hines-Allen to make an impact.
He could leap into the upper echelon of defensive pass rushers alongside Micah Parsons, Nick Bosa, Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett, and T.J. Watt. Of all of the names associated with dominant pass-rushing outside linebackers or edge defenders, Hines-Allen is always left out among them. But, with this prediction of leading the league in sacks, there would be no doubt about his ability, nor his inclusion amongst the NFL’s elite pass rushers.
The Jaguars Win the Division and Get the Two Seed
All offseason, every NFL pundit and media personality has been gushing over the Houston Texans and C.J. Stroud. With his incredible rookie season, there is good reason why he’s being discussed amongst the NFL’s best. But, overlooking the Jaguars isn’t a good idea, especially with the team making all the improvements they needed to make to ensure an incredible 2024 season.
None of the holes from 2023 remain in 2024. The offensive line is significantly better, as is the defensive line. The wide receivers got deeper and better, and the safety room is one of the best in the NFL. While Darious Williams is no longer a Jaguar, Tyson Campbell and Ronald Darby are more than capable of filling in his absence. Tight ends and running backs, along with the linebackers, all remain as strong as they were in 2023. Looking at the 53-man roster, the Jaguars have very few holes and have improved in nearly every area of their team. It’s a strong team, with big aspirations, that’s become slept on by the majority of the NFL world. A division win is far from a bold prediction, but with all the hype on the Texans, a Jaguars division title would be a surprise to many.
Bold Prediction Outlook
Between an offensive breakout from the most important position, and other captains reaching the pinnacle of their positions, the Jaguars would be well set up to not only win the AFC South but also prove to be a Super Bowl contender in 2024.
While bold, it is the name of the game when looking at bold predictions for the Jaguars in 2024. There is a lot to love with the offense and plenty to be inspired by on defense. The special teams might be one of the most underrated in the NFL, and the overall cohesiveness of the team has significantly improved heading into 2024. All of these factors make for a huge opportunity to have a massive season in Jacksonville.
Main Image: Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK
