NFL: Projecting final records for all 32 teams
By Brad Rowland
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville possessed the worst offense in the NFL last season (last in DVOA, 22nd in passing, 31st in rushing), and that provided the impetus for a significant investment on that side of the ball. The Jags drafted QB Blake Bortles with a top-5 pick, invested two high picks on wide receivers Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson, and even acquired RB Toby Gerhart and guard Zane Beadles as relatively high-priced free agents to bolster the unit.
Still, a Chad Henne-led group can only go so far, and the former Michigan signal-caller has a leg up on Bortles at this point. Gerhart (and his career 4.7 yards per carry) could conceivably be an upgrade over last year’s version of Maurice Jones-Drew, but without Justin Blackmon (suspended), the pass-catchers are limited and/or inexperienced.
Defensively, the Jags picked up three quality defensive linemen in Ziggy Hood, Red Bryant and Chris Clemons, and that should more than mask the loss of Jason Babin. The team ranked in the bottom-6 against both the pass and run in 2013 (as well as 28th in defensive DVOA), so any progress is good progress.
Jacksonville should be more competitive this season, but they are a season or two away from any semblance of playoff hope.
The Pick: 4-12