NFL power rankings: Training camp edition
By Brad Weiss
Jacksonville Jaguars
, AFC South
By ranking the 2017 Jacksonville Jaguars this low, I may end up being right, or very wrong. The real fact is that the team brought in some quality players this offseason, and their draft class was one of the better collections of talent in my opinion. The problem is, the Jaguars always tease us with a splashy offseason, only to see their players fail to play with any consistency over the 16-game regular season.
It is quite possible the Jaguars could be a top-15 the time we are through the first month of the season, but lets see how it plays out first. The biggest question mark with this team is Blake Bortles, who looked so good two seasons ago, albeit mostly in garbage time. Last season, Bortles took a major step back, and with teams like the Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, and Indianapolis Colts all looking like playoff teams, that leaves the Jags at the bottom of the AFC South.
With the No. 4 overall selection in last April’s draft, the Jaguars selected Leonard Fournette, a big back out of LSU. Fournette could have the kind of impact that Ezekiel Elliott had for the Dallas Cowboys last season, as he possesses that rare blend of size and speed. In addition, the team selected Alabama offensive tackle Cam Robinson, Illinois defensive end Dawuane Smoot, and Oklahoma wideout Dede Westbrook, all of which are super-talented players.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Jaguars made a couple big free agent pickups, including two defensive backs, and one defensive lineman. A.J. Bouye of the Texans was one of the more sought after free agent cornerbacks this offseason, and Calais Campbell is a solid player up front. The Jags were also able to grab Barry Church from the Dallas Cowboys, giving them more veteran leadership in their secondary. The Jags could be a surprising team this season, but I am not sold yet.