Jacksonville Jaguars: 5 offseason needs in 2019

By Conor Myles | Feb 21, 2019

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 13: Nick Foles #9 of the Philadelphia Eagles warms up before the NFC Divisional Playoff against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

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Mandatory Credit: Rich Graessle-Getty Images /

1. Nick Foles, QB

Foles winding up with the Jaguars is widely speculated throughout the league. The team’s need at quarterback after Blake Bortles continues to struggle is well known, but what also makes the pairing of Foles in Jacksonville make so much sense — the familiarity with the offensive coordinator John DeFilippo.

Filippo comes to Jacksonville after being ousted by the Minnesota Vikings towards the end of the 2018 season, but before that was the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback coach during their Super Bowl-winning season in 2017 with Foles at quarterback.

The two worked extensively together after Foles was inserted into the starting role replacing Carson Wentz who was lost to a torn ACL and LCL after the team’s week 13 victory against the Los Angeles Rams. DeFilippo cited spending time with Foles developing game plans that he felt comfortable doing during his time as the starter, which ultimately led to the team’s Super Bowl victory.

Pairing the Super Bowl 52 MVP back with the quarterback coach that helped put him in that position may be wise for Jacksonville to explore. Getting Foles also doesn’t preclude the Jaguars from using their first-round pick on a quarterback in the upcoming 2019 NFL Draft, instead the team should feel more encouraged in doing so.

Top 50 NFL free agents of 2019. dark. Next

Foles has handled the quarterback situation in Philadelphia extremely well acknowledging his role as backup to Wentz, despite his successes. The 30-year-old quarterback offers the ability to be the bridge to his predecessor better than any signal caller available with how he’s proven to be a team-first type of player.

Drafting and grooming a young quarterback like a Dwayne Haskins, Kyler Murray, or Drew Lock behind a win-now roster the team has assembled and proven to be after the 2017 AFC Championship Game, could ultimately prove to be successful for the Jaguars. Foles gives them that option still to do so, or chase another need with the seventh overall pick while waiting for the 2020 quarterback draft class.

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