The Jacksonville Jaguars have decimated their roster in 2020.
The Jacksonville Jaguars were expected to compete for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft before the offseason kicked off, and they’ve now become the favorites for that selection after their fire sale. In the last few days, Doug Marrone has continued to strip the roster down for spare parts waiving former No. 4 overall pick Leonard Fournette and trading disgruntled defensive end Yannick Ngakoue to Minnesota.
Jaguars fan @madebytim illustrated just how much upheaval has gone down in Duval County over the last few years. Only 12 players from that team who was one botched fourth quarter away from winning the 2018 AFC Championship Game and going to the Super Bowl remain in Jacksonville. Just two starters from the famed “Sacksonville” defense are still on the team.
here's a list of the 2017 AFC South Division Champion Jaguars players still on the team pic.twitter.com/RwdWYw213j
— madebytim (@MadeByTim) August 31, 2020
The Jaguars are headed for a full-scale rebuild in 2020
Only Myles Jack and Abry Jones remain from that legendary defensive unit. While Jalen Ramsey, Calais Campbell, and AJ Bouye were traded to the Rams, Ravens, and Broncos, respectively, Malik Jackson and Tashaun Gipson left the team in free agency. Retirement claimed linebackers Paul Posluszny and Telvin Smith. A good chunk of these players were added by Tom Coughlin, who was removed from their front office after a disappointing stretch of results in 2019.
While Gardner Minshew was excellent last season as a rookie, the Jaguars are doing him no favors by getting rid of most of their complementary pieces. With five draft picks in the first two rounds and a roster capable of securing the No. 1 overall pick, Jacksonville appears set on tanking to select Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence and ushering in a new era.
Jaguars loaded for 2021 draft in which many expect Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence to be the No. 1 pick. Jaguars now scheduled to have eight picks in first five rounds — two firsts picks, a second, a third, two fourths and two fifths, with chance one of those fifths could go higher. https://t.co/GkoIzVFYkB
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 30, 2020
Jaguars fans might need to avert their eyes from the screen for the duration of the 2020 season, but they could be rewarded with a potential franchise savior if this rebuild goes right.