Grading the Tennessee Titans 2024 offseason vs the rest of the AFC South so far
Jacksonville Jaguars
It’s been two years of streaky football for Doug Pederson’s club. During his debut season in 2022, the Jacksonville Jaguars lost eight of their first 12 games. They would close with five straight wins and zoom past the slumping Tennessee Titans to win the AFC South for the first time since 2017. The club rallied from a 27-0 second-quarter deficit in the wild card round to knock off the Chargers, 31-20. A week later, the Jaguars fell at Kansas City in the divisional playoffs.
This past season, this opportunistic club jumped out to an 8-3 start. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence got a little banged up, but it hardly explained a 1-5 finish. The club was 9-8 for the second straight year, but this time no playoff appearance.
Adding veteran Arik Armstead gives new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen a playoff-tested performer up front. The same could be said for new center Mitch Morse, a quality pro for both the Chiefs and the Bills. The signing of Devin Duvernay arguably does more for the return game than the passing attack, now minus Calvin Ridley (Titans).
The Jaguars added defensive backs Ronald Darby (Ravens) and Darnell Savage (Packers) to aid the league’s 26th-ranked pass defense. Will the organization find a way to sign pass-rusher Josh Allen to a long-term deal? He was given the “franchise” tag this offseason after finishing tied for the second in the NFL with 17.5 sacks. That’s almost half (40) of the team’s total in 2023.