With The First Pick
Fansided

Jaguars Shopping Cart: Biggest NFL Draft needs for Jacksonville in 2022

By Jelani Goodridge-Reid

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 12: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Jacksonville Jaguars calls the play in the huddle during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on December 12, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Jaguars 20-0. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 12: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Jacksonville Jaguars calls the play in the huddle during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on December 12, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Jaguars 20-0. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
Steelers
Marvin Jones Jr. #11 and Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Jacksonville Jaguars (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /

Wide Receiver

Trevor Lawrence is a common theme in this article. That’s because of his importance towards the future of this team. The Jaguars are building a roster for him. As of right now, he doesn’t have the weapons he needs to overtake teams like the Titans or Colts within their division. This offense ranks 28th in total passing yards and yards per game in the air. Lawrence has only one game with multiple touchdown passes. A part of that has to do with who is in the wide receiver room.

The Jaguars currently have Marvin Jones Jr., Laquon Treadwell, and Laviska Shenault as starters with Tavon Austin, Josh Hammond, Terry Godwin, and Jaydon Mickens as additional pass catchers. This group also includes Jamal Agnew and DJ Chark Jr. atop their receiver hierarchy, but they’ve been out due to injuries.

Agnew suffered a season-ending hip injury placing him on injured reserve back in Week 11. He was an important piece on offense through his ability to help in both receiving and rushing if need be. By losing him, the Jags lost talent in the slot and on special teams. As for Chark, he ended up with an ankle injury two months ago keeping him off the field until 2022. With the former Pro Bowler being out indefinitely, Jacksonville lost someone they saw potentially wreaking havoc with Jones and Shenault on the outside as the No.1 wideout.

The receiving group has some talent, mostly raw, but not enough of it. Aside from Jones, there needs to be more of a reliable target down the field. Jacksonville looks to 2022 as an opportunity to bring in more skill whether it’s via free agency or the draft.

The Jaguars are estimated to have $71.8 million in salary-cap space in 2022, according to Spotrac. Hence, allowing them to eye players like Davante Adams, DeAndre Hopkins, Chris Godwin, or even make Allen Robinson consider a return. Those names are most likely going to look elsewhere in the offseason making this position a priority once the draft approaches. No receivers are coming out in the draft deserving to be selected in the earlier half of the top 10, where the Jags will be. So, expect them to have discussions involving a receiver in rounds two through five.

Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Justin Herbert are a few young quarterbacks in the conference who have a lot of noticeable talent to work with. The Jaguars’ offense needs to be more explosive, this is a must to make their presence felt in the AFC.

Home/Jacksonville Jaguars