The 2024 NFL Season is rapidly approaching. The season kicks off on Thursday, September 5 and every day through Monday, September 2 we’ll be going team-by-team as we preview the new season. Be sure to come back here every afternoon as we look at a new team and get your ready for the 2024 season. We’ll cover off-season changes, the fantasy prospects, and the prediction for how the team will fare this season.

The 2023 season didn’t go as planned for the Jaguars. After winning the division and making the playoffs in 2022, the Jaguars entered last season the favorites in the AFC South. They started 8-3 and seemed to be cruising toward the post-season. They finished 9-8, missing out as the Texans won the AFC South. Can the Jaguars turn it around this season and get back to the playoffs? Let’s dive in and preview this Jacksonville team.

Off-Season Changes

The Jaguars changed up their team a fair bit this off-season, especially on offense. Kicker Brandon McManus is gone, as are two thirds of the receiving group. Zay Jones was released and headed to the Cardinals, while Calvin Ridley signed with division rivals the Tennessee Titans. But they added plenty of veterans, including bringing in safeties Darnell Savage and Terrell Edmunds, cornerbacks Tre Flowers and Ronald Darby, and defensive end Arik Armstead. The team also brought in veteran center Mitch Morse and added former Bills’ receiver Gabe Davis. Davis caught 163 passes and added 27 touchdowns in four years for Buffalo.

In the draft, the Jaguars made more moves. In the First Round, the Jaguars grabbed another receiver in Brian Thomas, Jr. In three seasons for LSU, Thomas caught 127 passes for 1,897 yards and 24 touchdowns. He helps give them another weapon. Elsewhere in the draft, the Jaguars grabbed defensive tackle Maason Smith in the Second Round.

Fantasy Prospects

The Jaguars signed quarterback Trevor Lawrence to a big extension this off-season, making him one of the highest paid quarterbacks in the league. For fantasy, he was QB13 in 2023, and I suspect he’ll be a top-end QB2 again in 2024. In the backfield, the team picked up the Fifth-Year option for Travis Etienne. He was RB3 in 2023, though he faded a bit down the stretch. Still, I like him to be an RB1 again in 2024.

In the pass game, rookie Thomas and new addition Davis join veteran Christian Kirk. Kirk has been the best and most steady receiver for the Jaguars, and I like him to continue that way in 2024. He’s a WR2 for me. Davis has long been boom/bust for fantasy, and I suspect he will be again. Thomas is more intriguing to me long-term, but I’m cautious about both for 2024. I have both in the WR5 range. The biggest passing threat for the team might be tight end Evan Engram, who was TE2 in 2023. I like him to be big for the Jaguars again, ending up a high-end TE1.

Prediction

Will the real Jacksonville Jaguars please step up? I think, perhaps, a nine- or 10-win team is the real Jaguars. They won in 2022 at 9-8 and were just eliminated at 9-8 in 2023. I think this is still a solid team but not spectacular. The AFC South has gotten stronger overall. I think the Jaguars will be competitive and in the playoff race to the end, but I’m not convinced they make it as a Wild Card.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.