Jaguars News (6/18): Jags among 7 teams under ‘most pressure’ per PFF (2024)

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Here is today’s roundup of the latest news, rumors, and analysis on your Jacksonville Jaguars.

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Phil Rauscher Is Confident in the Jaguars Offensive Line Developing in the Run Game (Jaguars.com)

“I’m really confident in where we’ve gone this offseason with it and how the players have bought into what we’ve been teaching and talking about,” Rauscher said. “We’re going to pare down the run game a little bit and in paring it down, it’s going to expand different things that we can do in the sense of formations and movements and shifts and different things.

Snacks, socks, confidence set Jaguars rookie Jarrian Jones apart (News 4 Jax)

“Every night I drink almond milk vanilla with chocolate chip cookies, pecan turtle delight cookies, and white macadamia cookies. About six or seven cookies every night with almond milk,” Jones said.

Jaguars’ Tony Khan: Trevor Lawrence’s deal ‘very important for us’ (Jaguars Wire)

“It’s very important for us and it’s great news for the Jags fans and everybody in the Jaguars’ organization,” Khan said. “We got Trevor Lawrence locked into a great contract — to have a top quarterback, a top young quarterback, and somebody that is really a face of the Jaguars and we all love working with.

Offseason Takeaways to Wrap Up NFL Minicamps Across the League (Sports Illustrated)

My first thought on the Trevor Lawrence deal: The contract has a really strong set of guarantees that shows commitment to the quarterback. The Jacksonville Jaguars have essentially locked in his first three years, which add up to $170 million. Most of his fourth year is fully guaranteed at signing, with the rest vesting a year early. All of his fifth year is guaranteed for injury now and will vest as fully guaranteed a year early. That’s a big bet on a QB.

Four reasons for Trevor Lawrence’s $275M, plus minicamp takeaways (The Athletic)

One important stat is expected points added, which measures how well a team performs relative to expectation. Lawrence ranked No. 16 in 2023 EPA per play (Brock Purdy is No. 1), but when adjusted for variables outside of the quarterback’s control, Lawrence was the NFL’s third-best quarterback, with an EPA of 0.26.

Offseason observations from all 32 NFL teams: Chiefs’ rebuilt WR room, Kirk Cousins’ impact (The Athletic)

Rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. seemed to make a positive impression, which should be the case for a first-round pick. Thomas is in a good spot because the Jaguars already have a cache of proven skill players, so he can come into his own at his own pace. However, if he can solidify an early role as a speed-driven deep threat, the Jaguars should be ecstatic. The question is how his skills will translate in a more physical training camp environment along with answering the challenge of maintaining consistency in a challenging offense.

2024 NFL rookie updates: Notes on 32 first-round draft picks (ESPN)

QB Trevor Lawrence said he was impressed with how quickly Thomas has picked up the offense, and offensive coordinator Press Taylor echoed that, but added that he’d like the former LSU standout to speak a little more. “He’s not a big talker. So you’re not always sure, you’re searching for feedback,” Taylor said. “Are you picking up what we’re saying? So far it’s always translated over the field pretty good. So he’s getting it in some, way, shape or form. We want more out of him communication-wise just so we know what he’s thinking. Does this make sense to you? How do you relate this? For the most part, he kind of nods and looks at you and goes out on the field and does it right. So that’s encouraging.”

7 NFL teams under the most pressure to succeed in 2024 (PFF)

Although the Jaguars have gone 9-8 in each of the past two years, the perception surrounding the team is night and day. It was considered a major step forward in 2022, as was defeating the Chargers in an unforgettable wild-card comeback. But the same record meant stagnation last year after the team started 8-3 but finished 1-5 and missed the playoffs.

See Also

Jaguars News (6/19): Andre Cisco speaks on AFC South’s receiver talent

Editor’s pick

Derrick Henry and Ravens are match made in smash-mouth football heaven (SB Nation)

It’s fairly simple on the surface why this signing will work out for Baltimore: QB Lamar Jackson plus Henry in the run game equals instant success, right? However, there’s even more to it that I think makes this signing have the potential to elevate the Ravens’ offense to a new level.

A First Look at the Jayden Daniels Era in Washington (The Ringer)

The Washington Commanders are going to compete. On the practice field, at least. Throughout my visit to the team’s first day of mandatory minicamp this week, I heard some form of the word “competition” dozens of times. With Pete Carroll disciple Dan Quinn taking over as head coach in 2024, it’s not a surprise that it’s become the most popular word in Ashburn, Virginia.

Source: Bengals WR Tee Higgins signs franchise tender (ESPN)

Higgins signed his franchise tag Saturday, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. By signing the tag, the fifth-year wide receiver is now expected to be at training camp.

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