Friday, September 8, 2023

Jacksonville Jaguars Week 1 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 1 roundup for the Jacksonville Jaguars in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 11

On the hot seat: OLB Josh Allen

The No. 7 pick in 2019 is playing on his fifth-year option, and what he does this season will determine his future in Jacksonville. He has not been the dominating pass-rusher the team hoped for -- he had 10.5 sacks as a rookie but just 17 in 41 games since. He was among the league leaders in QB pressure percentage last season (15.3%, which ranked seventh) but had only seven sacks. A double-digit sack season would at least get Allen franchise-tagged and might lead to a potential long-term deal. -- Michael DiRocco

NFL.com -- Rank: 9

The Jaguars have the luxury of facing a rookie QB (the Colts' Anthony Richardson) in Week 1, followed by three straight home games. The significance here is that is how long LT Cam Robinson's four-game suspension will keep him out. The Jaguars will have to pray for good health at the position, because they'll absolutely be thin without the veteran. Walker Little and rookie Anton Harrison are in line to start at tackle, but the Jags lost a key depth piece with Josh Wells on IR. The offense could be scary with the additions of WR Calvin Ridley and RB Tank Bigsby, along with Trevor Lawrence and other young standouts improving. But that's also contingent on the tackles holding up early in the season.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 6

They will be explosive on offense and the schedule is favorable. That's a great combination to have in order to be able to make a Super Bowl push.

USA Today -- Rank: 9

Being without LT Cam Robinson (PED suspension) for the first four games is hardly ideal, but Jacksonville shouldn't see any especially scary defenses (Indianapolis, Kansas City, Houston, Atlanta) over that stretch.

The Athletic -- Rank: 5

Best-case scenario: Trevor Lawrence goes from being one of the best young quarterbacks in the league to the second-best quarterback, period. The addition of a bona fide No. 1 wide receiver in Calvin Ridley gives him a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option, and Lawrence cuts his interception rate in half for the second consecutive season. Running roughshod over the AFC South gives the Jags a realistic shot at the No. 1 seed in the loaded AFC.

Worst-case scenario: Ridley isn't the same player he was at his peak, the departure of Jawaan Taylor is felt in a big way along an offensive line that struggles to keep Lawrence clean, and the defense turns out to be one of the worst in the league while Travon Walker looks pedestrian compared to ascendant Detroit Lions superstar Aidan Hutchinson. Tony Khan is forced to release Lawrence after he has a pregame altercation with Jason Priestley's son.

FOX -- Rank: 10

I expect the Jags to climb this list, and quickly. Jacksonville didn't do much to address their defense in the offseason, but the offense should be incredible with Calvin Ridley joining what was already a fun unit. If Trevor Lawrence is ready to take the next step, I agree with Peter King that the Jags are capable of grabbing the AFC's No. 1 seed.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 12

Calvin Ridley is going to be fantastic this season. He's not completely without risk after not playing much the past two seasons, but he and Trevor Lawrence were already connecting in the preseason. Lawrence is going to feed his new WR1 all season.

PFT -- Rank: 7

If this collection of players and coaches was named anything other than "Jaguars," they'd be getting a lot more hype.

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