2023 NFL Offseason report: Jacksonville Jaguars

• Free agency recap: Arguably the biggest move the Jaguars made in free agency was re-signing tight end Evan Engram, who was an effective weapon down the stretch last season.

• Best move of the offseason: Travis Etienne was not effective in short-yardage or goal-line situations last year, so the team is likely to see an immediate improvement in these categories this year with the addition of Tank Bigsby.

• Outlook for 2023: The Jaguars likely exceeded expectations last year by not only winning the South but also their wild-card playoff game, which should be the baseline expectation in 2023.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

As the dust settles on the 2023 NFL offseason, it's time to assess how each team fared in their quest to improve their roster.

Recapping blockbuster trades and high-profile signings to shrewd draft selections, PFF offers an in-depth assessment of all 32 NFL teams, shedding light on the potential impact these moves may have on their fortunes in the upcoming campaign.

For more information on each team's draft selections and offseason moves, download the PFF draft guide today!

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS OFFSEASON GRADE: B

 2023 NFL Free Agency

 Free agency recap

Arguably the biggest move the Jaguars made in free agency was re-signing tight end Evan Engram, who was an effective weapon down the stretch last season. From Week 13 until the divisional round of the playoffs, Engram recorded 27 combined first downs and touchdowns, second only to Travis Kelce among tight ends over that span.

Gone via free agency is former starting right tackle Jawaan Taylor, who surrendered just one sack and one hit in pass protection over the last nine games of the campaign, but his 39.7 run-blocking grade likely played a part in Jacksonville’s decision to let him sign elsewhere.

2023 Draft class

R1 (27): T Anton Harrison, Oklahoma
R2 (61): TE Brenton Strange, Penn State
R3 (88): RB Tank Bigsby, Auburn
R4 (121): LB Ventrell Miller, Florida
R4 (130): EDGE Tyler Lacy, Oklahoma State
R5 (136): EDGE Yasir Abdullah, Louisville
R5 (160): S Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M
R6 (185): WR Parker Washington, Penn State
R6 (202): CB Christian Braswell, Rutgers
R6 (208): S Erick Hallett II, Pittsburgh
R7 (226): T Cooper Hodges, Appalachian State
R7 (227): DI Raymond Vohasek, North Carolina
R7 (240): FB Derek Parish, Houston

2023 NFL Draft recap

The Jaguars hope to have found their long-term replacement for Taylor with 27th overall pick Anton Harrison. The Oklahoma product surrendered just nine total pressures — and just one sack — all season for the Sooners in 2022. He’ll likely start opposite Walker Little right away, with Cam Robinson suspended for the first four games for a PED violation.

The Jags were very busy on Day 3, picking 10 times on the day. One of the most intriguing selections was Rutgers cornerback Christian Braswell, who intercepted three balls and broke up eight more on just 41 throws into his coverage in 2022.

Best move of the offseason: Drafting RB Tank Bigsby in Round 3

Travis Etienne was not effective in short-yardage or goal-line situations last year, so the team is likely to see an immediate improvement in these categories this year with the addition of Bigsby. Last year for Auburn, he earned 740 of his 976 rushing yards after initial contact and forced 61 missed tackles.

Remaining team needs: Cornerback

Tyson Campbell had a good 2022 season,  picking up three interceptions and breaking up nine passes on his way to an 80.7 coverage grade. Opposite him, Darious Williams forced 20 incompletions on a whopping 90 targets. But beyond this duo, the Jaguars will need to find more production.

Tre Herndon played primarily out of the slot last season and earned a coverage grade of 57.2 over 364 coverage snaps. Beyond him, Chris Claybrooks and Tevaughn Campbell played fewer than 100 total defensive snaps.

Jacksonville selected two cornerbacks in the sixth round this past April in Christian Braswell and Erick Hallett. Considering the lack of experience and production in front of them, either could put himself in a position to make an immediate impact. If no one in the group beyond the two clear starters is able to stand out during camp, however, the Jaguars could look for another piece via trade or what remains in free agency.

Early position battle to watch: LG Ben Bartch vs. LG Tyler Shatley

Bartch opened the 2022 season as the starting left guard. He rebounded after a brutal Week 1 matchup against the Commanders that saw him surrender four total pressures, giving up just three in the next four games before dislocating his knee in Week 5 against the Texans and missing the remainder of the year.

Shatley started the remainder of the season and gave up 25 total pressures, including three sacks. The pair will likely duel for the rights to the starting job in August.

2023 Outlook

With the rest of the division dependent on rookies or average veteran signal-callers, the Jaguars look to be the class of the AFC South again. The addition of Calvin Ridley could propel an already dangerous offense into the league’s elite, as long as the young pieces on the offensive line can fit in quickly.

On the other side, they’ll want more out of 2022 first-overall selection Travon Walker, but there is enough talent at every level to complement the offense effectively.

The Jaguars likely exceeded expectations last year by not only winning the South but also their wild-card playoff game, which should be the baseline expectation in 2023.