The Jacksonville Jaguars are flying under the radar ahead of the regular season, and rightly so. You cannot expect them to be in the conversation about the best teams in the NFL after failing to make the playoffs each of the past two years. Sure, they have several talented pieces in place, and the arrival of head coach Liam Coen gives the Jags a reason for optimism. That said, they'll need to win a few games before they're taken seriously.
For the time being, Jacksonville will often find itself in the bottom half of most power rankings, including one that lists the top triplets in the NFL.
Jared Dubin of CBS Sports recently ranked all NFL triplets and gave the Jags the No. 19 spot, pointing out that the trio of Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne, and Brian Thomas Jr. isn't lacking talent but has left a bit to be desired.
"Jacksonville checked in 16th last year, which means it's down year over year despite BTJ putting together one of the best rookie wide receiver seasons in NFL history. That tells you a bit about where openings are on Lawrence and Etienne right now," Dubin wrote. "Lawrence only played 10 games last season and he was, kindly, not very good. He still has immense talent, but the ship might have sailed on him living up to the uber-prospect expectations he had coming into the league."
Dubin continued, "And Etienne might be surpassed in the backfield rotation this year, with Jacksonville bringing in multiple other guys."
All things considered, that's a bleak assessment of three of the best Jaguars players, but it's deserved. As Dubin noted, Travis Etienne was unremarkable. Ditto Lawrence, who suffered an AC sprain in 2024 that cut his season short. Thomas, on the other hand, was one of the few bright spots for Jacksonville in 2024, but he alone cannot win football games.
And in case you were wondering, the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans ranked 28th and 30th, respectively, so the Jags are perceived to have more talent ahead of the 2025 season than each of their two division foes. On the other hand, the Houston Texans landed at No. 11, showing that they remain the team to beat in the AFC South.
Related: AFC South quarterback rankings: Where does Trevor Lawrence stand?
Why Trevor Lawrence and the rest of the Jaguars triplets can bounce back
You cannot give the Jacksonville Jaguars a higher spot in the triplets rankings based on recent performance. That said, they're in a position to rebound in 2025 and move up into the top half next year.
Trevor Lawrence has what's arguably the best supporting cast he's had in his career. With a beefed-up offensive line and an upgraded arsenal of weapons, he could re-join the conversation about the top quarterbacks in the NFL. Thomas, on the other hand, is projected to be even more dominant than he was as a rookie, and he was darn good, hauling in 82 receptions for 1,282 yards with 10 touchdowns.
The biggest question mark of the three is probably Travis Etienne, who is part of a crowded backfield that also includes Tank Bigsby and rookie Bhayshul Tuten. That said, the former Clemson Tiger has proven that he can be a No. 1 running back, and will have a chance to prove he still is if he sticks around next season.
The bottom line is that the Jacksonville Jaguars have a solid nucleus in place, and if they win enough games next season, their cornerstones will get the spotlight.
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