Sports

Jaguars Drop in Power Rankings After Offseason Moves

The Jacksonville Jaguars are one of those franchises that’s not bad, but they aren’t quite great, either.

The Jags have a promising quarterback in Trevor Lawrence, who’s healthy again after coming back from injuries during the 2024-25 season, but they haven’t really been able to capitalize on the talent on their team.

In ESPN’s post-draft power rankings, the outlet ranks Jacksonville as the No. 15 best team in the league going into the new season, and it feels right. It’s a lukewarm ranking for a lukewarm team. But, they’re down nine spots from their early power rankings before the draft and free agency moves.

“Travis Hunter being primarily a cornerback in 2026 — the opposite of what happened last season — is the main reason,” Michael DiRocco states in the piece. “He played 67% of the team’s offensive snaps and 36% of the defensive snaps before the noncontact knee injury he suffered in practice Oct. 30.”

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He adds, “The Jaguars believe Hunter was their best corner despite the smaller workload on defense. Re-signing Montaric Brown to start on the other side is a major plus, too. If Jourdan Lewis returns to his level of play before his Week 16 foot injury, cornerback will be the Jaguars’ strongest position group.”

My Take: Will the Jags Pop in 2026?

So, what will the 2026-27 season look like for the Jacksonville Jaguars? I think they could pop. They’re the kind of team that’s fallen just under the radar, and while they haven’t been great, they also have lost some very close matchups that show their talent.

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Lawrence is an underrated quarterback, and if the moves this team made during the offseason turn out for the better, including strengthening the cornerback position, that could take them to the next level.

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published May 9, 2026 at 12:17 PM.

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