With training camp only weeks away now, we felt it was a good time to make our predictions for what Jacksonville Jaguar will earn their first Pro Bowl nod of their career in 2018. With such a talented roster, there are so many different candidates on the Jaguars who can go on to become Pro Bowlers.
Trevan Pixley: Leonard Fournette
Fournette managed to earn 1,342 all purpose yards in 2017 along with 10 total touchdowns. This is all despite missing three games. It’s a mystery how Fournette didn’t make the Pro Bowl last season. However, Fournette is almost a shoe-in for the game in Hawaii in 2018. Fournette is 100 percent healthy and will continue to be the bell cow of the offense. The Jaguars also added All-Pro Offensive Guard Andrew Norwell in Free Agency which will prove to be a very successful pick up for the Jaguars. Add in second year offensive tackle Cam Robinson, who is developing well in Nathaniel Hackett’s offense, and a lot of running lanes will be open for Fournette in 2018.
Sergio Barrientos: Blake Bortles
As I mentioned a couple weeks ago, Blake Bortles will have the best season of his career in 2018. Building off of the momentum from the postseason in which he surrendered zero turnovers, Bortles should be able to fully elevate his game in 2018. Added weapons such as Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Donte Moncrief, D.J. Chark, Niles Paul, and Allen Lazard will help increase Bortles’ completion percentage, passing yards, passing touchdowns, and passer rating as well. The addition of Offensive Guard Andrew Norwell will prove to be one of the most important signings in free agency as the protection he will provide for Bortles will be tremendous. Many might be surprised to see Blake’s name here, but don’t be. He is set up to have a great year and has a chance to be a pro bowler for the first time in his career.
Jake Michaud: Myles Jack
(Jan. 20, 2018 – Source: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images North America)
Out of all of the players that have the best chance to make the first Pro Bowl for the first time, Myles Jack has one of the best chances. Jack is the up and coming Inside Linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He had 90 combined tackles good for second on the team behind Telvin Smith. This year will be his third season and second being the full time starter at linebacker. Many believe he will make the jump up in his play after his strong showing in the playoffs. Fans from all over Duval will tell you “Myles Jack wasn’t down” on the play he forced a fumble and could have ran back for a touchdown. They strongly believe that the Jaguars should have been in the Super Bowl rather than the Patriots. Jack and the Jaguars are going to be playing this year to prove that and earn the respect they believe they deserve.
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Tyler Heminger: Keelan Cole
Keelan Cole was an undrafted rookie out of Kentucky Wesleyan College in 2017. To say that he performed over expectations is an understatement. He barely got any targets until around Week 6 and he still finished with over 800 receiving yards. When Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns went down week after week, Keelan Cole stepped up and showed why he deserves to be a Pro Bowl caliber wide receiver. With a full year of NFL training and a better understanding of the offense, I do not see a single reason as to why Keelan Cole could not be a Pro Bowl receiver in 2018.
Tharin Hess: Andrew Norwell
It’s hard to believe that a 26 year old guard that just got paid 66.5M for 5 years and earned 1st team All-Pro honors in 2017, hasn’t been to a Pro Bowl but here we are. Norwell is entering his 5th year in the NFL and is regarded by many as a top 3 guard and potentially the best guard in pass protection in the league. His motor is outrageous, when you watch the guy play he just doesn’t take a break. Norwell is coming in to a great situation in Jacksonville. This offensive line allowed only 24 sacks and lead the league in rushing during their 2017 campaign. The Pro Bowl is largely a popularity contest and I expect the Jaguars rushing success, that they will inevitably have in 2018, to be largely attributed to their new flashy off-season signing in Andrew Norwell.
HONORABLE MENTION: TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, SS Barry Church, DE Dante Fowler Jr., C Brandon Linder
Is there anyone we are missing? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us on Twitter or Facebook.
