Growing up about 30 minutes west of Jacksonville requires me to be a Jags fan, and it’s incredibly sad. I pull for the Atlanta Falcons and the Jacksonville Jaguars, and I have been for as long as I can remember. When you root for two of the three worst teams in NFL history in terms of all-time winning percentage (thanks Tampa for being last), nothing is a surprise. So when I heard Nick Foles is coming to Jax, I immediately thought the worst. Of course the Jags would decide to sign a 30 year-old system quarterback. Of course they will likely pass up on potential franchise changing QBs Dwayne Haskins or Kyler Murray in the draft. This was the most Jacksonville Jaguars move ever.
However, I have had about 48 hours to think it over and I’m really starting to like it. It’s an immediate upgrade over Blake Bortles. Sure, Foles will not have the talent he had in Philly, but the Jags could bring in some weapons this off-season through free agency and the draft to make it a better situation. Jacksonville’s biggest offensive issue has been converting 3rd & 7 consistently and Nick Foles is more than capable of doing just that. Also, Foles is the only starting quarterback in the AFC South with a Super Bowl ring. A Jaguars quarterback has a Super Bowl ring. That just sounds awkward, but I’m here for it.
The signing of Foles doesn’t rule out Jacksonville drafting a quarterback this April. If I were GM Dave Caldwell, I would pull the trigger on freak WR D.K. Metcalf with the 7th overall pick. Metcalf is the next Julio Jones and he would immediately bolster the depleted receiving group the Jags possess. They could even go spend some money on a guy like Golden Tate. Suddenly, Jacksonville’s receivers are a strength. I would also try to snag a TE like Jared Cook or Tyler Eifert as well, because the Jags have zero average TEs. Next, assuming he falls this far, I would take West Virginia QB Will Grier in the 2nd round, or maybe even trade up to the late 1st round. Sure, Foles makes sense, but he’s 30. There’s also a chance this doesn’t work at all and the Jags would need a backup plan. I think Grier will be a franchise QB for somebody and the Jaguars cannot afford to miss out on that.
Jacksonville has a top 3 defense in the NFL and defenses win championships as long as offenses are, at least, competent. Foles can make this offense competent as long as the front office can make a few notable additions to the offensive unit as a whole. Duuuuuval is back and the AFC South is officially the best division in football.
