When the Jacksonville Jaguars signed veteran defensive end Calais Campbell to a four-year, $60 million deal back in March, the team added another solid player at a position of need.
This has been a continuing theme for Jacksonville over the past couple seasons. Combine high-priced free-agent signings with high-round draft picks to build up a talent-stricken roster. It also came around the same time that Jacksonville signed cornerback A.J. Bouye to a five-year, $67.5 million contract.
Now fresh off a draft that saw the team add running back Leonard Fournette with the fourth overall pick, hopes are once again high in Jacksonville that the team might be able to turn the corner.
We can add Campbell to the chorus of people who think the Jags will turn the corner this season.
“I knew there was a lot of talent here, but I was surprised how talented these guys were,” Campbell said, via the team’s official website. “I truly believe this team has every piece to the puzzle. We don’t need anything else.”
Unfortunately, expectations were also high heading into last season. Jacksonville had just aced the draft with the likes of Jalen Ramsey and Myles Jack. Free-agent additions Malik Jackson and Davon House were expected to play huge roles.
In the end, Jacksonville would finish with a 3-13 mark and in last place in the AFC South. The team’s offense, led by the mistake-prone Blake Bortles under center, regressed a great deal. There was no running game to speak of. And while the Jags’ defense was improved, it didn’t live up to expectations.
Sure Campbell is right in having confidence in his new team. But we’re going to have to see this talent actually come together on the field. Should that happen, 2017 might actually be the season Jacksonville turns the corner.