Niner Noise
FanSided

Predicting 5 surprise NFL teams in the 2018 season

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams gestures during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams gestures during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 02: Running back Leonard Fournette of LSU answers questions from the media on Day 2 of the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on March 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 02: Running back Leonard Fournette of LSU answers questions from the media on Day 2 of the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on March 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

No. 4: Jacksonville Jaguars

Each offseason, the Jacksonville Jaguars seemed to have made enough moves to turn around a perennially bad franchise.

And yet each season reveals more of the same losing ways.

General manager David Caldwell has invested so heavily in the defense the past two offseasons, and all that work has to start paying off at some point in the very near future. Tack on the 2017 NFL Draft first-round pick, running back Leonard Fournette, and the team could have an entirely new offensive identity as well.

There’s one notable problem, though, and it resides under center.

Quarterback Blake Bortles has handicapped the offense for a number of seasons now. And despite some promising signs back in 2015, Bortles’ 2016 campaign seemed to suggest he’s nothing close to a long-term answer.

And yet, for some reason, the Jags picked up his fifth-year option for 2018.

The good news is Bortles’ option has zero dead money attached, meaning this year is more of the prove-it variety. But until proven otherwise, he’s nothing close to the answer.

Fournette could help shift the offensive identity away from Bortles. It’s also a good thing the Jaguars are projected to be pretty bad this upcoming season, meaning they’ll likely wind up with a high pick in 2018.

With a very deep quarterback class, replacing Bortles should be atop Jacksonville’s priority list and could be the final piece in this frustrating puzzle.