Top 10 Jacksonville Jaguars

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The London, er Jacksonville Jaguars may be the most anonymous team in the NFL.  It almost seems like guys in the witness protection program could play for them and be safe.  The Jaguars entered the NFL in 1995 their and existence generally hasn’t been glorious but they’ve still had some outstanding players toil for the franchise.  Here’s a look at my top 10. 

10. Mark Burnell:  While Mark wasn’t a great QB, he was good for a number for years, being named to the Pro Bowl in the second and third years of years of the franchise’s existence.  In all, Mark made the Pro Bowl team three times in his nine years in Jacksonville.  Burnell finished with a passer rating of 85.4, which may not sound great by today’s standards but wasn’t bad for the time he played.   In 1996 Mark led the NFL in passing yards with 4367.  Burnell played in eight playoff games for the Jags going 4-4 though his passer rating was only 67.1.  Enough of that.  I can to praise Burnell, not sack him.

9.  Jalen Ramsey:  Jalen has spent only three seasons with the Jaguars but has made two Pro Bowls and one All Pro team.  He has the potential to climb this list.  Ramsey made the NFL All Rookie team in 2016 and was named number 17 on the list of the NFL’s Top 100 players in 2018.  Jalen has nine picks in his three seasons and returned one for a TD.  Ramsey is one of a number of good defensive backs that have played for Jacksonville. 

8. John Henderson:  Many years ago sausage king, TV performer and country singer, Jimmy Dean, had a song called, “Big John”.  In the song Big John stood 6’6” and weighted 245.  John Henderson was an inch taller and 90 pounds heavier.  That came in handy when he helped anchored the Jacksonville defensive line from 2002-09.  John made two Pro Bowls during that time.  Henderson recorded 29 sacks with the Jags.  Not bad for a run stuffing interior defensive lineman.

7. Marcus Stroud:  Marcus Stroud’s profile is very similar to that of John Henderson.  Stroud was a huge defensive lineman who manned the Jags interior defensive line from 2001-07.  Marcus was named to three Pro Bowls.  Additional numbers include 22 sacks and three fumble recoveries while with Jacksonville.  The Jags defensive line was well stocked during the early and middle 2000s.

6. Keenan McCardell:  Keenan had a nice run as a NFL receiver.  He spent his prime with the Jaguars.  In six seasons with the Jags Keenan caught 499 passes for 6393 yards and 30 TDs.  McCardell caught 85 or more passes in four seasons, topping out with 94 in 2000.  Keenan was named to the Pro Bowl in 1996.  McCardell played in eight playoff games with the Jaguars, catching 41 passes for 475 yards and two TDs. 

5. Fred Taylor:  Fred spent 11 seasons in Jacksonville, gaining over 1000 yards in seven of those seasons.  His high water mark was 1672 in 2003.  Taylor’s 11 year total yards rushing for the Jags was a very impressive 11,271 yards with 62 rushing TDs.  He also caught 286 passes for another 2361 yards and eight TDs.  For a guy who was as consistently good as Taylor he was surprisingly named to only one Pro Bowl.  He was, however, named to the 1998 NFL All Rookie team.  Taylor played in seven playoff games for the Jags and ran for 612 yards and three TDs.  He also caught seven passes for 70 yards and another TD. 

4. Tony Brackens:  Tony was a big play guy as a defensive end for the Jacksonville Jaguars.  Brackens played eight seasons for the Jaguars and piled up a nice total of 55 sacks.  His top season was 1999 when he was credited with 12 sacks and a NFL leading eight forced fumbles.  In all, Tony was credited 27 forced fumbles and 13 recovered fumbles as a Jaguar.  Like Fred Taylor, Tony was named to the Pro Bowl once, in his career year of 1999.  Brackens intercepted five passes and returned one for a TD.  Tony was named to the NFL 1996 All Rookie team.  In seven playoff games, Brackens recorded four sacks and forced two fumbles and recovered three.  He had a knack for big plays in the playoffs too. 

3. Jimmy Smith:  Smith had a great 11 year career in Jacksonville, being named to five Pro Bowls.  In 1999, Jimmy led the NFL in receptions with 116.  That year he had 1636 receiving yards and six TD receptions.  For his time with the Jaguars, he caught  a total of 12,287 yards with 67 TDs.  Smith had six seasons with 80 catches or more.  As for playoff production, Smith played in 11 playoff games for Jacksonville and caught 40 passes for 647 yards and seven TDs.

2.  Maurice Drew-Jones:  For a while, Maurice Drew-Jones was the most dynamic offensive player in Jacksonville history.  In 2011, Maurice led the NFL in rushing yards with 1606.  He was named to the Pro Bowl and All Pro teams that year.  He was also named to two other Pro Bowls.  In all, Drew-Jones played for the Jags for eight years and picked up 8071 rushing yards.  Maurice was also a receiving threat, catching 335 passes for 2873 yards and 11 TDs.  Like other guys on this list Drew-Jones was named to the NFL All Rookie team.  In his case that took place in 2006.

1. Tony Boselli:  At 6’7’ and 324 pounds Tony Boselli was a massive presence at offensive left tackle for the Jaguars.  Though Boselli played for only 6+ plus seasons, he made a huge impact with the Jaguars and football fans in general.  He was named to four Pro Bowl s and three All Pro teams.  Boselli was named to the NFL Hall of Fame’s All 1990s second team. For a few years, Tony was one of the most dominant offensive linemen in NFL history.

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