Redskins, Jaguars have NFL's lowest projected win totals
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew runs onto the field. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire)
March 25th, 2020
The Washington Redskins and Jacksonville Jaguars both appear to be in rebuilding mode, so it’s not surprising oddsmakers tagged them each with the lowest win total of any NFL team, at five.
Let’s dig into their offseason developments, to see if the pessimism is justified or if either team is being undervalued.
Washington will struggle on both sides of the ball
Two players on the Redskins will make more than $10 million in 2020 — offensive guard Brandon Scherff and cornerback Kendall Fuller. New head coach Ron Rivera is preaching patience for his first year in Washington, a departure from the organization’s tendency to make splashy moves over the last two decades, only to have most of them blow up in its face.
ESPN has also indicated quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who struggled in his first year (76.1 passer rating), will be the starting quarterback in 2020. However, the Redskins bought an insurance policy in former Panthers quarterback Kyle Allen, who was acquired Monday for a fifth-round pick.
Washington has a dearth of options behind wide receiver Terry McLaurin, and its position in the Draft (second overall pick) doesn’t lend itself toward selecting a running back or wide receiver.
Whether they draft defensive end Chase Young or trade the pick, it appears the Redskins will sport a bottom-five unit on both sides of the ball in 2020.
NFL free pick: Under five wins
Pressure is on for Minshew
The Jaguars’ most significant signing during free agency was linebacker Joe Schobert, whom Bleacher Report tagged as one of the most “overrated” players on the open market. Even if he lives up to his five-year, $53.75 million deal ($22.5 million guaranteed), Schobert can’t make up for Jacksonville trading away both defensive lineman Calais Campbell and cornerback A.J. Bouye, two elite talents who yielded just two day-three draft choices.
Gardner Minshew is a myth pic.twitter.com/ZJ9QTx1N7z
— DailySportsDosage (@SportsDsd) March 18, 2020
Gardner Minshew is the starter quarterback heading into 2020, following the Nick Foles trade, and while he had a respectable rookie campaign (91.2 passer rating), his offense was just 20th in yards per game last year.
That won’t make up for a lack of production on defense, for a team that won just six games in 2019.
NFL free pick: Under five wins
View the projected win totals for all 32 NFL teams now at BetAmerica.
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