5 BOLD PREDICTIONS FOR THE JAGUARS' PASSING ATTACK IN 2019

Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire

The Jaguars' passing game will surprise some folks in 2019. 
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BY JORDAN DE LUGO

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The Jaguars' passing attack MUST improve in 2019. The team has invested far too much for it not to perform on Sundays. The Jaguars signed Nick Foles, Chris Conley, and Geoff Swaim this offseason to help kick start their aerial attack.

With the Jaguars' passing game in mind, I've put together five predictions that I believe have a good chance of all coming to fruition this fall. 

1. DJ Chark will lead the team in TD catches and drops.

DJ Chark has a lot to prove in his second season in the NFL. The 2018 second-round pick had a disastrously disappointing rookie season that was partially derailed by injury. 

Now, he enters the 2019 season as a starter for the Jaguars and expectations are high. He's shown the ability to get open and make ridiculous grabs throughout training camp and has hauled in more touchdown passes from Nick Foles than any other receiver on the team over the last two weeks. 

With Chark's inconsistencies on full display throughout his rookie year and early on in camp, I could easily see him having a highly volatile sophomore season. I think he'll lead the Jaguars in touchdown receptions AND lead the team in dropped passes. 

2. Dede Westbrook will be the first 1,000-yard receiver since 2015.

Dede Westbrook has been a target monster throughout training camp, picking up where he left off at the end of the 2018 season. Easy Dede is always open, and that will make him Nick Foles favorite target in the upcoming season. Not only will Dede find the open spot on the field, but he'll also catch the ball if it's anywhere near him. Westbrook will lead the Jaguars in receptions and yards, AND he'll be the first Jaguars' WR to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark since Allen Robinson back in 2015.  

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3. Nick Foles will be the first Jaguars' QB to complete 65% of his passes since EVER.

That's right, no starting quarterback in Jacksonville Jaguars history has completed 65% of his passes in a season. Nick Foles will do just that. Last year in Philly he completed 72% of his passes. The Jacksonville offense has been designed around Nick Foles' skill-set and it has his fingerprints all over it. His chemistry with receivers Chris Conley, Dede Westbrook, and DJ Chark has been on display for the last couple of weeks. With a supreme understanding of the offense, and a real connection with his receiving targets, Nick Foles will have one of his best seasons yet. 

4. Leonard Fournette will catch 45 passes.

The biggest question about Leonard Fournette entering the NFL was his ability to be a receiver out of the backfield. He's put those questions to bed with his receiving efficiency in his two years in the league. He has yet to receive a high volume of targets, but that will change in 2019. Nick Foles loves to hit his running backs out of the backfield, and Fournette will be the primary target in that capacity. I believe he'll average 5-7 targets per game. As long as he plays most of the season, LF27 should be able to surpass the 45 reception mark with ease. 


5. Chris Conley will be the teams' second leading receiver.

Chris Conley and Nick Foles' have a well-documented friendship and understanding of each other on the field. Conley has been one of Nick Foles' favorite targets throughout training camp, and I believe that will carry over to the regular season. Conley's route running ability, speed, and size make him an easy target. I believe he'll be a usually reliable pass-catcher in 2019 and will be an excellent complement to Dede Westbrook.