JACKSONVILLE – Eight Jaguars experts – Rick Ballou, Frank Frangie, Jeff Lageman, Brent Martineau, John Oehser, Brian Sexton, J.P. Shadrick and Ashlyn Sullivan – are breaking down the Jaguars as the 2020 NFL season approaches; today: the experts predict the Jaguars' Offensive Most Valuable Player in 2020
Rick Ballou, Jaguars sideline reporter
My prediction for the Jaguars' offensive Most Valuable Player in 2020: I am going with quarterback Gardner Minshew II – and every Jaguar fan should want this to be the case as well. If this happens, he will prove he is the quarterback for this team for years down the road and the Jaguars can use their two 2021 first-round draft selections to fill other holes.
Frank Frangie, Radio Voice of the Jaguars
My prediction for the Jaguars' offensive Most Valuable Player in 2020: Minshew. I know, this is the "chalk" prediction. But so much is being built around the second-year quarterback that he HAS to be good for the Jaguars to be good. That is how it is in the NFL with most teams. I have a good feeling about how he will play. I think he will continue to make electrifying plays, highlight-reel stuff. The question becomes can he make more conventional plays. That is the key.
Jeff Lageman, Jaguars analyst and former Jaguars defensive end
My prediction for the Jaguars' offensive Most Valuable Player in 2020: Running back Leonard Fournette. He carried the load for the Jaguars offensively in 2019 and will need to do some of that in 2020 – but hopefully not to that extent. Still, you hope that the explosive plays for Fournette increase – accomplishing similar yardage outputs on fewer touches. Spreading the ball around offensively will allow the Jaguars to be a more dangerous offense and allow Fournette to be more productive as well in what for him will be a contract year.
Brent Martineau, Action Sports Jax Sports Director
My prediction for the Jaguars' offensive Most Valuable Player in 2020: Minshew. Let's be honest: if he's not the offensive MVP, the Jaguars' offense likely won't be very good. I'm a believer in Minshew. I'm a believer in the relationship between him and offensive coordinator Jay Gruden. I'm also more of a believer than others that Fournette being here is a good thing for the offense. I think Minshew will play good, entertaining football. There's an "IT" factor about him that quarterbacks need – and we haven't seen much of the "IT" in a quarterback in Jacksonville in a long time. I think Minshew has a good season as the starting quarterback of the Jaguars.
John Oehser, jaguars.com senior writer
My prediction for the Jaguars' offensive Most Valuable Player in 2020: Wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. He's the selection here for multiple reasons, one of which is that most of the other "experts" in this feature likely are selecting either Minshew or Fournette. The other reason is that Minshew needs to be good for the Jaguars' offense to be good – and for Minshew to be good, Chark also must be good. Defenses figured him out a bit in the second half of last season. The guess here is that Chark learns how to combat double teams and secondaries shading his way better in 2020 than he could in 2019. If he does, he could move toward being an elite receiver – and toward being the Jaguars' best offensive player.
Brian Sexton, jaguars.com senior correspondent
My prediction for the Jaguars' offensive Most Valuable Player in 2020: I expect Fournette to have an MVP-caliber season in 2020. He's coming off a 341-touch, 1,674-yard season that was short only on touchdowns. He also proved he can stay healthy by not even showing up on the weekly injury report until the last week of the season. Fournette seems likely to be motivated in 2020. He made $27 million before he set foot on an NFL field. Now, he has been denied his fifth-year option and will make just over $4 million in salary this season – and for the first time as a professional has to worry about his future. I can see the stars aligning for a big year for No. 27.
J.P. Shadrick, jaguars.com reporter/editor
My prediction for the Jaguars' offensive Most Valuable Player in 2020: Fournette. Yes, it is a new offense, and yes, the Jaguars could throw the ball around more. But you still must be able to run the ball, and maybe the new offensive threat clears a defender out of the box. Fournette should have a strong season in a contract year.
Ashlyn Sullivan, jaguars.com digital reporter and host
My prediction for the Jaguars' offensive Most Valuable Player in 2020: Chark will be the Jaguars' offensive MVP for a second consecutive season. The duo of Minshew and Chark is something the league should take notice of. Chark only scratched the surface of his potential last season with over 1,000 yards recorded, eight touchdowns and his first Pro Bowl. Minshew and Chark have a real chemistry that I only think will improve in 2020.
