Jaguars' Set of 'Triplets' Ranked 20th in NFL
· Yahoo Sports
Despite coming off a 13-4 season and AFC South title, the Jacksonville Jaguars have a lot to prove this season.
The team has been widely overlooked as a legitimate Super Bowl contender, with a shockingly low win projection, and most people expect the Houston Texans to win the division this year.
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Not only is the team being dismissed by much of the national media, but individual players are as well.
Trevor Lawrence, despite being an MVP finalist last season, did not make ESPN's top-10 quarterback rankings for 2026.
The rest of Jacksonville's offensive weapons are also being slighted, but with good reason.
Jared Dubin of CBS Sports, with others, ranked each NFL team's "triplets" (QB, top RB, and top pass-catcher) for the upcoming season. The term was popularized back in the 90s when the Dallas Cowboys had Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin leading the team to three Super Bowl titles.
The Jaguars' triplets (Lawrence, Bhayshul Tuten, and Brian Thomas Jr.) ranked 20th out of the 32 NFL teams.
The RankingsThe group from CBS Sports each ranked Jacksonville's trio, with the rankings falling between 15th and an unbelievable 26th. The average ranking was 20.6, which put the Jaguars 20th in the league.
Even Dubin had to admit Jacksonville's ranking appears too low.
"The Jaguars ranking feels low, especially after their high offensive infrastructure rankings last week. There is still some skepticism surrounding Lawrence despite his improvements, but the ranking likely reflects that Tuten is entirely unproven and that Thomas delivered a dreadful second year of his career. If Thomas showed anything at any point in Year 2, the Jags would almost surely be significantly higher than this -- even with Tuten not necessarily being an inspiring running back option."
Fair Or Disrespectful?At first glance, Jacksonville's ranking looks laughably low, considering the team's success a year ago. However, when taking the time to dissect the ranking, it becomes easier to view as fair.
For starters, the Jaguars' top running back in 2025 was Travis Etienne Jr., who is now with the New Orleans Saints. Second-year back Tuten is now leading a crowded backfield and is almost a complete unknown. Tuten is talented and lightning-fast, but has yet to show he can be a featured back.
BTJ burst onto the scene as a rookie, finishing with 87 catches, 1282 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns, and was selected to the Pro Bowl. After looking like one of the best WRs in the league in 2024, Thomas' encore season was a total flop. His numbers dropped off a cliff. Thomas finished 2025 with a line of 48-707-2.
Which one of those seasons will prove to be the fluke in 2026?
The question marks surrounding the Jags' top RB and WR make it hard to rank the triplets much higher. Lawrence, underrated himself, is a stud, but he is only one of three players taken into account.
Final ThoughtsThese rankings prove two things: Jacksonville must prove it was not a one-year wonder, and there is a cloud of uncertainty hanging over some of its most vital players.
Tuten may prove to be a terrific RB1, and BTJ may show he is the player we saw in 2024 and not the one we saw in 2025.
Until that happens, it is fair to rank the Jaguars triplets right around where they are.
Luckily for the Jaguars, they have Jakobi Meyers, Parker Washington, and Travis Hunter (occasionally) at receiver if Thomas stumbles again. Chris Rodriguez Jr. was also brought in this offseason to be the team's power running back.
Jacksonville has plenty of weapons it can rely on if Tuten and BTJ struggle, and Lawrence should be trusted to get the most out of all of them.
Despite any set of rankings, expectations for the Jaguars in 2026 are higher than they have been in a very long time.
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