Part of handling the NFL offseason is bouncing your own moves off others’. No team has been more active to start 2022 free agency than the Jacksonville Jaguars. In 24 hours, they added four new faces to their offense, including two wide receivers in Christian Kirk and Zay Jones at a combined $26 million per year. Together with veteran Marvis Jones, the feeling is that will be the trio Trevor Lawrence will move forward with. That leaves one question unanswered. What happens with Laviska Shenault?
Jacksonville drafted the talented receiver out of Colorado in the 2nd round in 2020. He had a promising rookie year with 600 yards and five touchdowns. Unfortunately, he couldn’t take a step forward last year with just 619 yards and no touchdowns. Some may view him as a failure, but that might not be fair. Shenault was trapped under a brutal coaching staff led by Urban Meyer and had a rookie throwing him the ball. It never felt like the Jaguars got the most out of his talents. Now faced with the prospect of being a distant #4 option under a new staff, it’s fair to wonder if he might be available in a trade.
Per @ESPNdirocco, the buzz is that Laviska Shenault Jr. is a player the Jaguars may be looking to move.
No surprise after the team agreed to sign Christian Kirk and Zay Jones yesterday.
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) March 15, 2022
WR Laviska Shenault appears to be a player who likes competition. He's going to get a heavy dose of it from veteran Zay Jones for that third receiver spot. And the Jaguars could use the 33rd overall pick to select Georgia's George Pickens. Popcorn time.
— John Reid (@JohnReid64) March 15, 2022
He is explosive on the field, showcasing speed and after-the-catch ability. He also has an outstanding reputation off the field. Nobody questions his character or his commitment to the game. His strong performance against the eventual AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals was a reminder of what he can do when given real opportunities.
He isn’t going to be that #1 guy Justin Fields needs, but there is no questioning the talent. Shenault has more than enough capability to be a quality #2 or #3 option in a team’s receiving corps. The best part from the Bears’ perspective is his contract. He still has two years remaining on his rookie deal that never goes higher than $2.44 million.
The Jaguars splurging on wide receivers would suggest that new management led by GM Trent Baalke isn’t too high on him. If that is the case, the team might be willing to let him go for a late round pick. Most likely something in the 5th or 6th round. Chicago has two 5th round picks at their disposal. Poles could even get creative, shipping one of those to Jacksonville in exchange for Shenault and a 6th rounder.
This way, the Bears would still have six picks in the draft. They would have just sacrificed some positioning on the board in exchange for a 24-year old receiver that still has upside. It isn’t a complicated deal to pull off and one that makes sense for both sides.
Other teams may have interest in Laviska Shenault too. If that is the case, the price tag to get him might go up. Poles doesn’t seem interested in getting into a bidding war for any player. So this will be an interesting situation to monitor.
