Jaguars Mailbag: Super Bowl Week Predictions, Pro Bowl Impact and More

The Super Bowl is finally here.

In roughly 48 hours, the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles will battle to determine who is the most dominant team in football. A lot will change in 2023 and beyond, but a Super Bowl win never goes away, and that is what each franchise is chasing.

How do we see the Super Bowl matchup, what do we make of the Jaguars' offseason so far, our thoughts on the Pro Bowl, and more are covered below in this week's mailbag.

You can submit your questions every week by tweeting them to the Jaguar Report Twitter handle or by submitting them here.

Q: If you could take one former Jaguar and put him on the team next year, who would it be and why?

A: Marcus Stroud is up there, but give me Mike Peterson. He and Foyesade Oluokun would erase the middle of field with ease and clean up a lot of the issues the Jaguars had last season when it came to tight ends and covering the intermediate range.

Q: Why is the Chad Hall hire considered a good one? Were Buffalo's receivers actually that good?

A: I think the mere fact multiple receivers had the best seasons of their careers says something. Hall's sister, Kelly Stafford, said he received calls this offseason for jobs and he also interviewed with the Baltimore Ravens for their coordinator position, so he is clearly a respected coach. Add in the development of some mid- to late-round receivers and how well-liked he was in that locker room and I think it is fair to say this is a great hire by Pederson.

Chad Hall's sister, Kelly Stafford, said on her podcast on January 24 on her brother potentially leaving the Bills

"He wants something more."
"He's already received calls"
"It'll be a new beginning for Chad"

Sounds like it was his decision.

H/T to @beerleagsports for the info pic.twitter.com/Tkuut3BQUU
— Bills Chat Podcast (@BillsChatPod) February 10, 2023

Q: Are we more likely to find a slot corner at 24 or is it more likely we try to trade back into the early 2nd?

A: I honestly do not think it would be like the Jaguars to automatically take a slot cornerback if they are drafting one at No. 24. It is a key position in all defenses, but it is one that you can find outside of the first-round in most cases.

The Jaguars have spent significant resources on non-slot cornerbacks in the last two offseasons despite already having two outside starters on the roster; they drafted Tyson Campbell when they had Shaquill Griffin and CJ Henderson and signed Darious Williams when they had Griffin and Campbell. Campbell and Williams both eventually moved to outside cornerback, their natural positions. Both have blossomed there compared to the slot, but that is how the Jaguars build to an extent. They are looking at adding talent first and foremost.

I am not saying the Jaguars will surely do this if they take a cornerback early in the 2023 NFL Draft, but I do not think it is right to rule out an outside corner either.

Q: On the year-end poll, Caleb Johnson was option 4 for special teams player of the year, over others like Quarterman. Did he really have that good of a year?

A: Caleb Johnson did have a really good season on special teams, leading the unit in tackles. I believe that is why my co-host Gus Logue nominated him, though I think gunners Chris Claybrooks and Daniel Thomas could have worked too.

Q: I know no one cares about this, but CJ Beathard is a FA. Who will be the backup QB behind 16? I do feel it's necessary to upgrade at that position as well.

A: I think if CJ Beathard isn't among the first wave of re-signings the Jaguars make this offseason, then there is a good chance the Jaguars are looking elsewhere. Beathard is a good locker room guy, well-liked in the building and respected by players and coaches alike, and has a big supporter in Trevor Lawrence. I think the Jaguars will do the right think and exercise the thought of potentially looking at different options, but if they decide he is coming back, he should be back early.

Q: How big of a mess did Baalke inherit from Caldwell? Will his misses have the Jags headed toward Saints territory with the cap?

A: Dave Caldwell didn't leave a mess behind in Jacksonville. In fact, Caldwell should be credited with stripping the Jaguars' roster to its joints in the 2020 offseason, shipping off veterans like Calais Campbell, A.J. Bouye, and Yannick Ngakoue to put the Jaguars in a better position with the cap. The Jaguars honestly already went through their tough cap moments from the Caldwell era and even those weren't exactly tough times because they still managed to sign some free agents in the 2020 offseason. Caldwell didn't leave the Jaguars in bad shape cap-wise.

Q: Could Trevor Lawrence raising his profile at the Pro Bowl actually help the Jaguars in future offseasons? Was cool to see him interact with other team's stars

A: Honestly this is probably a fair question to ask. There were images of Lawrence with stars like Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry, Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs, and Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James. Lawrence was a mega-recruit on the circuit stage so he probably already has a lot of ties with some of the stars of the NFL today. Still, getting more face-time with them and putting the Jaguars on the map on a national stage like the Pro Bowl is always a good thing.

Q: Your guess for the Super Bowl??

A: Chiefs by 10. Eagles are a really, really good team with an amazing roster. But the Chiefs have the better quarterback. Patrick Mahomes is more likely to be a difference-maker and problem-solver, so I got the MVP winning his second ring.