JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jaguars' draft class drew rave reviews in the weeks after it was complete. Eight months later it still looks solid, but the team's lack of success has tempered some of the enthusiasm. Still, it looks as if there's at least one future Pro Bowler (CB Jalen Ramsey), potentially a double-digit sack guy (DE Yannick Ngakoue), and at least two other starters in the top four picks.
Grade: B
Best rookie: Ramsey has been everything the Jaguars had hoped, even though he doesn't have impressive stats. They originally planned to have him line up outside, but he picked that up so quickly that they gave him reps at nickel back, too. They've stuck him on the opponent's top receiver each week, and he has more than held his own against DeAndre Hopkins, T.Y. Hilton, Demaryius Thomas and Alshon Jeffery. Ramsey has been very good in run support (53 tackles), and he has four pass breakups, including one that led to the secondary's only interception of the season.
Most improved rookie: Ngakoue (third round) is third among rookies with six sacks. The Jaguars originally planned on him playing only on third downs, but he surprised them with how good he was against the run early in the season so they moved him into the starting defensive end spot over Dante Fowler Jr., the team's first-round pick in 2015. He also leads the team with three forced fumbles and is second with 11 quarterback hurries.
Most disappointing rookie: Only four of the Jaguars' seven draft picks are playing (DE Tyrone Holmes was cut, Brandon Allen is the No. 3 QB, and DE Jonathan Woodard is out because of a torn Achilles), and they have all been solid. Expectations for LB Myles Jack were pretty high, but he hasn't played as much on defense, mainly because MLB Paul Posluszny and WLB Telvin Smith have been playing at a high level. The Jaguars aren't taking either of them off the field for Jack. He has gotten eight starts at strongside linebacker, but it's a position that doesn't really fit his strengths, and he has made few impact plays (one tackle for loss, two QB hurries, one pass breakup).
The jury is still out on ... Sheldon Day: The Jaguars really like the defensive tackle from Notre Dame, whom they took in the fourth round, but it has been hard for him to get a lot of work because he plays the same position as Malik Jackson and Sen'Derrick Marks. Jackson has been the Jaguars' best defensive player, and Marks has quietly had a very good season. Day has four tackles, including three for loss, in spot duty and has even lined up at nose tackle. He's a player who the Jaguars believe will blossom next season.