Cleveland’s blockbuster trade removes a generational threat from Jacksonville’s Week 1 schedule, protecting Trevor Lawrence and smoothing the path for a critical early-season victory in the AFC.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have no direct connection with the Cleveland trading Myles Garrett.
Even without being a part of the direct trade, the ripples from the Browns sending Garrett to the Rams shift things massively for Jacksonville right out of the gate.
The NFL landscape-altering trade sends Garrett to Sean McVay’s Rams’ squad for Jared Verse and three draft picks.
A defensive revolution under new DC Mike Rutenberg might be underway in Cleveland, but until they find a new face of their defense, the Browns’ defense is essentially losing its identity. Sure, they’re getting a plug-and-play starter like Verse, but he’s still a rookie, yet to prove himself.
Trading the reigning Defensive Player of The Year is a blow that is more far-fetching for than simply their roster. Trading away the reigning Defensive Player of the Year is far beyond a simple roster downgrade.
The move indirectly hands its sheer rivals, like the Jaguars, massive advantages to say the least.
Jacksonville Jaguars Have Two Massive Advantages
First one couldn’t be more clear. The Jaguars host the Cleveland Browns at EverBank Stadium for Week 1 on September 13. Before this trade, that matchup looked incredibly daunting on the edges, mainly because the Jaguars’ offensive line is currently dealing a glaring gap at left tackle.
Facing the reigning, two-time Defensive Player of the Year with an unproven or less-than-100% blindside protector was a recipe for a Trevor Lawrence disaster.
Now, however, even though Cleveland has two-time Pro Bowler Jared Verse in return, Verse is not Garrett.
Garrett is a literal one-of-one game-changer. Not having to scheme away from a guy who just broke the NFL single-season record with 23 sacks completely levels the playing field for Jacksonville’s offense to start 1-0.
Plus, it gives them the ultimate edge they need to maintain their position at the top of the AFC South Board, plus also helps them when it comes to fighting for a playoff positioning in a crowded AFC.
The Browns’ defense was already facing a major identity crisis after losing defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz earlier this offseason. Losing Garret in just a matter of months completely redefines Cleveland’s ceiling.
For an emerging Jaguars offense that ranked 6th in the NFL in scoring last year (27.9 points per game), a weaker AFC foe makes the wild-card and playoff math significantly easier.
So, while Lawrence will be busy building on his already improved chemistry with Thomas Jr., Cleveland will be busy building their rapport and learning an absolutely new scheme.
Jaguars will still have to put up a fight, but it might be a bit easier than what they were originally anticipating.
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