Some players face a make or break season. For others, it’s time to sink or swim in training camp.
In Luke Joeckel’s case, it appears to be the latter. A former No. 2 overall pick who’s largely struggled to assert himself as a cornerstone piece of the offensive line, Joeckel now enters camp as the underdog in a competition with Kelvin Beachum, who the Jaguars signed away from Pittsburgh on a two-year deal this offseason.
Beachum, 27, was brought in with the intention to either light a fire under Joeckel or take over at the blindside position. It remains to be seen what will happen, but there’s certainly a battle for the role and questions to be answered this summer.
Tipping in Joeckel’s favor: Beachum had ACL surgery after missing the last 10 games of 2015 and isn’t expected back until early August, thus missing training camp, thus giving Joeckel more reps.
Working against Joeckel: According to ESPN Jaguars’ reporter Mike DiRocco, some in the building view Beachum, who has started 39 games over four years, as a “top 10 left tackle” in the league. And if that isn’t enough of an endorsement, it should be noted that Jacksonville added incentives to Beachum’s contract that could push the 2016 figure of $4.5 million to $6 million, based on performance. Talk about added motivation and a show of optimism from his new team.
Joeckel, for his part, is slated to earn $3.3 million in guaranteed money during the final year of his rookie contract. The average for a top 10 left tackle is just over $11 million, the presumed amount the Jags would’ve paid him had they picked up the fifth-year option.
So while Joeckel improved slightly from 2014 to 2015 – save for a Week 17 meltdown where he allowed five sacks against Houston – the Jaguars clearly need to see more from there fourth-year left tackle. In March general manager David Caldwell flat out said of Joeckel during a radio interview, “He hasn’t reached his ceiling yet. I think he has a lot of room for improvement. I think he needs to improve but I think he knows that, too.”
Indeed, he does know that. Joeckel spoke candidly of his future in Jacksonville a couple months ago, assuring ESPN of his desire to stay while acknowledging that his fate rests solely on his own improvement or regression in 2016.
“I love Jacksonville,” Joeckel said to ESPN’s DiRocco. “I’d love to stay here. It all comes down to my play. I’m only focused on myself and me playing football, getting better at left tackle. That’s all I’m focused on.”
Joeckel’s performance in camp will surely be one for Jaguars fans to focus on this summer. In all likelihood it will be the final opportunity for the former top prospect out of Texas A&M to prove he’s not a bust, and rather a player capable of protecting the quarterback and setting the tone for the five-man front.
It’s Joeckel’s time to shine in training camp, and if he doesn’t, it might be time for the Jaguars to show him the door.
