Gardner Minshew was a sixth-round pick and was not expected to see the field much, if at all, last season but due to a first quarter injury to Nick Foles in the first game of the season, the rookie was thrust into action. He started 12 games (played in 14) and went 6-6 in those starts throwing for over 3,200 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Minshew's play coupled with him becoming an early fan favorite was enough to have the Jags ship Foles off to Chicago and anoint Minshew the starter for this season. This year will be tougher, however, for the Washington State product as the Jags are expected to tank (or at least not be very good) in order to draft Clemson's Trevor Lawrence in next year's draft.
Looking at some positives, they did get younger on defense with C.J. Henderson and K'Lavon Chaisson and using seven of their 12 overall picks on the defensive side of the ball. They also added Tyler Eifert via free agency and used a second-round pick on receiver Laviska Shenault to go along with D.J. Chark. Leonard Fournette is also entering the final year of his rookie deal so it isn't like the Jags don't have some semblance of pieces around Minshew for him to succeed.
What does he do with those pieces? Does he hit a second-year slump setting the team up to select Trevor Lawrence in next year's draft, or can he take a step forward and show that he can be the quarterback of the future?
It's a lot to ask of a sixth-round pick entering his second season but the team is putting their eggs in his basket as the only other QB on the roster with any sort of starting experience is Mike Glennon.
The Jags themselves are set up nicely. If Minshew fails, they get Lawrence. Should Minshew succeed, they have their quarterback of the future.
For Minshew, it's make-or-break time.