The Jacksonville Jaguars could have till 4:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, August twenty sixth to chop their 90-man roster right down to 53 gamers. Within the inaugural offseason for the Liam Coen/James Gladstone/Tony Boselli regime, Jacksonville will quickly obtain a glimpse of how management views a number of prior-year roster staples. However earlier than we get to cutdown day, we now have one ultimate roster prediction for you.
* = see IR part for rationalization
Quarterbacks (2): Trevor Lawrence and Nick Mullens
In most likely one of many simpler roster selections, the Jaguars roster simply two quarterbacks. With Nick Mullens’ information of the Liam Coen system, he will get the nod at backup quarterback.
Working backs (4): Travis Etienne, Tank Bigsby, Bhayshul Tuten, and LeQuint Allen
Whereas the Jaguars teaching employees hasn’t telegraphed this place group just like the tight finish or quarterback spots, who makes the roster appears greater than clear. Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby look to be 1A and 1B with Bhayshul Tuten because the possible inheritor obvious and LeQuint Allen as a powerful candidate to work in on passing downs. The first query that continues to be is who would be the RB to not costume on gamedays, and can there be a real week-to-week “starter” within the group?
Tight ends (4): Brenton Unusual, Hunter Lengthy, Johnny Mundt, Quintin Morris
With the offseason launch of Evan Engram and the free agent signings of Lengthy and Mundt, the tight finish room pecking order appears to be like to be set with Unusual main the group. Lengthy and Mundt will presumably be package deal or role-specific choices on the TE2 spot. Hunter Lengthy offers an honest pass-catching possibility together with unbelievable blocking skill whereas Mundt gives upside within the passing sport. With their 2024 historical past of accidents in Tampa Bay, and the Jags’ want to be versatile, I see the staff going with 4 tight ends. Morris, in restricted motion, has proven a stable skill to each catch down the sector and probably contribute on particular groups.
Huge receivers (5): Brian Thomas Jr, Dyami Brown, Travis Hunter, Parker Washington, Austin Trammell
The Jaguars receiver pecking order appears to be like clear on paper with Thomas heading up the group with Brown and Hunter. Parker Washington’s function because the WR4 appears to be a powerful wager, with potential to push Dyami for the WR3 spot. Nonetheless, the WR5 spot for Trammell is the one spot that feels the shakiest, with current experiences of the staff reportedly discussing including a WR4/5 possibility through commerce. As a result of his particular groups worth, skill out of the slot, and consistency in catching the ball when offered alternatives I’m going with Trammell over Trenton Irwin and in addition not rostering six receivers. Nonetheless, I might not be shocked if the staff added a receiver after cuts from different rosters or through commerce within the coming weeks.
Offensive line (10): Walker Little, Ezra Cleveland, Robert Hainsey, Patrick Mekari, Anton Harrison, Fred Johnson, Wyatt Milum*, Jonah Monheim, Chuma Edoga, Cole Van Lanen*
The presumed beginning 5 of Little, Cleveland, Hainsey, Mekari, and Harrison are clearly on the 53. Wyatt Milum, who was not too long ago listed as week-to-week with a decrease physique harm and swing-tackle Cole Van Lanen’s harm standing may each throw a monkey wrench into this resolution. With the belief that each will likely be wholesome for week one, every would make the roster. Jonah Monheim’s dominant preseason play clearly secured his roster spot, with the staff buying and selling away Luke Fortner to the Saints. Fred Johnson and Chuma Edoga have each had a high quality sport week this preseason in run blocking and wrap up the offensive line depth right here.
Defensive position (8): Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker, Davon Hamilton, Khalen Saunders, Arik Armstead, Maason Smith, Dawuane Smoot, Emmanuel Ogbah
The Jacksonville line of defense group appears to be like moderately sturdy on paper. Is that this partly as a result of Arik Armstead and Maason Smith each returning to observe with early offseason harm issues? Positive. Additionally it is because of the Jaguars’ entrance 4 having high quality depth in any respect 4 spots for the primary time since perhaps 2017. With the acquisition of Khalen Saunders to spell DaVon Hamilton, Smith to spell Armstead or cycle in on passing downs for Hamilton, and Ogbah and a resurgent Smoot as further choices at edge the arrow is pointing up for the potential of this group. If the staff had been to decide on to go along with 9 linemen right here, B.J. Inexperienced possible would’ve been the ultimate alternative, edging out Tyler Lacy. Nonetheless, he simply missed the minimize with the cutoff being at 8.
Linebacker (7): Foye Oluokun, Devin Lloyd, Dennis Gardeck, Jack Kiser, Ventrell Miller, Yasir Abdullah, Chad Muma
Foye, Lloyd, and Kiser every appear to be assured roster spots, as of publishing. Dennis Gardeck’s skill to hurry the passer and his particular groups prowess have been on show since his return from the PUP, securing him his roster spot and probably a beginning function. Ventrell got here by means of with a powerful preseason Week two exhibiting in opposition to the Saints, offers depth at a number of backer spots, and performs on particular groups. Yasir Abdullah and Chad Muma spherical out the group for 2025. Whereas Muma had a day to overlook within the preseason finale, I nonetheless consider he makes the preliminary roster within the ultimate season of his contract, and his particular groups play. In the meantime, I slot rookie LB Jalen McLeod, who has been injured all through a lot of camp with a decrease physique harm to be positioned on IR.
Cornerbacks (5): Tyson Campbell, Jourdan Lewis, Jarrian Jones, Montaric Brown*, Christian Braswell
I’ve the staff going with 5 cornerbacks on the preliminary roster, with the highest 4 being fairly clear decisions of Campbell, Lewis, and Jones. With Travis Hunter being listed with the receiver group that is successfully six rostered corners, taking over simply 5 spots. The Montaric Brown coaching camp harm places the CB5 dialog beneath overview, as he has been listed as week-to-week for weeks with a decrease physique harm. It’s at present unknown if he will likely be out there early into the season or later, which opens the door for Christian Braswell and/or somebody not at present on the roster. Nonetheless, Braswell has proven sufficient this offseason to argue that he belongs and solely time will inform what the staff will do, if something regarding Buster’s harm standing and function as he appears to be like to return on this contract 12 months after trying good early on.
Safeties (5*): Eric Murray, Andrew Wingard, Caleb Ransaw*, Darnell Savage, Rayuan Lane, Daniel Thomas
With Eric Murray and Dewey Wingard because the beginning safeties, the harm standing of Caleb Ransaw will get a shiny highlight. Because the third-round choose has been injured all through a lot of coaching camp, just like the Montaric Brown scenario, the query of how lengthy he’s anticipated to be out turns into of main significance. If Ransaw will possible be out there early within the 12 months, then Darnell Savage’s roster spot could be in jeopardy. Savage has performed little, if any particular groups in Jacksonville and as a backup security the brand new regime may determine to go along with the youthful guys there. Nonetheless, with out figuring out the main points of the week-to-week decrease physique harm, I lean Savage making the preliminary roster with Ransaw persevering with to be out till recognized in any other case. The final two spots go to Daniel Thomas Ray Lane as heavy particular groups contributors. With Dewey taking over a beginning security function, Lane may slot in into Wingard’s depth security and particular groups ace function with little potential drop-off.
Particular groups (3): Cam Little, Logan Cooke, and Ross Matiscik
Cam, Logan, and Ross are simply locked in as probably the strongest place group on the staff. As a notice: I’ve Tank Bigsby & Parker Washington because the beginning kick returners with Bhayshaul Tuten as backup. Moreover, Washington is penciled in because the beginning punt returner with Austin Trammell as his backup.
Potential IR Concerns* (5): OT Cole Van Lanen, OL Myatt Milum, CB Montaric Brown, LB Jalen McLeod, S Caleb Ransaw
These potential injured reserved choices must be thought of within the make-up of this 53-man roster, as no superior harm data has been offered by the staff on these gamers, which may significantly alter the roster selections.
IR – Designation to Return?
- OT Cole Van Lanen was dominated out during coaching camp and is on a one-year deal. I’ve Van Lanen making the lively roster and not occurring IR. Clearly, if he heads to IR and doesn’t return, the staff could look to fill that spot with Ricky Lee, from one other roster, or through the waiver wire.
- OL Wyatt Milum was not too long ago listed as week-to-week with a decrease physique harm after exhibiting dominant preseason play. I’ve Milum making the lively roster and not occurring IR. If he had been to go to IR with out returning, the staff may retain Sal Wormley or Javon Foster as an alternative.
- CB Montaric Brown has been dominated out for coaching camp with a decrease physique harm & is on a contract 12 months. I’ve Brown not occurring IR because of the restricted depth of the CB room and his contract 12 months standing. Nonetheless, if this had been to happen, he would possible be designated to return, and the staff would possible look so as to add one other nook through roster cuts or commerce.
- LB Jalen McLeod has been listed as week-to-week for weeks with a decrease physique harm. Relying on the severity of the harm, the staff may look to maintain him on the preliminary roster simply to then put him on IR the subsequent day. I’ve McLeod going on IR because of the depth of the room, the restricted offseason reps, and being listed week-to-week at present whereas on a primary 12 months of a rookie contract.
- S Caleb Ransaw was dominated out during coaching camp with a decrease physique harm. I’ve Ransaw going on IR because of the restricted offseason reps, being listed week-to-week for weeks, whereas on a primary 12 months of a rookie contract.
As a secondary notice, if wanted, the staff has important flexibility out there to them by way of a number of rostered veterans on the ultimate 12 months of their contracts who could also be keen to be launched on cutdown day, then re-signed with the staff after gamers have been positioned on IR. As a result of this, a number of veterans may theoretically be launched on cutdown day, whereas avoiding waivers, with handshake agreements in place to return to the staff on the identical, related, or new contracts.
- WR Eli Pancol
- WR Trenton Irwin
- RB Ja’Quinden Jackson
- DT Jordan Jefferson
- DT Tyler Lacy
- DE Myles Cole
- DE BJ Inexperienced II
- CB De’Antre Prince
- S Antonio Johnson
Observe Squad Prediction: (15/17)
- QB John Wolford
- WR Eli Pancol
- WR Trenton Irwin
- RB Ja’Quinden Jackson
- TE Shawn Bowman
- OG/OT Javon Foster
- OG Sal Wormley
- OT Ricky Lee
- NT Jordan Jefferson
- DT BJ Inexperienced
- DT Tyler Lacy
- LB Branson Combs
- CB De’Antre Prince
- CB Jabbar Muhammad
- S Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig
- Acquired from different groups’ rosters
- Acquired from different groups’ rosters
Whereas Wolford is accustomed to the offense, I additionally wouldn’t be shocked if the staff determined to herald an out of doors QB possibility additionally. Moreover, with all the further consideration given to DT BJ Inexperienced as a result of his very productive preseason, I’m uncertain that he would make it by means of waivers to the observe squad.
Whereas this can be the preliminary roster prediction, as I see it, I don’t anticipate the roster to look this manner for lengthy. Because the 2025 season progresses, I anticipate the staff to stay aggressively lively on the waiver wire for developmental depth at a number of positions similar to broad receiver, cornerback, security, offensive line, defensive deal with, and probably quarterback. I additionally don’t rule out a number of trades for depth from this daring James Gladstone entrance workplace at a number of positions (broad receiver and cornerback).