With the Jacksonville Jaguars on a bye in Week 8, we are able to pause and have a look at the performances of this yr’s group of rookies to this point. Do the early returns give us trigger for optimism that James Gladstone has hit any house runs in his first draft haul?
It may not have been the moment impression many had hoped for from the Jags’ first-round choose contemplating the draft capital that they had to surrender to get him. However Travis Hunter had a breakout sport towards the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Evidently thought of a receiver first and a defensive again second, Hunter was focused almost twice as a lot as some other week of the yr at Wembley, breaking the 100 receiving yard mark for the primary time in his skilled profession. He additionally scored his first landing, invoking a muted celebration from the often upbeat Hunter because the Jaguars had been so closely behind. 300 yards by seven video games isn’t Rookie MVP materials, however issues are positively trending in the suitable course.
Hunter has been given extra snaps on protection than Anthony Campanile may need supposed to date in 2025, on the sphere for 36% of the time. Accidents have pressured the defensive coordinator’s hand, however Hunter nonetheless sees extra sport time on offense. It’s been a largely uneventful affair on the defensive aspect of the ball, however Hunter has seemed usually competent, with 15 tackles and 5 go breakups.
Contemplating the fast improve in current manufacturing and the worth you get from Hunter on either side of the ball, Gladstone’s first-ever choose as a Jaguar may be labelled a optimistic one so far, with optimism and expectation that there’s much more to return from the Heisman Trophy winner.
I suppose we’re going to need to revisit this draft choose in twelve month’s time. Ransaw, a third-round choice out of Tulane, suffered a non-contact foot harm in preseason and was placed on season-ending injured reserve. Maybe Ransaw’s absence has led to Travis Hunter’s aforementioned elevated physique of labor on protection, maybe not; day two picks aren’t assured starters, notably in the event that they hail from a Group of 5 faculty like Ransaw does. Expectations unknown, and no performances to investigate – mark this one down as ‘to be decided’.
One other draft choice whose early NFL profession has been derailed on account of harm, Wyatt Milum has missed virtually all of 2025 to date with a nagging knee concern. Actually, Milum has solely seen the sphere twice; two snaps on particular groups towards the Seattle Seahawks in Week 6 is his sum contribution to the Jaguars trigger to this point. This text isn’t going in addition to anticipated – you may pencil any judgment on this choice for some time too.
Again within the sport! Gladstone appears like he’s discovered one thing with the Jaguars’ fourth-round choose; hopes had been excessive for Bhayshul Tuten based mostly on some spicy preseason performances. And the previous Virginia Tech Hokie hasn’t dissatisfied by way of contribution, that includes in each sport to date. That’s not dangerous for a day three rookie, even whenever you mitigate that with the commerce of Tank Bigsby to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Tuten has change into the de facto RB2 on this offense, with 130 yards on the bottom, 60 yards by the air, and a pair of touchdowns to his title. He’s loved a 20% snap depend share on offense and been an element on particular groups too, fielding 4 kickoffs and getting used 29 different instances by Heath Farwell. He may not have set the world on hearth, however that’s a superb return for the 104th general choice.
Additionally; I don’t care what anybody says. Tuten will get a thumbs up from me for the above play alone.
A well-documented favourite of Gladstone, Notre Dame linebacker Jack Kiser is strictly what most anticipated: a high-character, excessive work ethic man who competed for a roster spot, gained one, and has fought to supply worth to the staff. His solely motion on protection got here towards the San Francisco 49ers in Week 4, taking part in 11 snaps and making three tackles – extrapolate that tiny pattern measurement to the identical quantity of snaps as Foye Oluokun has performed, and Kiser would have 120 tackles by now.
Clearly I say that with a certain quantity of tongue in cheek. However Kiser appears good – and he’s already an enormous a part of particular groups, taking part in 62% of the snaps. If he doesn’t play one other down on protection once more all season I feel you may nonetheless see the worth he affords now and the potential he has for the long run. Chalk this one up as a win for the Jaguars GM.
Jalen McLeod might be the largest unknown on this draft class, having sustained a imprecise ‘decrease physique harm’ proper earlier than preseason. He was placed on IR however designated to return, which means he may have returned after 4 weeks – however as but continues to be unavailable. The previous Auburn linebacker is the third Gladstone choose that has been denied a possibility to point out out on account of harm, a worrying pattern however one that might very properly be an anomaly. Once more, we should reserve judgment till he’s wholesome.
Any draft choose from Navy goes to offer you every part they have. And in that regard, Rayuan Lane has not dissatisfied, securing a roster spot and suiting up for each sport this season to this point. Lane has been on the sphere for particular groups as a lot as any participant on the staff, racking up 14 snaps already and making eight tackles.
The defensive depth chart has been a tougher nut to crack for the protection, with simply fourteen snaps throughout three totally different video games. Lane has seen extra of the sphere just lately as harm has hit the Jaguars’ secondary, and with Eric Murray being the most recent sidelined, he has an opportunity for lots extra gametime within the coming weeks as he backs up Andrew Wingard and Antonio Johnson. Not a lot to go on, however a seventh-round choose being a consider video games is both a powerful assertion about their potential or a worrying indictment concerning the depth of this roster.
A fan favourite already, Jonah Monheim was capable of lock up the backup middle job by coaching camp regardless of being an undersized offensive lineman taken within the seventh spherical of the draft. His competitiveness jumped off the display screen throughout preseason and he was suitably rewarded – and it’s apparent the teaching workers has belief in his talents too…
Monheim stepped in at middle when Robert Hainsey went out towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on Monday Evening Soccer in Week 5, serving to his staff to an enormous win. He performed each offensive snap the next week towards the Seahawks earlier than Hainsey returned for the journey to London. Monheim has been used sparingly on particular groups too – unimaginable worth for a prospect taken with the 221st choose. If he hung up his cleats tomorrow and did nothing else for the staff, you might nonetheless argue he was definitely worth the choice for the Chiefs win alone.
The Jaguars’ last choice within the 2025 NFL Draft, LeQuint Allen has maybe been extra of an element than most coming off the board within the seventh spherical. Firmly entrenched as RB3 on the depth chart, the staff likes his potential as a pass-catching choice out of the backfield, even when his alternatives have been restricted. Having a flexible man like Travis Etienne forward of you’ll maintain you on the sidelines most of the time, and Allen has solely performed 16 snaps to this point this season.
Allen has extra receptions (5) than carries (4), alluding to his proficiency within the passing sport. And his 12 kick returns present they worth his potential to make issues occur with the ball in his palms – simply not as a lot as they do with Parker Washington. Once more, any manufacturing from a seventh-round choice is sweet draft worth – accidents apart, Gladstone may be more than pleased with the returns on his first Jaguars class.
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