Jaguars Post-Draft Depth Chart Predictions: Competition at RB and CB Heat Up
The Jacksonville Jaguars are, for the most part, ready to go.
While general manager Trent Baalke emphasized following the 2023 NFL Draft that the roster-building for the 2023 season isn't close to over, we do now know what the bulk of the Jaguars' roster for the upcoming season will look like.
"There's always time to add. We're in a good situation with a cap perspective. We're a lot less tight on the cap than we were a year ago. There's room to work here. Coach and I talked about this right after the draft. We're not done putting this team together," Baalke said.
"We're going to take a hard look at what we have. We've got a great chance with these young guys coming in in a couple of weeks and over the next month or so watching them as they go through the offseason program and really kind of assess where we are."
"Is it offense? Is it defense? Is it special teams? Is it team in general? We'll make some decisions from there. But I would expect us to continue to make some moves. How big they are, how small they are, that remains to be seen. But we're not done. We're going to continue to work to build this team and make it as potent as we can going into the regular season."
With this in mind, here is the current Jaguars' roster and pecking order as we see it. A lot can obviously change between now and the start of training camp, but this exercise gives us good context into the possibility of just how many of the franchise-record 13 draft picks can make the roster.
Offense (25)
QB (2): Trevor Lawrence, C.J. Beathard
There isn't much debate here. The Jaguars carried two quarterbacks last year and until the NFL decides on the third quarterback rule, this is where things stand for the Jaguars' depth chart.
RB (4): Travis Etienne, JaMycal Hasty, Tank Bigsby (R), D'Ernest Johnson
A fascinating position to watch over the next few months, the running back room may offer one of the top battles of camp. The Jaguars made sure to commit to running backs this offseason, re-signing JaMycal Hasty, signing D'Ernest Johnson, and then spending the No. 88 overall pick on Tank Bigsby. It feels like Hasty, Bigsby, and obviously Travis Etienne are locks, which brings it to Johnson vs. 2022 fifth-rounder Snoop Conner. The Jaguars invested some decent Day 3 draft capital in Conner, but Johnson's special teams ability gives him the leg up.
TE (3): Evan Engram, Brenton Strange (R), Luke Farrell
Gerrit Prince is someone that Doug Pederson talked up earlier this offseason, so maybe the Jaguars keep four tight ends like they did last year. But I am a believer that every 53-man roster is different, and this current roster makes the most sense with three tight ends, all of whom should be considered locks. Engram will obviously start, but Strange could carve out a niche role as an H-Back.
OL (10): Walker Little, Tyler Shatley, Luke Fortner, Brandon Scherff, Anton Harrison (R), Josh Wells, Ben Bartch, Blake Hance, Chandler Brewer, Cooper Hodges (R)
This one is obviously fluid because this is projecting Cam Robinson's potential suspension to be finalized, which would mean Robinson would not count toward the 53-man roster. Once his suspension is served, he would obviously take a spot back on the roster, likely knocking out one of Hance, Brewer, or rookie Cooper Hodges. The Jaguars are otherwise set to start Walker Little and Anton Harrison at the two tackle spots in Week 1, while left guard will offer some competition once Ben Bartch is cleared.
WR (6): Calvin Ridley, Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, Jamal Agnew, Tim Jones, Parker Washington (R)
The Jaguars love what Tim Jones brings to the offense and he could, in a way, serve as a replacement for a fourth tight end. Parker Washington acts as a top backup in the slot behind Christian Kirk, with Jamal Agnew keeping his spot as return man and niche role player for Doug Pederson's offense. The Jaguars carried six receivers fairly easily last year.
Defense (25)
EDGE (4): Travon Walker, Josh Allen, K'Lavon Chaisson, Yasir Abdullah (R)
Jordan Smith is one to watch here. So is the potential addition of a veteran free-agent. There is no sure thing the Jaguars add a veteran pass-rusher, but it would make sense for them to invest in a No. 3 pass-rusher like they did when they added Arden Key last year.
DL (5): Roy Robertson-Harris, Foley Fatukasi, DaVon Hamilton, Tyler Lacy (R), Adam Gotsis
Michael Dogbe, Henry Mondeaux, and seventh-round pick Raymond Vohasek are some potential names to watch here during training camp. The Jaguars felt comfortable entering 2022 light on defensive linemen, and Tyler Lacy's ability to play inside and out could mean they do the same but with some added flexibility.
ILB (5): Foyesade Oluokun, Devin Lloyd, Chad Muma, Shaquille Quarterman, Ventrell Miller (R)
I do not see Ventrell Miller as a 2023 replacement for Shaquille Quarterman, who is entering a contract season. The Jaguars were able to carry five linebackers throughout the 2022 season due to Caleb Johnson's ability to play special teams, which is what Miller will need to provide.
CB (6): Tyson Campbell, Darious Williams, Tre Herndon, Chris Claybrooks, Christian Braswell (R), Erik Hallett (R)
This is where things will be interesting this offseason. The Jaguars have their top three cornerbacks locked into place in Tyson Campbell, Darious Williams and Tre Herndon. After that is anybody's guess, with a pair of sixth-rounders in Christian Braswell and Erik Hallett duking it out with 2022 draft picks Gregory Junior and Montaric Brown. Thrown in special teams ace Chris Claybrooks and veteran outside cornerback Tevaughn Campbell, and there are several spots up for grab but even more players pushing for one.
For now, my guess is the Jaguars are willing to throw enough darts at the nickel position in Braswell and Hallett, each of whom can offer special teams value. Hallett's ability to also play safety gives him a hand up over Junior and Brown, while Claybrooks would be a core special teams player and a top backup on the outside.
S (5): Rayshawn Jenkins, Andre Cisco, Andrew Wingard, Antonio Johnson (R), Daniel Thomas
The Jaguars rolled with five safeties during 2022 but normally had four active during games. This year, I think those four will be Rayshawn Jenkins, Andre Cisco, Andrew Wingard, and Antonio Johnson, with the last two playing a lot of special teams. Johnson seems to project more as a pure safety in Jacksonville than as a nickel option.
Specialist (3)
P Logan Cooke, K Riley Patterson, LS Ross Matiscik
