How many rookies make it? Predicting the Jaguars 53-man roster before minicamp

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jaguars rookie minicamp begins this week, followed by organized team activities and then mandatory minicamp. News4JAX sports reports Jamal St. Cyr and Justin Barney offer up their way-too-early projections for the 53-man roster.

Quarterback

Jamal’s thoughts: This is easy. Undrafted free agent Seth Henigan is likely a practice squad guy.

Justin’s thoughts: Lawrence needs to take a massive step forward this season. Henigan would be a nice developmental project, which I think the Jaguars should always have. But I think John Wolford makes the practice squad over Henigan.

Running back

Jamal’s thoughts: This is a no brainer. All four make the roster here.

Justin’s thoughts: An uninspiring group for me that’s just OK. Tuten has potential and Allen is a solid blocker and receiver who could contribute on special teams, too. Bigsby and Etienne have been ho-hum for me.

Tight end

Jamal’s thoughts: No brainer here. These are the three guys.

Justin’s thoughts: Tampa Bay kept four tight ends last year, which makes room for one more at the position than I’m used to keeping. Copenhaver is my wildcard at tight end. He had a 7.6 yards after the catch last season at UNC, a higher number than first-round pick Tyler Warren (7).

Offensive line

Jamal’s thoughts: They added a ton of bodies to the O-line room. This room looks very different but somehow some way the legend of the ‘Tugboat,’ Cooper Hodges lives on. Injuries have really set him back. That last staff thought Hodges had starter potential. He was just always hurt. If healthy, I think he finds a way onto the 53.

Justin’s thoughts: My starters right now on the line are Walker Little (left tackle), Patrick Mekari (left guard), Robert Hainsey (center), Wyatt Milum (right guard) and Anton Harrison (right tackle). Javon Foster, a draft pick last year doesn’t make it here. Same with Cooper Hodges, who has missed essentially his first two years with injuries. I thought Luke Fortner could come back, especially with his connection to Liam Coen from Kentucky. But Monheim gets the nod here. Wormley is my surprise UDFA.

Receiver

Jamal’s thoughts: The wide receiver room at the top is pretty much set. I had space for one undrafted free agent and I went with Darius Lassiter. He had over 700 yards last season at BYU.

Justin’s thoughts: I could see a scenario where Jacksonville puts Gabe Davis on a physically unable to perform list as he works his way back from a knee surgery, but I don’t know if I’d want him back. He was a colossal bust of a free agent signing and he’s likely only back due to his contract. The coaching staff has raved about Brown, who has yet to fully deliver on his promise over anything more than a small sample size. Eli Pancol is my surprise player. He clocked a 4.33 time at his pro day and is 6-2 and 205 pounds. He could be an Elijah Cooks-Tim Jones type of guy who plays his way onto the roster from a special teams aspect.

Athlete

Jamal’s thoughts: He is going to play receiver and corner, so I feel like listing him as an athlete was the best thing to do. I know the question everyone has is how much he is going to play. My simple answer is a lot.

Defensive line

Jamal’s thoughts: Things got a little muddy here. Tyler Lacy got squeezed out in my 53 and I added on two UDFAs. Eli Mostaert has some juice and just seems like he plays a brand of football this staff will like and B.J. Green II. I think can be a developmental edge with special teams value right now.

Justin’s thoughts: I was surprised Jacksonville elected not to address this area in the draft, which says to me that it likes the players it has on the roster. Free agent addition Ogbah becomes edge No. 3 in this situation. Lacy and Jefferson are probably roster bubble guys at this point. Rookie Jalen McLeod could eventually become edge No. 3, but he starts at linebacker now. Hamilton has got to perform better. He’s been a massive disappointment since his big money extension. Walker is in line for a hefty pay raise.

Linebacker

Jamal’s thoughts: McLeod is really more of an edge but he is listed as a linebacker so I have him at linebacker. But maybe my biggest surprise not on my 53 is Chad Muma. I opted for another UDFA (I kept six) and Combs is one of them.

Justin’s thoughts: I could see where Muma might not make it. Yasir Abdullah is also gone for me in this scenario. Kiser is going to be the replacement for Muma, but I don’t think that happens until 2026.

Cornerback

Jamal’s thoughts: Cornerback looks drastically different. Remember Hunter is listed here sort of. I kept two UDFA’s over some former draft picks. Slaughter is a speed guy who will bring it and Jabbar Muhammad was one of the top UDFAs this year. They both squeeze on. So does Buster Brown. He has been a glue guy year after year.

Justin’s thoughts: Two of my five undrafted roster guys come in the secondary. Jamal and I agreed on Muhammad. There’s a path to a roster spot for a few of the younger players. Montaric Brown was a difficult guy to squeeze out for me. Slaughter is a guy I like as well.

Safety

Jamal’s thoughts: As the roster filled up, safety was a tough spot. Daniel Thomas got squeezed off and replaced by Rayuan Lane. Late in the numbers game I was debating between Andrew Wingard and Antonio Johnson but ultimately opted to use that spot for another corner instead. Wouldn’t shock me for Dewey or Johnson to make it but look at it right now and it might be tough to see both of them back.

Justin’s thoughts: Another area where veterans are going to get piinched. Daniel Thomas is on the bubble and doesn’t make it in my 53. Wingard is another guy who could be out, but he’s a veteran who I like.

Specialists

Jamal’s thoughts: No thoughts needed, these guys are locks.

Justin’s thoughts: Easiest position group on the roster to nail.