JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jaguars are in the thick of their offseason program, and it’s time for our pre-OTAs 53-man roster projection. News4JAX sports reporters Jamal St. Cyr and Justin Barney make their first roster predictions of the year. Note, Travis Hunter is listed under two positions but only counts as one spot.
Quarterback
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| Jamal | Justin |
|---|---|
| Carter Bradley | Trevor Lawrence |
| Trevor Lawrence | Nick Mullens |
Jamal’s thoughts: A little shakeup at the backup QB spot for me. This one is maybe my biggest reach on the roster. Bradley spent last season on the Jags practice squad. Now, I think he could be ready to push for that backup QB spot.
Justin’s thoughts: Lawrence and Mullens are running it back this year. I don’t share Jamal’s view on Carter Bradley beating out Mullens for the No. 2 spot.
Running back
| Jamal | Justin |
|---|---|
| Ameer Abdullah | LeQuint Allen Jr. |
| LeQuint Allen Jr. | Deejay Dallas |
| Chris Rodriguez Jr. | Chris Rodriguez Jr. |
| Bhayshul Tuten | Bhayshul Tuten |
Jamal’s thoughts: Three of the running back spots are locked in the last one is up for grabs. I went with Abdullah because the Jags have been looking for a consistent kickoff returner and that is exactly what he has been in his NFL career
Justin’s thoughts: The Jaguars just signed 32-year-old Ameer Abdullah who has far more upside as a third-down back and a return man than Dallas. But I’m leaning Dallas over Abdullah here. This isn’t an imposing backfield at all.
Tight end
| Jamal | Justin |
|---|---|
| Nate Boerkircher (R) | Nate Boerkircher (R) |
| Tanner Koziol (R) | Tanner Koziol (R) |
| Quintin Morris | Quintin Morris |
| Brenton Strange | Brenton Strange |
Jamal’s thoughts: The tight end room will look very different than it did just a year ago, but nothing crazy unexpected here. Morris re-signed and they brought in a pair of rookies. All of them should be safe.
Justin’s thoughts: Hunter Long is the odd man out here. I’m going with youth here. Could Jacksonville keep five tight ends here since the heavy personnel is all the rage in the NFL right now?
Receiver
| Jamal | Justin |
|---|---|
| Josh Cameron (R) | Josh Cameron (R) |
| Travis Hunter (two-way) | Travis Hunter (two-way) |
| Jakobi Meyers | Jakobi Meyers |
| Brian Thomas Jr. | Brian Thomas Jr. |
| Parker Washington | Parker Washington |
| CJ Williams (R) | CJ Williams (R) |
Jamal’s thoughts: Nothing crazy here. Both rookies get on the roster.
Justin’s thoughts: Both rookies make the 53 here. I like Cameron on special teams, too. Could Tim Jones find a way on again? What about Austin Trammell?
Offensive line
| Jamal | Justin |
|---|---|
| Ezra Cleveland | Ezra Cleveland |
| Robert Hainsey | Robert Hainsey |
| Anton Harrison | Anton Harrison |
| Walker Little | Walker Little |
| Patrick Mekari | Patrick Mekari |
| Wyatt Milum | Wyatt Milum |
| Jonah Monheim | Jonah Monheim |
| Emmanuel Pregnon (R) | Emmanuel Pregnon (R) |
| Cole Van Lanen | Cole Van Lanen |
Jamal’s thoughts: The big question here is when with Van Lanen be ready? Does he start the year on PUP? That would open a roster spot up for someone else maybe Chuma Edoga. But for this 53, I have Van Lanen on the roster and that means Edoga doesn’t crack the 53.
Justin’s thoughts: Both rookies from last year (Milum and Monheim) make it again. I think Pregnon is starting at some point this season.
Defensive line
| Jamal | Justin |
|---|---|
| Arik Armstead, DT | Arik Armstead, DT |
| Zach Durfee (R), DE | DaVon Hamilton, DT |
| BJ Green, DE | Josh Hines-Allen, DE |
| DaVon Hamilton, DT | Ruke Orhorhoro, DT |
| Josh Hines-Allen, DE | Albert Regis (R), DT |
| Jalen Hunt, DT, (UDFA) | Danny Striggow, DE |
| Ruke Orhorhoro, DT | Travon Walker, DE |
| Albert Regis (R), DT | Wesley Williams, (R), DE |
| Danny Striggow, DE | N/A |
| Travon Walker, DE | N/A |
| Wesley Williams, (R), DE | N/A |
Jamal’s thoughts: The youth movement is rolling in the D-End room. With Emmanuel Ogbah and Dawuane Smoot gone, that opened up the two spots for the rookie draft picks to make it onto the roster. So, no drama in this room. On the line, the first UDFA to find his way on this roster is Jalen Hunt. He unseats Matt Dickerson who played his way up the practice squad last season. Hunt is a plus athlete who had his best season in college last year and maybe was even played a little out of position at Cincy.
Justin’s thoughts: I could envision a scenario where Armstead could be a cap casualty if Williams or Regis or a UDFA really stands out in camp. Orhorhoro is a big upgrade over Maason Smith. Zach Durfee is my odd man out here, but I could see Jacksonville keeping him, too.
Linebacker
| Jamal | Justin |
|---|---|
| Branson Combs | Yasir Abdullah |
| Dennis Gardeck | Dennis Gardeck |
| Parker Hughes (R) | Parker Hughes (R) |
| Ventrell Miller | Jack Kiser |
| Foyesade Oluokun | Ventrell Miller |
| Foye Oluokun |
Jamal’s thoughts: This is the position I feel the least confident about. I really wanted to get either Yasir Abdullah or Jalen McCloud onto the roster but I just couldn’t find the space.
Justin’s thoughts: This unit should have some flex to it. The loss of Devin Lloyd leaves a gap in the field. Miller and Abdullah are in prove-it seasons. Kiser will be healthy this year and should contribute. I like Hughes on special teams.
Cornerback
| Jamal | Justin |
|---|---|
| Montaric Brown | Christian Braswell |
| Preston Hodge (UDFA) | Montaric Brown |
| Travis Hunter (two-way player) | Travis Hunter (two-way player) |
| Jarrian Jones | Jarrian Jones |
| Jourdan Lewis | Jourdan Lewis |
| N/A | Devon Marshall (UDFA) |
Jamal’s thoughts: UDFA No. 2 finds a home in the cornerback room.
Justin’s thoughts: Hunter and Brown will start at outside corner. Will Lewis be healthy to start the season after a Lisfranc injury? Marshall makes it as a UDFA.
Safety
| Jamal | Justin |
|---|---|
| Jalen Huskey | Jalen Huskey |
| Antonio Johnson | Antonio Johnson |
| Rayuan Lane III | Rayuan Lane III |
| Eric Murray | Eric Murray |
| Caleb Ransaw | Devin Neal Jr. (UDFA) |
| N/A | Caleb Ransaw |
Jamal’s thoughts: Going heavy in the safety room with the idea the Jags defense may run more of that big nickel three safety look that they ran late last season.
Justin’s thoughts: Murray could be a bubble name. Johnson will start. How will Lane and Ransaw play in year two? Neal is a sleeper.
Specialists
| Jamal | Justin |
|---|---|
| Logan Cooke | Logan Cooke |
| Cam Little | Cam Little |
| Ross Matiscik | Ross Matiscik |
Jamal’s thoughts: No questions here. Lock ‘em in.
Justin’s thoughts: No surprises here. All these guys are elite.