Jaguars Training Camp Preview: Projecting 53-Man Roster

By Hays Carlyon

The battle to make the 53-man roster begins Monday as the Jaguars take the field for their first training camp under coach Doug Pederson.

How does the roster stack up? What are the main storylines?

Here is my 53-man Jaguars roster projection heading into training camp.

OFFENSE (25)

Quarterback (2)

Who: Trevor Lawrence and C.J. Beathard.

Camp storyline: Watching Lawrence develop now that he will be getting ALL the first-team reps in camp will be fascinating. The signs of a second-year breakthrough need to start here.

Running back (4)

Who: Travis Etienne, James Robinson, Snoop Conner and Ryquell Armstead.

Camp storyline: Etienne (Lisfranc) and Robinson (Achilles) are coming off major injuries. Etienne looked fantastic in the offseason program. Hopefully that carries over. Robinson hopefully will be cleared to return to practice in mid-August.

Receiver (6)

Who: Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, Marvin Jones, Laviska Shenault, Laquon Treadwell and Jamal Agnew.

Camp storyline: Kirk is the lone potential star of this group. The prized free agent acquisition needs to be brilliant this season. Zay Jones and Marvin Jones are steady veterans, as is Treadwell to a lesser extent. Shenault and Agnew need to elevate their play.

Tight end (4)

Who: Evan Engram, Dan Arnold, Chris Manhertz and Luke Farrell.

Camp storyline: Engram and Arnold should thrive in Pederson’s offensive system. I’m expecting many Lawrence to Engram connections in camp.

Offensive line (9)

Who: Cam Robinson (left tackle), Ben Bartch (left guard), Tyler Shatley (center), Brandon Scherff (right guard), Jawaan Taylor (right tackle), Walker Little, Luke Fortner, Will Richardson and KC McDermott.

Camp storyline: The battle at right tackle between Taylor and Little will be the talk of camp. Center will be interesting as well. If third-round rookie Fortner can supplant Shatley early, the veteran might push Bartch at left guard in the second half of the preseason.

DEFENSE (25)

Defensive line (6)

Who: Foley Fatukasi, Malcom Brown, Roy Robertson-Harris, Dawuane Smoot, DaVon Hamilton and Jay Tufele.

Camp storyline: The starting lineup and rotation seem fairly set heading into camp. Fatukasi will be fun to watch in drills. The Jaguars run defense must improve and it starts with the 27-year-old Fatukasi, an up-and-coming free agent addition.

Outside linebacker (4)

Who: Josh Allen, Travon Walker, Arden Key and K’Lavon Chaisson.

Camp storyline: All eyes will be on Walker. The No. 1 pick showed off his rare athleticism in the offseason program, but watching him work when the pads go on will be captivating. If Walker is an impact edge rusher, the Jaguars defense will have something special with him and Allen.

Inside linebacker (4)

Who: Foye Oluokun, Devin Lloyd, Chad Muma and Shaq Quarterman.

Camp storyline: The combination of Oluokun (prized free agent) and Lloyd (first-round pick) will be thrilling and should open eyes immediately. Muma’s role will be interesting to watch as well since the team invested a third-round pick in him.

Cornerbacks (7)

Who: Shaq Griffin, Tyson Campbell, Darious Williams, Tre Herndon, Xavier Crawford, Gregory Junior and Montaric Brown.

Camp storyline: Campbell has standout potential entering his second season so watching his growth in camp will be a priority. Williams is the expected nickel. I have both late-round corners, Junior and Brown, making the team.

Safeties (4)

Who: Rayshawn Jenkins, Andre Cisco, Andrew Wingard and Rudy Ford.

Camp storyline: Cisco will have a bright spotlight on him. The second-year player is expected to not only win a starting job next to Jenkins but have a huge breakout season. Wingard and Ford are excellent special teams players. If one of the corners on the back-end of this 53 falters, I would expect Daniel Thomas to make the team as a fifth safety.

SPECIALISTS (3)

Who: Andrew Mevis (kicker), Logan Cooke (punter) and Ross Matiscik (long snapper).

Camp storyline: I chose Mevis over Ryan Santoso but honestly wouldn’t be surprised if the Week One kicker isn’t here yet. There could be a churn here.

CONCLUSIONS

The roster is pretty well set and I like the depth. There isn’t the quantity of star players needed to compete for a playoff spot but there are several young and new players that could have huge seasons.

Lawrence, Etienne, Kirk, Engram, Scherff and Fortner stand out on offense. Defensively, players like Lloyd, Oluokun, Cisco, Campbell, Walker, Fatukasi, Williams and Muma could all produce big things.

Seasoned Jaguars veterans like Allen, Cam Robinson, Cooke, James Robinson, Griffin, Marvin Jones, Jenkins, Robertson-Harris, Agnew and Smoot could also have successful seasons.

I’m ready. Let’s go.

(You can email Hays at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @HaysCarlyon).