One of the first way-too-early 2025 NFL mock drafts, released April 30 by The Athletic, paired the Jaguars with Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke in the first round.
In May, ESPN wrote that a trade sending cornerback Marshon Lattimore from New Orleans to Jacksonville “should happen.” Bleacher Report followed up in June, suggesting a “shocking” trade proposal in which Jacksonville would acquire cornerback James Bradberry from Philadelphia.
Then earlier this month, CBS wrote that the Jaguars’ “biggest need” entering the 2024 season is — you guessed it — cornerback help.
Pro Football Focus is the latest reputable outlet to suggest Jacksonville would benefit from adding to its cornerback room with the NFL’s major offseason roster transaction windows, free agency and the 2024 NFL draft, in the rearview mirror.
Analyst Thomas Valentine called the position “bare” behind the Jaguars’ projected starting corners, Tyson Campbell and Ronald Darby.
The Jaguars still have a need at cornerback. They added veteran Ronald Darby after his strong 2023 season in Baltimore, but the jury is still out on Tyson Campbell. And beyond that, the position is bare.
A career journeyman, Jacksonville marks Dabry’s sixth team since entering the NFL in 2015. Despite his jumping around the league, he’s been a dependable coverage option at almost every stop.
Darby has allowed a sub-50% completion percentage in coverage each of the last two seasons, 44.2% in 16 games with Baltimore in 2023 and 38.9% in five games with Denver the year before, per Pro Football Reference.
Darby signed a two-year, $8.5 million contract with the Jaguars in March. In his eight-season career, he’s compiled eight interceptions, 97 defended passes and 401 total tackles, including nine for loss.
Campbell, Jacksonville’s first second-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft, has tallied six interceptions, 30 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and 203 total tackles in three seasons with the Jaguars. He shined in 2022 by allowing a 54.2% completion percentage over 83 targets.
However, multiple soft tissue injuries limited Campbell to 11 appearances in 2023, and his performance level regressed when he was available. He allowed a 69.4% completion percentage over 62 targets and defended fewer than 10 passes in a season for the first time.
‘Locked in’: Tyson Campbell encouraging new Jaguars DB coaches
The Jaguars picked two cornerbacks in April’s draft, Jarrian Jones in the third round and Deantre Prince in the fifth round. They also signed free agent corner Tre Flowers in May.
Per Over the Cap, seven unsigned cornerbacks played on at least 50% of their team’s snaps in 2023: Xavien Howard (formerly with Miami), Adoree’ Jackson (New York), Stephon Gilmore (Dallas), Patrick Peterson (Pittsburgh), Fabian Moreau (Denver), Ahkello Witherspoon (Los Angeles) and Jerry Jacobs (Detroit).