While the Jacksonville Jaguars haven’t had the best luck with making draft selections since general manager Dave Caldwell was hired, they’ve certainly had better luck than others when it comes to undrafted gems. Names like Allen Hurns, Allen Lazard (temporarily), Keelan Cole, and Tre Herndon are some of the more recent names who come to mind, all of whom have helped the Jags in a big way (aside from Lazard).

With the Jags needing to improve upon a six-win season last year, many will be hoping to land a gem or two from the team’s 2020 undrafted crop of players, which consists of some interesting names. According to Rotoworld’s Thor Nystrom, the Jags may just have some players who can continue the trend of contributing via the final roster as he ranked the Jags’ undrafted class sixth in the league. He also singled out two members of the group specifically in cornerback Luq Barcoo and running back James Robinson.

If you’re looking for this year’s Philip Lindsay candidate, the leading contender in the clubhouse right now has to be James Robinson. How did this kid not get drafted?! Uber-productive in the FCS, the compact, hard-charging Robinson proved in Indy that athletically everything in the profile checks out except long speed. And his well-rounded game includes plenty of experience in the receiving game. If Robinson hits, you have a potential low-end three-down option. We know Ryquell Armstead can’t catch. So if Leonard Fournette is traded, Robinson not only looks like a good bet to make the team, but a strong bet to carve out, at minimum, a situational role as a rookie.

I also loved the CB Luq Barcoo signing. Jacksonville must have had furious competition for him, as they gave Barcoo a UDFA record $180,000 in guarantees. Ironically, that was better than Barcoo would have gotten had he been picked in Rounds 6 or 7. Barcoo exploded last season for the San Diego State Aztecs, with nine interceptions and 16 pass breakups to earn Thorpe Award semifinalist honors and a third-team All-American nod. He’s a bit spindly, but you have to love the length and ball skills. And although we didn’t get to see him test, Barcoo is reportedly a strong athlete. He’s raw, sure. But this is the kind of kid you want to take a flier on in the UDFA sweepstakes.

I agree with his analysis of both players for the most part as both were projected to make the team in my super-early final 53-man roster predictions. Robinson’s production on the FCS level was especially intriguing as he finished his career with Illinois State with 4,444 total rushing yards and 44 touchdowns. While the competition he faced didn’t compare to others, he still was impressive enough to get a shot as a sixth or seventh-round pick.

As for Barcoo, there isn’t a reason why he shouldn’t be able to make the team as a CB4 if he plays to his potential. At 6-foot-1, 175-pounds, he will have to add some weight to his frame but the length is evident (measured in with 32-inch arms). He has good reaction to defenders and great athleticism, too, which are two traits that can take a cornerback a long way.

Georgia safety J.R. Reed is another notable who we projected to make the final roster, too, but wasn’t mentioned by Nystrom. He was a leader for an elite defense with the Bulldogs who was rarely out of place and made crucial plays when crunch time came.

When adding in the potential of Robinson, Barcoo, and Reed plus the contributions the Jags could get from their 12 rookie selections, this could be a draft class that gets the Jags going in the right direction. With the staff emphasizing getting younger, it wouldn’t be shocking to see a handful of rookies starting for the team and one may even be an undrafted player.