Tag: Marvin Jones

Jags Day 16 training camp practice takeaways

Day 16 of camp is behind the Jags and here are some takeaways we were able to gather in the process.

Day 16’s practice may have marked the hottest one for the Jacksonville Jaguars according to those who witnessed it, and coach Urban Meyer and the staff took advantage of it. The hot Florida heat is something the team is going to have to play in with most of their home games being afternoon games, and at some point, most figured they would move their morning practices into the afternoon to get acclimated with it.

As for what went down on the field, Gardner Minshew II got his shot with the starters once again, although the staff focused heavily on the rushing attack Thursday. Despite that, most left more impressed with Lawrence when it comes to the passing game, leaving onlookers to wonder why he hasn’t been named the starter yet.

Both Urban Meyer and Trevor Lawrence will talk with the media on Friday, so fans should know a little more then, but in the meantime, here are the overall takeaways we were able to garner on Day 16’s practice:

Jags clearly view DT Malcom Brown as a leader for the defense

One of the key veteran acquisitions for the Jags this offseason was the addition of defensive tackle Malcom Brown, who they landed through a trade with the New Orleans Saints. The veteran stood out in Saturday’s preseason game against the Cleveland Browns and picked up where he left off Thursday in practice by winning three consecutive battles in offensive line vs. defensive line team drills, according to Jaguars.com’s Ashlyn Sullivan.

Before practice, the team had Brown talk to the team in a huddle, which may have been a sign that it would be a tough day where everyone would have to focus and push through. It’s also worth noting that the Jags will face his former team on Monday, so maybe the staff felt Brown was the right player to motivate them to start Monday’s game stronger than their last one.

The veteran stood out in Saturday’s preseason game against the Cleveland Browns and picked up where he left off Thursday in practice by winning three consecutive battles in offensive line vs. defensive line team drills, according to Jaguars.com’s Ashlyn Sullivan.

Before practice, the team had Brown talk to the team in a huddle;e, which may have been a sign that it was going to be a tough day where everyone would have to focus and push through. It’s also worth noting that the Jags are going to face his former team on Monday, so maybe the staff felt Brown was the right player to motivate them to start Monday’s game stronger than their last one.

Trevor Lawrence and Gardner Minshew II both made plays, but Lawrence’s abilities, at this point, speaks volumes about his skill set

In the early stages of practice, Minshew connected with receiver Phillip Dorsett II on a long touchdown pass. A few plays later, Lawrence followed the pass up with the highlight throw of the day, which was a 30-yard strike down the middle of the field to Pharoh Cooper, according to Jaguars.com’s John Oehser. He added that the throw was a “high-velocity pass that showed as much arm strength and accuracy as any pass Lawrence has thrown all camp.”

The exchange is a prime example of Lawrence being able to answer Minshew’s best — and that speaks volumes about the rookie. While everyday hasn’t been perfect, it’s hard to find many who wouldn’t say Lawrence is a better quarterback due to the physical tools he brings to the table in addition to his poise and ability to answer adversity.

While there is plenty of time before the regular season, it appears the Jags are prolonging the inevitable, which is that Lawrence should and will be the starter. Then again, they will have 20 days left before the regular season begins once their next preseason game is over, so the decision could wait until then.

Other tidbits

  • NBC Sports’ Peter King visited the Jags Thursday for his annual training camp tour.
  • Jags coordinator Darrell Bevell spoke with the media Thursday about what he’s seen so far and his thoughts about Monday’s game against the Saints.
  • Receiver Jamal Agnew and safety Jarrod Wilson were the players who met with the media. Agnew discussed the adjustment he’s made to receiving more reps as a wide out, while Wilson discussed the improvements to the safety group, among other topics.

Jags Day 15 training camp practice takeaways

The Jags’ DBs and WRs went back and forth on Tuesday, which resulted in one of the most competitive 2021 training camp sessions so far.

After trimming their roster down to 85 players early Tuesday morning, the Jacksonville Jaguars took the practice field for Day 15 of training camp, marking their second consecutive practice since their first preseason game.

It was a session that started off slow for Trevor Lawrence, but as he’s consistently shown since becoming a Jaguar, he was able to pick things up afterward. And when it was all over, he once again left very few questioning if he’s the Jags’ top quarterback.

As for the rest of the offense and defense, things got chippy in what was another intense practice, which is probably just what head coach Urban Meyer wanted to see from a competitive standpoint. The first-year head coach was pretty vocal about not having any offensive tempo Saturday against the Cleveland Browns, and it appears the staff decided to work towards fixing that Tuesday. As a result, the defense had to match their effort and intensity, which made it yet another productive practice.

With Tuesday’s practice session behind us, here are some takeaways and things we learned from Day 15 of Jags training camp:

WRs and DBs go back and forth

The receivers and defensive backs had one of those days where one group wanted to 1-up the other. Jaguars.com’s Brian Sexton particularly took note of the battle between receiver Phillip Dorsett and cornerback Shaquill Griffin.

One of the highlight plays of practice came when Dorsett got a step on Griffin and was able to haul in a one-handed catch down the sideline from Lawrence. Griffin held one of his arms which made Dorsett resort to a one-handed snag and the veteran receiver was able to hold on to it. Then a few plays later, Griffin responded by batting away a pass that would’ve resorted in a touchdown pass.

Sexton also noted that there was some jawing between Marvin Jones Jr. and Jags cornerback Sidney Jones IV after Jones the defensive back broke up a pass in the end zone. Jones the receiver, who had a great day and continued to improve his connection with Lawrence, then caught a nice pass just inside the back of the end-zone on rookie cornerback Tyson Campbell (also from Lawrence).

This intense and productive session between the two sides came as Griffin and Marvin Jones both were some of the standouts of Saturday’s preseason game. It’s a big-time indication that both were not only hand-picked by the Jags’ staff to lead the team, but because of their abilities on the field as well.

Quarterback battle update

After Gardner Minshew II took snaps with the starters Monday, Lawrence was given the opportunity to do the same on Tuesday. As previously mentioned, he started off slow, and according to News4Jax’s Jamal St. Cyr, the first snaps for Lawrence (in their team red-zone drill) were two incompletions and a sack. However, he got back on track when he hit Chris Manhertz for a back-corner touchdown.

Lawrence’s other notable throw came on a deep connection with Jones up the sideline, continuing their connection from Saturday’s game against the Browns. Griffin was tight in coverage, but still, Jones was able to real it in and make it a completion.

St. Cyr and many others left Day 15 feeling that Lawrence once again proved that he’s surpassed Minshew in the competition, but Meyer told the media that they are looking for consistency beyond this point at the end of Tuesday’s session.

Other tidbits

  • The Jags had another renowned guest from the football community in Steve Spurrier pay them a visit Tuesday.
  • DJ Chark was on the field in pads again, though he didn’t catch any passes. He had finger surgery this month but is expected to be ready for Week 1.
  • Cornerback CJ Henderson once again received some first-team reps and appears to be back on his way to becoming a starter again.
  • Carlos Hyde, Campbell, and Meyer were the members of the team who met with the media after practice to discuss what went down on the field and training camp in general.

Listen: What players on the Jags’ roster could be fantasy-relevant?

What Jags players could be fantasy relevant this season? Find out on our latest episode of “Bleav in the Jags” as we had a crossover recording with the “Candlestick Kids Podcast.”

The NFL preseason is here, which means it’s almost time for several football fans to start taking part in fantasy leagues. With that being the case, fans are going to be watching the preseason carefully to get the slightest edge on their opponents in the fantasy world.

Luckily for those who have been looking for a preview of the Jags, we got you covered and looked at many of the top offensive players for the Jags who aren’t a fantasy football powerhouse but could provide the right player with a gem or two.

Fantasy experts Sky Guasco and Bobby LaMarco of the “Candlestick Kids Podcast” provided this preview by joining us for episode 82 of “Bleav in the Jags” as we specifically looked at notables like James Robinson, Laviska Shenault, Trevor Lawrence, and more. Additionally, Guasco and LaMarco previewed some fantasy-relevant names to watch in the AFC South who Jags fans may be familiar with.

The episode can be heard below in the media player, while archived episodes can be revisited here.

Feel free to subscribe to “Bleav in the Jags” via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Spotify.

2021 Jaguars training camp: Day 2 practice takeaways

Trevor Lawrence stacked another solid performance on top of the day he had previously. However, he seems to have improved even more, linking up with his top receivers like Marvin Jones and Laviska Shenault numerous times.

The Jacksonville Jaguars took the field for their second practice of training camp, and the energy was even higher this time. It was the first practice where fans had been allowed to attend since 2019 (with the coronavirus pandemic preventing it in 2020), and they did not disappoint in terms of the turnout.

Of course, everyone in attendance wanted to see No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence, who stacked his second consecutive impressive day. However, he wasn’t the only first-round pick from 2021 that gave fans a show as Travis Etienne shined, too, as well as a few others on both sides of the ball.
Here are a few takeaways the media was able to gather from the Jags’ practice on Thursday:

2021 first-round picks shine

Fans and media members certainly couldn’t get enough of Lawrence and Etienne on Thursday, who proved why they were once collegiate football champions. After coach Urban Meyer said the rookie and Gardner Minshew II would alternate days with the first-team, it was Lawrence’s turn to get the first reps with the starting offense.

The rookie signal-caller started the day off linking up with two of his top-3 receivers in Marvin Jones Jr. and Laviska Shenault Jr. One throw, that went to Shenault, was through a tight window in the middle of the field. His early throws to Jones included a pass the veteran receiver had to high-point (displaying good hands) while running a horizontal pattern. The other notable throw was a bomb where Jones was open deep for a vertical streak that was a touchdown.

A few onlookers were quick to note the difference between Lawrence and Minshew as Lawrence simply has the better physical skill set. His throwing velocity, in particular, has been discussed, and the receivers have seemingly adjusted to the change well.

As for Etienne, he broke off two runs early where his burst was on display and the crowd loved it.

K’Lavon Chaisson standing out on defense

The pads aren’t on, so it’s hard to put a lot into the offensive and defensive lines, though it was noted that the backup offensive line struggled yesterday. However, on the defensive side, K’Lavon Chaisson is one of the players who a few reporters noticed. He had a few situations where he would’ve forced an early throw or acquired a sack on Thursday.

Sidney Jones IV makes the highlight defensive play of the day

Sidney Jones IV, who had a knack for making plays last season, made the most notable play of Thursday’s practice with a one-handed pick on backup quarterback CJ Beathard. Though the receiver slipped, it still was a nice pick. 

Injuries and roster news

The player who we’ve projected to be the Jags’ top tight end, James O’Shaughnessy, worked off to the side Thursday though it’s unknown why. His status will be worth monitoring as he flashed on Day 1 and is a player who could be a key factor this offseason. 

Cornerback Luq Barcoo was officially activated off the Jags’ Reserve/COVID-19 list this morning, leaving just corners Chris Claybrooks and CJ Henderson on it. The team also announced that Jake Luton was activated off the list earlier in the day. 

DJ Chark says the Jags’ are ready to shock the NFL

Jags WR DJ Chark spoke highly of his teammates Friday on NFL Network and believes the Jags’ changes this offseason have been huge.

The taste of going 1-15 last season didn’t sit well with anyone on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 2020 roster, including their star receiver DJ Chark. However, 2021 provides a new opportunity for the fourth-year receiver and his team to better themselves and Chark is eager to do so with a new staff and new teammates who’ve provided him with a revamped scene.

When asked what are the expectations from the team’s perspective by NFL Network, Chark stated that there weren’t specific goals in mind for the team but felt that their willingness to compete would make them a significantly better group. He added that their competitive mindset would speak for itself on the field and also put the Jags in position to shock people.

“Just to go out there and compete, be better than what we were last year,” Chark said . “The 1-15 season is somewhere that we don’t want to go back. Everyone that’s here understands that. The guys that came in came from a lot of winning programs so we’re trying to develop that winning culture and just that comradery here and I think we’re going to do really good. I think we’re gonna shock a lot of people. I’m not one of the people that’s huge on setting record goals or anything like that, or saying how many wins or losses we’re gonna have but we’re gonna be an exciting football team, for sure.”

Jags coach Urban Meyer has frequently said he doesn’t view the Jags as a team that is rebuilding, which means he’s expecting immediate success in his first year. However, for that to happen, Chark will need to return to Pro Bowl form, while the passing game, in general, will need to play to its potential, too.

In the interview, Chark seemed highly confident that both he and the passing game could be the group to get the Jags on track, praising his notable teammates like Laviska Shenault Jr., Marvin Jones Jr., and first overall pick Trevor Lawrence.

“We take a lot of responsibility and accountability when it comes to the passing game,” he said. “Marvin coming in, [he’s] a dynamic player. Laviska being young and so dynamic, me still trying to reach new heights. I think we have a lot to prove but I think it’s gonna come together real smooth. And definitely being able to have Trevor back there, it’s crazy how that he’s so young and so talented. So, the sky is the limit, really, with us right now. We don’t know how great we can be but we know we can be great, for sure.”

If the aforementioned names can have success through the air, the Jags’ season will undoubtedly be more successful than 2020’s run. That should also lead to Chark emerging again and becoming the star many fans believe he can be.

Jags’ acquisitions of Shaquill Griffin, Marvin Jones Jr. mentioned with the NFL’s top upgrades

Though Jacksonville largely avoided splashy signings, opting instead for tactical, value pickups, a couple of those players were among the best upgrades in the league this offseason, according to ESPN.

The Jacksonville Jaguars entered the offseason with the most cap space in the NFL after going 1-15, which set them in a direct path towards Trevor Lawrence. That said, with a generational talent on the way, it was clearly time to spend in free-agency.

Though Jacksonville largely avoided splashy signings, opting instead for tactical, value pickups, a couple of those players were among the best upgrades in the league this offseason, according to ESPN.

Though neither cracked its top 25 offseason upgrades, cornerback Shaquill Griffin and receiver Marvin Jones Jr. were listed as honorable mentions.

Griffin replaces Sidney Jones IV, who remains on the team, in the starting lineup. Though he wasn’t massively productive in his first four seasons in Seattle, he’s been very solid and immediately becomes the clear top corner in this secondary.

As far as Jones (the receiver) goes, he’s a seasoned veteran coming off a 978-yard season in 2020. He will likely replace Keelan Cole, who played alongside D.J. Chark and started in five games, most of which came at the end of last season. Cole signed with the New York Jets as a free agent this offseason.

With 18 touchdowns in the last two seasons, Jones is a solid veteran addition to a talented and young receiving corps. Griffin, meanwhile, will be just 26 when the season starts, and if he continues to develop, he should be in Jacksonville beyond his three-year contract.

Jaguars to make contribution in honor of civil rights activist James Weldon Johnson

In honor of both Juneteenth and the birthday of civil rights leader James Weldon Johnson, the Jaguars announced a donation to create a park.

In honor of the birthday of civil rights activist James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938), The Jaguars Foundation and the Khan Family announced that they will donate $250,000 in support of the creation of the Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park.

The name of the park is a reference to the song of the same name, widely known as the Black National Anthem. Johnson, along with his brother John Rosamond Johnson, wrote the song while living in the LaVilla neighborhood of Jacksonville between 1900-05.

“Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” was first performed in 1905 by students at the Stanton School, where Mr. Johnson was principal, as part of a tribute to Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.

“I think it is only fitting that on his birthday, we honor our native son, James Weldon Johnson, with a permanent reminder of his many contributions to Black culture and American culture at large,” T-Neisha Tate, Jaguars vice president of social responsibility and impact, said. “We’re grateful to have the platform and opportunity to bring awareness to how much rich history exists mere miles from our stadium home and can’t wait to see how the City of Jacksonville continues to embrace its history.”

This contribution is part of a celebration of both Johnson’s birthday and Juneteenth, the day slaves in Texas were emancipated toward the twilight of the Civil War. The holiday represents the anniversary of the day all slaves within the former confederacy were informed of their freedom more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. Juneteenth is celebrated in recognition of Black liberation, activism and culture.

Jaguars receiver Marvin Jones Jr. delivered a performance of “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” at the Ritz Theater in LaVilla, a historic black landmark described as “the mecca for African American culture and heritage.”

“It’s always amazing when you can go and see your culture and see where things started and see where things have developed,” Jones said. “I know growing up in the church, we sang this song as well. It just brings back memories. It’s very heartfelt and very powerful. I’m just glad I had the opportunity to sing it.”

June 19 became a company holiday for the team last year, and this year, the city of Jacksonville has a number of events planned with the aim of giving both players and staff a greater understanding of the significance of Juneteenth and the role that Black culture has played in the history of the city.

With minicamp in the books, the team has a good bit of time off from the grind of practice and instead will have the opportunity to recognize the history associated with this week.

Late-season heroes: Wide receivers

Which wideouts were better later in the season?

Below shows the “points per game” ranking for running backs for Weeks 1 to 8, and Weeks 9 to 16 with a minimum of four games played. Overall shows the total points ranking for the season.  Points-per-game (PPG) and “Games” refer to Weeks 9 to 16.

While each one carries their own story of a unique season, the lack of Top-30 wideouts that were younger players is a bit of a surprise. The wideouts are very sensitive to their quarterback situations and occasionally weather later in the year.

Will Fuller (HOU / BAL) – What would fantasy football be without Will Fuller showing up like a rock star and then disappearing just when you finally buy into him.  He’s moved onto one of the worst passing teams (Ravens) who have better options to also to not target much. Fuller only played in ten games in 2020 and yet registered a touchdown or 100 yards in eight. According to drafts this summer, no one is buying into the oft-injured wideout now with the Ravens.

Mike Evans (TB) – This was nice to see since it was the first season with Tom Brady as the starting quarterback. Starting in Week 9, Evans scored six times to finish the regular fantasy season that included 100-yard efforts in Week 15 and 16 while making the playoffs. He gained 119 yards in Washington in the Wild Card Round and scored in the next two playoff games as well.

Diontae Johnson (PIT) – Johnson has quietly been outstanding, particularly in the second half of last season. Hampered with back and toe injuries earlier in the year, he missed one game and turned in minimal stats in three others. Starting in Week 9, Johnson finished the fantasy season with two 100-yard efforts and four scores along with at least eight catches in five of his final six matchups. The playoff loss to the Browns saw him catch 11 passes for 117 yards. Ben Roethlisberger’s arm left him with short passes last year – most of those went to Johnson.

Justin Jefferson (MIN) – This is what you dream of from a rookie wideout. He was already playing like a WR2 through Week 8 with a couple of monster home games (TEN, ATL) that helped his stats. Starting in Week 10, he went on a hot streak the rest of the way other than one week in Tampa Bay. The second half of the year saw him with  six of eight games sporting at least ten targets. All scores came in home games which should change this season, but he’s already a much-used outlet in the passing game.

Brandon Aiyuk (SF) – This is another rookie wideout of note who showed up better later in the year than many realize. Limited to a couple of catches in almost all the early games, Aiyuk became a difference-maker as of Week 7 when he caught six passes for 115 yards at the Patriots. He scored in four of the next five and gained 119 yards in the only non-scoring matchup in that stretch. He averaged  seven catches per game between Weeks 7 and 15.

Curtis Samuel (CAR / WAS) – It’s all academic now with Samuel changing teams, but the second half of last year saw him used more as a receiver than any time in his previous four years. He became reliable for five catches per game and now heads to Washington with a chance to be the No. 2 wideout behind Terry McLaurin.

JuJu Smith-Schuster (PIT) – Similar to Diontae Johnson, Smith-Schuster was much more productive in the second half of the year with six touchdowns starting in Week 9. His yardage rarely broke 60 yards and he never managed a 100-yard performance, but he scored seven times in the final ten games that he played.

Marvin Jones (DET / JAC) – He changed teams as well, so the 31-year-old Jones resets his career beyond his prime. To his credit, he scored eight of his nine regular-season touchdowns starting from Week 8. Now he’ll have to elbow his way up the Jaguars depth chart playing with a rookie quarterback.

DK Metcalf (SEA) – It was bothersome to see Metcalf decline last year after a thoroughly impressive start. Through Week 8, he scored seven times and gained 90+ yards in seven of his eight games. He only managed three more scores in the regular season, and five of eight games held fewer than 62 yards. His initial four games all were only four catches each and yet never lower than 92 yards. His 25.1 yard average in the first month fell much lower when secondaries realized they should never allow Metcalf to get behind everyone.

A.J. Brown (TEN) – He was a touchdown machine in 2020, partially because the defense expected Derrick Henry to run it in. Brown opened the year injured but in Week 5 returned to string five straight games with a touchdown. His stats suffered later in the year since he caught more than four passes in a game just twice starting in Week 8. That seemed likely to change with Derrick Henry potentially not run into the ground this year, but the addition of Julio Jones throws that into doubt.

T.Y. Hilton (IND) – Hilton was never the same without Andrew Luck. Now t 31 years old, he isn’t likely to see any significant upturn with a different quarterback for the third-straight year. After flopping for the first eleven weeks of 2020, he surprised with four straight games with at least 70 yards and scored four times in that stretch. He became reliable for 70+ yards starting in Week 12, so keep tabs on him this season to see if he warms up with Carson Wentz later in the year.

Nelson Agholor (LV / NE) – He’s never been better than a mediocre wideout useful for fantasy depth, but he certainly came to life later last year in Las Vegas. His eight touchdowns were evenly spaced during the season, but he managed 100-yard games in Weeks 14 and 16 with a score in each. He was still more of an “every other week” kind of receiver and now lands in New England. While it is a positive that he comes off a career best season, it still wasn’t enough to induce the Raiders to stick with him.

Marvin Jones gives his impressions on the Jaguars’ WR group from OTAs

Jacksonville’s free-agent addition at receiver had high praise for the rest of the group’s performance at OTAs.

There aren’t many position groups with higher expectations for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021 than the receiving corps. Despite the team’s disappointing 1-15 season in 2020, the receiving corps was a strength. D.J. Chark took a slight step back from his breakout 2019 campaign, but the additions of rookies Laviska Shenault and Collin Johnson more than made up for it.

Now that the team finally has an answer at quarterback, the receiver group is expected to take a major leap forward. With OTAs underway for Jacksonville, new free agent signing Marvin Jones Jr. (one of the top receivers from a production standpoint the Jags have had in years) finally got the opportunity to see the whole group in action.

Jones was impressed by what he saw, but he also said it was par for the course for what he expected given how the team meetings in the prior weeks had gone.

“I think it’s been great, and I think it’s just a transfer to what we’ve been doing for the past three weeks before we even got on the field with all of the coaches and stuff like that,” he said. “We’ve spent a lot of time together, probably almost two months now, so it’s been good.”

One thing that has already stood out to Jones is the versatility of the receiving group. It has Chark, who largely fits the mold of a deep-threat burner with his 6-foot-4 frame and top-tier ball skills, and Shenault, who lined up all over the field as a rookie and saw a good amount of action, taking carries out of the backfield in addition to seeing reps as a receiver.

Jones said he thinks the wide array of skill sets in the wideout room will be majorly beneficial to Jacksonville’s offensive production in Year 1 of the new regime, led by head coach Urban Meyer.

“Everybody’s going around flying fast and making big plays as we should and as we knew we were going to do,” Jones said. “There’s a lot of people, a lot of receivers in our group that can have different abilities and can put them in different places. You put Laviska [Shenault Jr.] in the backfield and watch him work and stuff like that. Everybody’s been great and everybody’s been taking the coaching and just having a good time. So, we’re just going to continue to do that.”

That’s exactly the kind of optimism Jags fans should want to hear from a high-budget free agent signing, and it’s a good sign for a unit that should the strength of the team in 2021.

Way-too-early 53-man roster projection for Jags

With the draft over, the Jags have a lot of great talent who could improve their final roster and aid them to a better season than 2020.

The 2021 NFL Draft is now in the history books in terms of the selections and now it’s time for the on the field activities to occur. The Jags led the way with the first overall pick, which it used on Trevor Lawrence, and will be bringing in eight other draft picks with him.

The Jags also endured a lot of changes in terms of the staff, overhauling the coaching group and front office scouting department. That, of course, will lead to a drastically different 53-man roster this offseason.

With the draft and free-agency behind us, here is our first attempt at predicting just what the Jags’ new 53-man roster could look like:

Quarterback (3)

Trevor Lawrence, Gardner Minshew II, C. J. Beathard

As expected, the Jags took Trevor Lawrence first overall. One would think he’d start immediately, but Urban Meyer could take it slow with him if he wanted to.

As for Gardner Minshew II, it’s unknown if he will remain on the roster, but he does have 20 starts (over two years) to his name now, which is an important nugget. However, for the moment we have both him and C. J. Beathard, who has 12 starts of his own, making the roster.

Running backs (4)

James Robinson, Carlos Hyde, *Travis Etienne, Dare Ogunbowale

Meyer said that he would look to build the running backs room around James Robinson and did just that. The star of the Jags’ offense, who set multiple records as an undrafted rookie, now has a veteran in Carlos Hyde to distribute his load with.

The Jags also spent a first-round pick on Travis Etienne, who they have plans to play on third downs and use as a “slash” type weapon for the offense.

Dare Ogunbowale will be a name to watch for the No. 4 spot due to his special teams experience and Meyer’s love for special teams players.

Tight end (4)

James O’Shaughnessy, Chris Manhertz, *Luke Farrell, Tyler Davis

This is a position that’s hard to project at the moment because it appears the Jags’ starter isn’t on the roster and may come via trade. However, for the moment, the four listed names make the most sense.

James O’Shaughnessy was the most experienced tight end on the roster, while Chris Manhertz and Luke Farrell offer plenty of blocking ability. That would leave room for an athletic receiving threat — and Tyler Davis, who only saw 40 offensive snaps, may be ready to step up as a TE4.

Wide receiver (6)

D.J. Chark, Marvin Jones, Laviska Shenault, Collin Johnson, Jamal Agnew, Phillip Dorsett II

Receiver is a position where the competition is going to be intense with the additions and subtractions that were made there. D.J. Chark, who is probably the most talented receiver on the team, will look to get back to Pro Bowl form, and the addition of Lawrence will help there.

Laviska Shenault Jr. showed a lot of promise last season while taking snaps from various spots on the field as a rookie and proved to be hard to bring down for defenses.

The Jags also have Collin Johnson returning from last season, who was a highlight reel at times. With a year under his belt and a wide catch radius to offer for Lawrence, big things could be on the horizon for him in 2021.

In free agency, the Jags added a veteran in Marvin Jones, who has produced 18 touchdowns in his last two seasons with the Detroit Lions. With his familiarity with the Jags’ offense, Jones could continue his success while also coaching up Chark and Shenault.

The Jags also added Jamal Agnew, who also was with the Lions last season and understands the offense. Both he and free-agent addition Phillip Dorsett could be predominantly special teams players with their speed and experience, while also providing help on offense as the Jags’ fifth and sixth receiving options.

Offensive lineman (9)

Cam Robinson, Andrew Norwell, Brandon Linder, A.J. Cann, Jawaan Taylor, Ben Bartch, Will Richardson, Tyler Shatley, *Walker Little

The Jags starting five from last season will be returning here in Cam Robinson, Andrew Norwell, Brandon Linder, A.J. Cann, and Jawaan Taylor. However, there will be some competition this time around.

While Cam Robinson was franchise tagged, the Jags added a tackle in the second-round in Walker Little. However, with Little not taking a snap since 2019, it’s hard to see him beating out Robinson in 2021, and if he does, that would speak volumes. That said, Little’s best chance to start could come next season when Robinson’s contract expires.

Also, look for Ben Bartch, Will Richardson, and Tyler Shatley to return behind the starters due to having notable experience as backups. Bartch will especially be one to watch as it wouldn’t be shocking to see him push A.J. Cann to start.

Note: Another name to watch here is Derwin Gray, who has a limited body of work, but played well with the Pittsburgh Steelers and accumulated an 81.7 pass-blocking grade in 2021, per Pro Football Focus. 

Defensive linemen (7)

Roy Robertson-Harris, DaVon Hamilton, Adam Gotsis, Malcom Brown, Dawuane Smoot, *Jay Tufele, Doug Costin

This unit overwent a drastic change this offseason as Roy Robertson-Harris, Malcom Brown, and rookie Jay Tufele are the new faces. Of course, signs are pointing to there being a heavy rotation under new coordinator Joe Cullen based on what he witnessed in Baltimore, but Robertson-Harris and Brown look to be starter material.

Returning will be second-year players DaVon Hamilton and Doug Costin, both of whom flashed last season. Hamilton in particular could start, as could returning veteran Adam Gotsis, who also had solid moments in 2021.

Additionally, Dawuane Smoot re-signed this offseason and should be a valuable piece to the puzzle as he proved to be versatile last season and has shown growth year by year.

Note: Daniel Ekuale could be a bubble player here as he registered five starts for the Jags last year.

EDGE (4)

Josh Allen, K’Lavon Chaisson, Jihad Ward, *Jordan Smith,

The Jags will enter this season with two former first-rounders who thrived at being rush outside linebackers in college in Josh Allen and K’Lavon Chaisson. And while the Jags aren’t fully committing to a 3-4 defense, it seems like fans will witness it a lot with both players being the most comfortable in that alignment.

The pair will also have veteran Jihad Ward helping them out while also taking snaps in the trenches as a lineman. After previously spending time with Cullen in Baltimore, he’s the most familiar with the scheme of all the defensive players we’ve named.

Then lastly, there is fourth-round rookie Jordan Smith. While the front office views him as a raw prospect, he should see a decent amount of time in the rotation Year 1 and has several young players and veterans to help him find his way.

Note: A player to also watch at this position is Lerentee McCray, who once played for Meyer at Florida. 

Inside linebackers (4)

Myles Jack, Joe Schobert, Damien Wilson, Shaq Quarterman

The starters here will be Myles Jack and Joe Schobert as two of the Jags’ top paid players. Both have the experience and leadership skills a new coach like Meyer needs by his side as a first-year NFL guy.

Damien Wilson, who the Jags added this offseason in free agency, gives the Jags another veteran backup, while Shaq Quarterman, a fourth-round draft selection from last year, can continue to be groomed in 2021.

Note: Watch for Quincy Williams to make a potential push here, especially with what he could bring as a special teamer.

Another name to watch is undrafted rookie Dylan Moses, too, who was a leader for Alabama’s defense as a collegiate player. 

Cornerback (5)

Shaquill Griffin, C.J. Henderson, *Tyson Campbell, Sidney Jones IV, Tre Herndon

This is one of the Jags’ deepest groups, and rightfully so when considering the injuries the group endured last season. The Jags’ biggest signing during free agency was that of Shaquill Griffin and he’ll be this group’s CB1.

C.J. Henderson now has some competition in second-round rookie Tyson Campbell, and it seems the loser for the CB2 spot will be kicked in to nickelback. If it boils down to skill and familiarity with the NFL, Henderson should be able to hold off the Georgia Bulldog.

Lastly, the Jags have Sidney Jones IV and Tre Herndon, both of whom have significant starter experience. Jones had an impressive year in 2020 with the Jags, but his career has been one with injury issues, so he’s better suited for a CB3 type role. As for Herndon, he should make the team when looking at his track record with the Jags. While he struggled on the outside and garnered a lot of penalties, he’s more than capable of being a team’s CB4 or CB5.

Safety (4)

Rashawn Jenkins, *Andre Cisco, Daniel Thomas, Jarrod Wilson

This group is much improved after last season where it mostly saw a rotation of guys who were better suited for special teams. Of last year’s group, Jarrod Wilson proved that he’s a good safety, but he hasn’t made a lot of impact plays at the position. He’ll probably stick around though the Jags have added a lot of competition that could prevent him from starting in Rashawn Jenkins and rookie Andre Cisco.

When looking at Jenkins’ contract, the Jags view him as one of two starters at safety. If healthy, Cisco has the impact play ability that Wilson lacks — and it could make him a Day 1 starter. Daniel Thomas also could push Wilson to start, bringing underrated athleticism to the table.

Special teams (3)

Josh Lambo, Logan Cooke, Ross Matiscik

When healthy, Josh Lambo is one of the league’s best kickers, though the argument could be made that the Jags need to look heavily into a Plan B practice squad option when considering the time Lambo has missed with the Jags.

Logan Cooke was rewarded with a contract extension this offseason, so the Jags are pleased with him. Then lastly, Ross Matiscik, who was an undrafted rookie last season held his own and there were no notable snapping issues to occur on his part.