Jaguars: Three areas of concern this upcoming season
By David Levin
The Jacksonville Jaguars may have added depth at key positions on its current roster over the past few months but the team still needs help in some areas.
The Jaguars, like every other NFL team, took the offseason to improve on the previous year. The front office, headed by Tom Coughlin and David Caldwell, worked diligently to fill holes on both sides of the ball in free agency and added missing puzzle pieces through the NFL Draft.
Changes may do this team well, but they may not solve all the problems that existed from 2018. There aren’t a lot of holes to fill, but there are opportunities to make sure there is enough of a foundation to make up for those deficiencies.
Here are three areas of concern the Jaguars still need to address before the start of the 2019 NFL season.
Is there enough safety depth? – It continues to be one of those questions the Jaguars are going to have to answer. There are only five safeties on the current roster. While Jarrod Wilson and Ronnie Harrison would be the starters if the season began today, depth is an issue.
C.J. Reavis, Cody Davis, and Andrew Wingard aren’t household names.
There are still a few players to be had in free agency. Eric Berry and Glover Quin intrigue me, but I am not sure if the team would spend cap money to bring someone in.
Berry is a veteran who still has the ability to play at a high level. We will touch on that more in another story this week.
More from Jacksonville Jaguars News
- Jacksonville Jaguars should welcome Derrick Henry into the kingdom
- Jaguars Rumors: Trent Baalke seems to be getting respect now
- Jaguars News: This division rival might be making a big move
- Former Jacksonville Jaguars S Johnathan Cyprien: “New Profession, Same Standards”
- Jacksonville Jaguars TE Evan Engram officially gets the franchise tag: 3 takeaways
Yes, that is a tease.
What happens if Marqise Lee isn’t ready? The Jaguars are encouraged by the progress wide receiver Marqise Lee has made in his rehab of the ACL injury he suffered in the preseason last year. When the veteran pass catcher will be available to practice isn’t known, yet.
If Lee isn’t ready by the end of the preseason, the coaching staff has some shuffling to do. Dede Westbrook is the starter on one side. After that, it’s wide open. DJ Chark will be given every opportunity to win a starting job. The team needs his height in the red zone and his speed down the field.
Chris Conley becomes a serious option. His connection to Nick Foles is the reason he picked Jacksonville in free agency. The coaching staff will wait and see if Keelan Cole can rebound from a subpar 2018.
Do the Jaguars still need help at tight end? – I still say “yes” to the question. The tight end position got a boost in the Draft from third-round pick Josh Oliver. The Jaguars added Geoff Swaim in free agency and re-signed James O’Shaughnessy.
Is that enough to turn this group into a strength on offense? – There are some rumors that Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph might be available. Having worked with John DiFilippo while he was Minnesota’s offensive coordinator may sway the organization to make a move if need be.
Swaim is a blocking tight end. Oliver is a pass catcher in a tight end’s body. O’Shaughnessy can be used in passing situations. Ben Koyack is still on the roster and we all forget about Pharoah McKever.
Next. Dede Westbrook remains the top threat at WR. dark
The Jaguars still have plenty of work to do with the group.