Jaguars cornerback room in good shape ahead of 2021 NFL Draft

The Jacksonville Jaguars have done a good job of giving the roster a makeover this offseason but that doesn’t mean the work is over. In fact, they need to make sure they keep adding talent in the 2021 NFL Draft, but what position needs to most attention?

Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report recently wrote about every NFL team’s biggest red flags ahead of the draft and believes that the Jaguars’ is cornerback. He describes Jacksonville’s cornerback group as ‘underwhelming’ and adds that neither Shaquill Griffin nor Tre Herndon are high-level starters.

While the Jaguars don’t possess an elite cornerback unit, calling it underwhelming is a bit of a stretch and even head coach Urban Meyer has said that the team feels good about the current group.

What does the Jacksonville Jaguars’ cornerback room currently look like?

It’s true that Herndon needs to play better than he did last season, when he allowed 653 yards, four touchdowns, and a 68.8 percent completion rate on 53 receptions. However, the team had no pass rush and was one of the few healthy corners the Jags had toward the end of the 2020 season. While the Vanderbilt product isn’t going to suddenly turn into a perennial Pro Bowl, there’s a good chance he will be better in 2021.

On the other hand, Griffin, who joined the Jaguars this offseason on a three-year $44.5 million deal, isn’t an upper-echelon cornerback but he’s a good one and that should suffice. He won’t have to carry Jacksonville’s defense on his shoulders, as the team’s brass brought back Sidney Jones.

Also, Knox forgot to mention sophomore C.J. Henderson. The Florida product had a few bad games but also showed flashes in 2020 before a groin injury ended his rookie campaign. In fact, there’s a strong possibility he will be one of the Jaguars’ starting cornerbacks in 2021.

The Jaguars could still add another cornerback or two in 2021’s draft but it isn’t a pressing need. Also, it will be interesting to see if the group can avoid major injuries but Meyer isn’t the only person that thinks the unit is currently in good shape.