4 Jaguars rookies that could push veterans in 2021

The Jacksonville Jaguars can’t keep Tyson Campbell on the sidelines.

The Jaguars’ pass defense ranked near the cellar in points allowed last season. The team’s brass spent the offseason revamping their cornerback room and the unit now looks like a strength heading into the 2021 regular season. The Jags re-signed Sidney Jones and Tre Herndon earlier this year. They also inked Shaquill Griffin in free agency and drafted Tyson Campbell with the 33rd overall pick in the draft.

Sophomore C.J. Henderson should be fully healthy after missing eight games last season. After free agency, head coach Urban Meyer in a sit-down with the local media that the team basically has four starting cornerbacks. This will come in handy when the Jaguars use nickel or dime packages. However, Campbell wasn’t on the team yet when Meyer spoke to the media. While there’s no need to rush him on the field, it doesn’t make much sense to keep him on the sidelines.

Griffin and Henderson will likely be the starters in Week 1 and Campbell will likely be the fourth or fifth cornerback on the Jaguars’ depth chart. However, the Georgia product should push Jones and Herndon for playing time. The former has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career and the latter has been merely good.

Last season, the Jaguars felt comfortable letting Henderson learn on the fly. They don’t need to take the same approach with Campbell, but the rookie cornerback would benefit from benefit more from seeing the field early. After all, you don’t take someone early on the draft to warm the bench.