What each Jacksonville Jaguars rookie will struggle with during 2021

Jay Tufele – Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle

Biggest obstacle: Experience

The Jaguars did a good job of reinforcing their defensive front this offseason. Besides fortifying the EDGE position, they also traded for New Orleans defensive tackle Malcom Brown and took Jay Tufele in the fourth round of this year’s draft.

Brown will most likely start and sophomore DaVon Hamilton should also see a significant amount of playing time. Meanwhile, Tufele will have to work on his pass-rush skills. The USC product is quick and has a high motor. However, he needs to do a better job of shedding blocks and needs to develop a more diverse rushing repertoire. Also, defensive coordinator Joe Cullen will be switching between 4-3 and 4-3 alignments, so it will be interesting to see how Tufele fits the system.

Andre Cisco – Jacksonville Jaguars safety

Biggest obstacle: Injuries, raw talent

There are many things to like about safety Andre Cisco but there are a few reasons why he was available in the third round. He wasn’t a good tackler in college and didn’t have good awareness in coverage. Also, there’s the fact he dealt with injuries over the last two seasons. A lower-body injury sidelined him for three games in 2019 and he tore his ACL last season. The former Orangeman needs to stay healthy before he can compete for playing time.

Cisco has a high ceiling and was a ballhawk in college, logging 13 interceptions and 14 passes defensed in 24 games. If he avoids the injury bug, it may be a matter of time before he joins the Jaguars’ starting lineup.