Wide receiver was one of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ few bright spots in 2020. Thus, they didn’t make as many changes to the unit as they did to other positional groups. However, one of them was meaningful. The Jags signed Marvin Jones Jr. to a two-year deal worth $12.5 million.
The 2012 fifth-round pick gives the Jaguars a reliable number-two wide receiver that should draw coverages away from DJ Chark Jr. and Laviska Shenault Jr. Additionally to acquiring Jones, Jacksonville signed former first-round pick Phillip Dorsett and Jamal Agnew. They drafted Jalen Camp in Round 6 of this year’s draft and signed Josh Imatorbhebhe as an undrafted free agent.
While the Jags had the chance to use the 25th overall pick in 2021’s draft on a wide receiver such as Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman or Ole Miss’ Elijah Moore, they took running back Travis Etienne instead. Why? Because Jacksonville already had a couple of studs in Chark and Shenault. After the selection meeting, head coach Urban Meyer confessed the team liked Kadarius Toney a lot. Also, a leak on their draft board showed they were also high on Alabama’s Jaylen Waddle.
Nevertheless, the Jaguars’ wide receiver corps is in great shape ahead of training camp. Even if Chark, Jones, or Shenault suffer injuries, Dorsett or sophomore Collin Johnson could quickly step into the starting lineup without missing a beat. Now, there are other wide receivers on the Jaguars’ roster, including two that signed after the draft, so it will be interesting how will be part of the 53-man roster in Week 1.
Here are all the wide receivers on the Jaguars’ roster ahead of training camp.
- DJ Chark Jr.
- Marvin Jones Jr.
- Laviska Shenault Jr.
- Collin Johnson
- Phillip Dorsett
- Jamal Agnew
- Jalen Camp
- Josh Imatorbhebhe
- Pharoh Cooper
- Laquon Treadwell
- Josh Hammond
- Tim Jones
After the draft, the Jaguars signed Pharoh Cooper and Laquon Treadwell. The former was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 2016 and was named All-Pro in 2017 for his exploits on the return game. As a receiver, Cooper has never caught more than 25 receptions in a season. Meanwhile, Treadwell is a former first-round pick that is already on his third team. Although head coach Urban Meyer complimented him after being signed, he may have a hard time making the team.
When the Jaguars signed Cooper, they placed Terry Godwin on the Injured Reserve list. Eventually, they will have to decide what they want to do with the 2019 seventh-round pick. They could waive him or promote him to the active roster, but they would then have to release someone. The Jags will cross that bridge when they need to. For the time being, they need to focus on the receivers that will be in training camp.
Josh Hammond joined the Jags as an undrafted free agent last year and didn’t play a snap. Just like Tim Jones, another undrafted free agent, he won’t likely be in Jacksonville in Week 1. At most, they could make the practice squad but even that may prove to be a tall order.
There won’t be many surprises in Week 1. Since the Jaguars’ wide receiver unit was in good shape to begin with, there aren’t many spots open. More than anything, the Jags will have to sort out the pecking order.
Here’s how the depth chart could potentially look in the season opener.
- DJ Chark
- Laviska Shenault
- Marvin Jones
- Phillip Dorsett
- Collin Johnson
- Jamal Agnew
Keep in mind that Agnew is listed as a wide receiver but he has only hauled in 12 passes over his four-year career and will mainly handle return duties, so even if he doesn’t contribute in the passing game, he’s guaranteed a spot on the roster by virtue of playing special teams. Chark has been the Jags’ top wide receiver over the last two years. Jones is number two on the depth chart and Shenault will also have a significant role on offense.
Johnson and Dorsett will be the backups while Jalen Camp and maybe Laquon Treadwell join the practice squad. Former Jaguars legend Jimmy Caldwell believes Johnson can be ‘a monster’, so he could see plenty of snaps.
Last season, the Jaguars’ inconsistency at quarterback affected the performance of the wide receiver corps. With quarterback Trevor Lawrence taking snaps behind center in 2021, the unit should see a rise in production. Chark should have no trouble performing at a high level in a contract year. Meanwhile, Shenault has been getting the spotlight and is a candidate to have a breakout season.
The Jaguars have a few question marks ahead of training camp but wide receiver isn’t one of them.