5 Jaguars who had no business making the final 2021 roster
When trimming down their rosters, teams always choose what they think are the best 53 players. In the Jacksonville Jaguars case, it must have been a bit difficult. After all, they spent the offseason making upgrades to the roster.
Keep in mind keeps that teams are always making moves. Not long after setting the 53-man roster, the Jags released EDGE defender Aaron Patrick, who had originally made the cut, and claimed wide receiver Tyrod Johnson off of waivers.
The other side of the coin is that there were a few players that had no business making the Jaguars’ 53-man roster. These five players could turn out to be solid contributors in the 2021 season but they haven’t shown enough to believe that will be the case.
Jaguars player that shouldn’t have made the roster No. 1 – Adam Gotsis
Head coach Urban Meyer said earlier this year that revamping the Jaguars’ defensive front was a priority. True to his word, the team signed Roy Robertson-Harris and Jihad Ward in free agency. Later in the draft, they selected Jordan Smith, but that wasn’t it. Jacksonville also brought back Dawuane Smoot and Adam Gotsis.
It wasn’t surprising to see the Jags keep Smoot. After all, he was the team’s best pass rusher in 2020, posting a team-high 5.5 sacks. On the other hand, it was a bit puzzling to also retain Gotsis. Sure, the 2016 second-round selection appeared in all 16 games and made 14 starts last season but was hardly an impact player, finishing the year with 37 total tackles, one forced fumble, four tackles for a loss, and no sacks. With Roberson-Harris and Ward now on the roster, Gotsis may not see the field often in 2021.
Throughout his five-year career, the defensive tackle hasn’t shown he’s more than a rotational player. He’s played more than 50 percent of the defensive snaps just once. Also, he’s posted a paltry five career sacks and hasn’t registered one since 2018. The Jaguars might’ve been better keeping a player with a bigger upside and a higher ceiling.