5 most important players on the Jaguars who are not starters

Not only did the Jacksonville Jaguars lack star power in recent years but their depth was suspect as well. That changed this offseason, as the team’s brass went on to revamp most position groups.

While it’s hard to tell how much the Jags improved over the last few months, their roster seems well-rounded ahead of training camp. With that in mind, these are the five most important reserves on Jacksonville’s roster.

No. 5 most important Jaguars non-starter in 2022: Will Richardson Jr., OL

Who would have thought that offensive lineman Will Richardson Jr. was going to outlast defensive tackle Taven Bryan, wide receiver DJ Chark Jr., and safety Ronnie Harrison? The former North Carolina State Wolfpack isn’t better than any of those players but it’s telling that they all were drafted before him and none of them are longer with the Jaguars.

This isn’t to say that Richardson is a building block, far from it. But it’s telling that he and Logan Cooke are the only remaining members of the Jaguars’ 2018 draft class. So why has the hog molly managed to play for three different head coaches in Jacksonville? His versatility has certainly helped. An offensive tackle by trade, he played 123 snaps at right guard last season when the coaching staff ran out of healthy options at the position.

A fourth-round selection in 2018, Richardson missed his rookie campaign with a series of injuries but has appeared in 44 games with five starts over the last three seasons. He was set to become a free agent this offseason but was given a one-year deal to return to Jacksonville. He won’t see the football field much in 2022 but if one of the starters up front goes down he’ll be ready to go.