4 players not named Tim Jones the Jaguars must add to practice squad

No. 1 candidate for Jaguars practice squad: Gregory Junior, CB

Just like wide receiver, cornerback figures to be a position of strength for the Jaguars in 2022, at least when it comes to depth. They have a pair of starting cornerbacks in Shaquill Griffin and Tyson Campbell but still made a big investment in Darious Williams, who got a three-year, $30 million deal in free agency. Tre Herndon and Chris Claybrooks will tentatively be the top backups and Xavier Crawford seems like a good bet to make the 53-man roster.

This leaves rookies Montaric Brown and Gregory Junior as victims of the numbers game. The Jags already moved on from undrafted free agent Benjie Franklin Monday, so it might be a matter of time before the team’s brass waive Brown and Junior. Franklin earned praise from the coaching staff and Griffin in the offseason and is a candidate to land in the practice squad, just like Junior if he doesn’t make the team, which is the most likely outcome.

Junior was the first ever prospect in Ouachita Baptist’s history to be drafted. The Arkansas native logged 128 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss, 17 passes defensed, and one interception in 43 collegiate games. His performance in the Senior Bowl caught the eye of several NFL scouts but general manager Trent Baalke recalls that the Jags did a good job of identifying him last fall.

Like most players on this list, Junior would benefit from a year in a practice squad, so the Jaguars should stash him there as soon as they get the chance, which is one day after the last round of cuts.