3 roster needs the Jaguars must address following the Calvin Ridley trade

No. 1 position group the Jaguars must address in 2023: Cornerback

Cornerback was one of the Jaguars’ biggest strengths entering the 2022 season but the front office will need to replenish the group next year. Sophomore Tyson Campbell has quickly improved and become a key cog in Jacksonville’s secondary. However, the rest of the group could undergo a makeover in 2023.

Shaquill Griffin, who is set to count $17.5 million against the cap next offseason, is currently on Injured Reserve with a back injury. When you consider that Jags are in need of cap relief, moving on from him sounds reasonable. Releasing him would free up $13.5 million in cap space with a cap hit of $4 million.

Tre Herndon, who took Griffin’s place in the starting lineup, is set to become a free agent in 2023 but if the Jags aren’t interested in bringing him back or aren’t unable to, they will need to find a replacement. After all, Herndon might not be a Pro Bowl-caliber cornerback but he’s got starting experience and is flexible enough to line up inside and outside.

Chris Claybrooks is also an adequate backup but nothing more and he will be entering the last year of his rookie deal. So let’s say Herndon isn’t back and the Jaguars release Griffin, they would need to add two cornerbacks in 2023.

Knowing cornerback isn’t the only need the Jags will need to address in 2023, it will be interesting to see what kind of moves they make in free agency and the draft. At least, they can check wide receiver off on their offseason list.