5 draft prospects the Jacksonville Jaguars must keep an eye on in the 2023 NFL Combine

The Jacksonville Jaguars traveled to Indianapolis to evaluate draft prospects at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. While scouts previously watched tons of tape of players they’re interested in, having the chance to see them perform drills live and interview them is an important part of the evaluation process.

The combine also gives prospects the opportunity to rise their draft stock, especially if they got limited playing time or come from a small school. With that in mind, here are five players the Jaguars should keep an eye on during the week-long event.

5. prospect the Jacksonville Jaguars should watch: Justin Shorter, WR

Despite the fact that Jalin Hyatt was named

the Jaguars’ dream target in the first round

, wide receiver isn’t among their top needs this offseason. Then again, that shouldn’t stop them from using a mid or late-round pick at the position.

A five-star recruit out of high school, Shorter originally attended Penn State before transferring to Florida, where he appeared in 32 games and hauled in 95 receptions for 1,395 yards with eight touchdowns.

At 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, Shorter has the body frame to break tackles, make contested catches, and become an effective weapon in the red zone. On the other hand, Keith Sanchez of the Draft Network notes that the former Gator doesn’t have “the vertical speed to create separation” nor “the short-area quickness to make defenders miss in a space”. This is why he needs to test well in the 40-yard dash and the 3-cone drill to help alleviate concerns about his perceived lack of speed.

4. prospect the Jacksonville Jaguars should watch: Camerun Peoples, RB

Running back isn’t necessarily a strength for the Jaguars ahead of the draft but they have a solid group in Travis Etienne, Snoop Conner, and JaMycal Hasty, who recently signed a multi-year extension. However, the team’s brass should consider using a middle or late-round selection on the position.

After all, you can always find a quality running back in the later rounds of the draft, and Appalachian State’s Camerun Peoples could turn out to be a hidden gem. Just like Tyjae Spears, Peoples turned heads at during Senior Bowl week and he’ll get another chance to keep moving up in draft boards in the combine.

Peoples hardly played in his first two seasons at Appalachian State, tallying just 20 carries in 2018 and 2019 combined. However, he went on to rack up 168 carries for 1,124 yards with 12 touchdowns the following year.

Even though Peoples wasn’t often featured in the Mountaineers’ passing game, he’s got the tools to become a competent receiver out of the backfield. At 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, he’s got the size to break tackles and gain yards in chucks.

On the other hand, Kyle Crabbs of The Draft Network points out that Peoples lacks the lateral agility to beat defenses against the grain, and his limited experience in pass protection makes him a developmental project. For this reason, testing well in the 20-yard shuttle and the 3-cone drill will be key.

The bottom line is that Peoples has his work cut out, especially in passing downs, but he could push Conner for the RB3 spot in training camp.

3. prospect the Jacksonville Jaguars should watch: Tucker Kraft, TE

Tight end Evan Engram sign a one-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars last offseason and went on to post career numbers and set several team records. He’s scheduled to hit the open market once again but there’s mutual interest in getting a deal done and negotiations are seemingly headed in the right direction.

Having said that, contract talks could break off at any time and if Engram leaves, tight end would then become a position of need for the Jaguars. Fortunately for the Jags, this is a deep tight end class and they would be in a position to take one of the top 3 prospects at the position with the 24th overall pick.

But even if Engram returns, which is likely, the Jaguars should still consider adding a tight end in the draft, maybe South Dakota State’s Tucker Kraft. An ankle injury limited him to 27 catches for 348 yards in 2022 but he hauled in 65 receptions for 773 yards with six touchdowns the year before.

Kraft is a solid receiver and has the athletic skills to become a well-rounded tight end in the NFL. Brent Weissman of The Draft Network argues that Kraft still has to work to do to become a complete player but “his skill set is easy to project at the next level“, which is why he has a third-round grade on him.

While tight end might not be a need for the Jags if Engram returns, Kraft might be too good to pass up in the third round.

2. prospect the Jacksonville Jaguars should watch: Joey Porter Jr., CB

You are probably tired of hearing that cornerback is the Jaguars’ top need this offseason but that won’t change until they address it. While they could pursue a bargain option in free agency, this year’s class offers plenty of options at the position. In fact, they should consider double-dipping and taking a cornerback in the first and second rounds.

Given the Jaguars’ need at cornerback, it’s not surprising that they’ve been linked to pretty much every cornerback prospect with a first-round grade heading into the draft, including Joey Porter Jr., who might be available at No. 24.

Although the former Penn State Nittany Lion has the size and length to excel at press corner, draft analyst Dane Brugler of The Athletic doesn’t think he doesn’t have ideal change-of-direction skills for the position and wants to see him do the 3-cone drill and the 20-yard shuttle.

Even though shutting down future NFL receivers isn’t the best indicator of future success, Porter gave up a measly 45 yards on 73 coverage snaps when he went against Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and Marvin Jones Jr. in two games against Ohio State.

In the end, most of the top cornerback prospects will still be available when the Jaguars are on the clock. It might come down to whoever has the highest grade on their draft board but Porter could separate himself from the bunch by having a good outing at the combine.

1. prospect the Jacksonville Jaguars should watch: Andre Carter II, edge

It’s not often that you see prospects that suited up for the Army have a first-round grade but that’s how good outside linebacker Andre Carter II is. Even though undisclosed injuries slowed him down in 2022, he logged 41 total tackles, 14.5 sacks, and 17 tackles for a loss the year before.

Matt Holder of the Bleacher Report scouting department believes Carter doesn’t have functional strength to go against NFL offensive linemen and might need to add weight to “hold up at the point of attack“. Holder goes on to say that Carter is better suited to line up in a two-point stance rather than with his hand on the ground, which would make him an ideal candidate to play in Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell’s system.

Carter could go late first-round pick but he could be available in the second round. The downside of taking the former Army Black Knight in the draft is that he might need one or two years to get fully acclimated to the NFL and the Jaguars might be better off adding someone who can contribute right off the bat to their pass rush rotation.

Then again, Carter could give a tough choice to Jacksonville if he impresses in the combine. After all, general manager Trent Baalke has a solid track record of identifying edge rushers in the draft, and if Carter does well in Indianapolis, he could move up a few spots in the Jaguars’ big board.