The Jacksonville Jaguars have done a great job of raising both the floor and roof of the roster this offseason. Aside from bringing in players who'll have an immediate impact, they also added depth to nearly every position group. That's not great news for everyone.
While several players took advantage of their chances last year, others failed to hit their stride and barely suited up for the Jags last year. Maybe they need more time to put it all together, but making the 53-man roster has become more challenging for them after the additions the front office made in the NFL Draft.
These three draftees from 2024, in particuar, will have a steep hill to climb to earn a roster spot.
DeAntre Prince, Jaguars cornerback
Cornerback was among the Jaguars' biggest needs this offseason, so they spared no expense to address it. First, they signed the versatile Jarrian Jones in free agency. They then traded up for Travis Hunter. The duo will join a group that includes the feisty Jarrian Jones and Tyson Campbell. Add Montaric Brown to the mix, and it's hard to see DeAntre Prince making the cut.
A fifth-round pick in last year's draft, Prince had trouble getting onto the football field despite the fact that Jacksonville struggled to defend the pass. It wasn't until late in the season that the former Ole Miss Rebel began to get snaps, and he didn't do anything of note.
Barring an unexpected leap in his sophomore campaign, Prince could be the victim of the numbers game.
Keilan Robinson - Jaguars running back
The best ability in the NFL is availability. You can be the most gifted football player, but if you cannot step onto the football field, it's not of much use. That's pretty much the case of Keilan Robinson, a speedster who doesn't have the size to carry a big load but could help on third-downs and special teams.
Unfortunately, Robinson didn't suit up for the Jags in 2024 after suffering a toe injury in training camp. In an ideal world, that wouldn't be an issue, but the addition of two running backs to the Jaguars backfield isn't a good sign.
The Jags took Bhayshal Tuten in Round 4 and LeQuint Allen three rounds later. The former should compete for the No. 2 job, and the latter has the tools to carve a niche as a passing-downs specialist. Both rookies have a bigger upside than their sophomore counterpart, so nobody will bat an eye if Robinson is kicked to the curb at some point in the offseason.
Javon Foster - Jaguars offensive lineman
Like cornerback, the offensive line was a glaring weakness for Jacksonville last year. That's why it was telling that 2024 fourth-round pick Javon Foster didn't get a chance to showcase what he could do. Heck, you could even make the case that one of the reasons the Jags spared no expense to beef up the line of scrimmage in the offseason was that players like Foster were underwhelming.
Last year, Foster didn't have trouble making the 53-man roster but should be on the bubble ahead of training camp. He played offensive tackle at Mizzou but the Jags brought in Fred Johnson and Chuma Edoga in free agency. Both would be better options than their sophomore counterparts. It's also worth noting that Cole Van Lanen is still in the mix, and rookie Wyatt Milum could get playing time on the edge.
The bottom line is that Foster is on the outside looking in and will need to do something extraordinary to stick around.