Cutdown day is coming, which means that so is the ability to claim players on the waiver wire. And despite all the offseason maneuvering already executed, the Jacksonville Jaguars still have some work to do.
New general manager James "I've got rocks" Gladstone has shown he's not afraid to pick up the phone, and I expect the next week or more to be among the busiest for the team.
After all, the Jags are in an odd spot. They seem to be inundated with unproven yet promising young players, not to mention a slew of rookies looking to make a direct impact on the game. With the amount of inexperience on the team—along with players in their contract seasons looking to prove themselves—the Jaguars will likely be aiming at depth and versatility prior to week 1.
With that in mind, here are three positions the team's brass must bolster via the waiver wire.
Jaguars position No. 1: The defensive backs
While the Jaguars seem to have a solid backfield, there are too many questions to simply leave the position group as-is: Will seventh-year veteran Darnell Savage improve from his middling first year with the Jaguars? Will Eric Murray fill the gap in the backfield that seemed perpetually open last year? Can Tyson Campbell play up to his potential? On top of that, who'll be the top backup if Montaric Brown isn't ready for the opener?
Then there's the young talent. How will Travis Hunter balance playing both sides of the ball? I'll also be keeping my eyes on rookies Rayuan Lane III and Caleb Ransaw. With all the uncertainty, the Jaguars might be looking for a defensive back come cutdown day.
Related: Predicting the Jaguars practice squad for the 2025 NFL season
Jaguars position No. 2: The offensive line
Despite having the confidence to trade away center Luke Fortner, the Jaguars can't be happy with the depth they have—or don't have—along the offensive line. Third-year veteran Anton Harrison has played well, and Walker Little has earned his starting spot. On top of that, Gladstone brought in Patrick Mekari, Chuma Edoga, and Robert Hainsey to help what was a struggling line last year.
All in all, there are some solid starters protecting Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
But behind that starting line? Rookies Wyatt Milum, Jonah Monheim, and Sal Wormley. Yes, they've looked good in training camp and the preseason, and yes, the Jaguars also have a few veterans that they still like (fourth-year veteran Cole Van Lanen comes to mind).
With the pressure Lawrence is going to be feeling to stand out this year, you can guarantee the Jaguars will be looking to add some much-needed depth in case of injuries.
Jaguars position No. 3: The tight ends
Nick Raducanu of Sports Illustrated thinks people are sleeping on third-year tight end Brenton Strange. While that may be true for some, it's likely not for many Jaguars fans. We've had our eyes on the Penn State grad for some time. Still, like the other position groups on this list, Strange is largely unproven. When Evan Engram went down with an injury, Strange proved he could fill his shoes.
But can he do it consistently?
And that's not mentioning the rest of the tight end room. Though it doesn't seem likely any of the rookies will make the final 53, that doesn't mean the Jaguars are flooded with skilled veterans. Though I've hinted that the Jaguars might be looking to trade Johnny Mundt, that doesn't mean they're not hoping to upgrade the position and provide Lawrence with another Engram-like option should Strange get injured or prove unable to fill those shoes.
Related: Jaguars' next roster cut after releasing DeAntre Prince is abundantly clear
Final thoughts
As always, this kind of speculation will be answered quickly, and the waiver wire isn't exactly the best place to pick up starters. Yet the Jaguars might be looking to add some much-needed depth to a few positions, and snatching up those cast aside by other teams might be their best option.