3 under-the-radar Jaguars players poised for a breakout season in 2025

The Jacksonville Jaguars are one of the younger teams in the league, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. After all, they have several veterans in place, such as Trevor Lawrence and Josh Hines-Allen, but they'll also be counting on several young players to take the next step.

With the arrival of a new coaching staff, one with a player-friendly approach, many of these young building blocks will flourish. These three, in particular, are poised for a breakout season.

Travon Walker, Jaguars defensive end

Travon Walker is one of the most athletic defensive ends in the NFL. With absurd speed and tremendous strength, the Thomaston, Georgia native has all the makings of an elite edge rusher. Despite the lack of coverage, he has quietly produced double-digit sacks each of the past two seasons. However, he has yet to ascend into "star status".

There is one key factor that inspires confidence in a breakout year for Walker, and that's the added depth to the defensive line. Moving Arik Armstead back into his more traditional role as an interior defensive lineman will create more opportunities on first and second down for Walker on the edge.

Having said that, it would not come as a surprise if defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile moves the versatile Walker inside on key pass-rush situations to take advantage of his speed on the inside. On the other hand, depth on the outside has previously made this difficult to do.

The good news is that the Jaguars added key veteran pieces like Emmanuel Ogbah, Dawuane Smoot, and Dennis Gardeck into their rotation. Expect a fresh defensive line that gets after the opposing Quarterback at every opportunity.

Despite a solid output over the previous two seasons, many have written off the 2021 first overall pick. This year, I anticipate Walker will quiet those doubters. The Jaguars will have a fierce pass rush from all phases. Walker has a chance to do something very special this upcoming season.

Brenton Strange, Jaguars tight end

The Jaguars made a bold move this offseason, cutting ties with veteran tight end Evan Engram. While the former Ole Miss Rebel was a heck of a pass-catcher and provided a strong veteran presence in the locker room, there had to be a reason to let him go. That reason is the impending ascension of young tight end Brenton Strange.

Strange was able to step in and play well in relief of the aforementioned Engram when he missed time in 2024.

Unlike Engram, Strange is a do-it-all tight end who shows a lot of toughness. He is a solid blocker and has flashed the ability to make very tough catches in coverage. He has all the traits one would look for in a starting tight end.

Strange is also in an offense that is set up for success. With so much focus going on big play receivers like Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter, opposing defenses will likely play soft coverage. The former Penn State Nittany Lion has an opportunity to eat up short to intermediate yardage, serving as a nice security blanket for quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Remember, head coach Liam Coen likes to take deep shots, but he also is has one of the most efficient offenses in the league. Look for Strange to play a pivotal role on this offense the upcoming season.

Jarrian Jones, Jaguars cornerback

There are a lot of options for the third "under the radar" spot. But to truly fit the category, there can't be much media attention coming your way. This means players like Trevor Lawrence and Travis Hunter are out of contention. Brian Thomas Jr. already had a big year as a rookie. Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby are both poised for success, but someone that's truly been under the radar has been cornerback Jarrian Jones.

With the addition of Travis Hunter, many forget the Jaguars already have another very young, raw, and athletic corner on their roster. Jarrian Jones looks to stand out in a very deep cornerback room. The former Florida State Seminole has shown the ability to make some tremendous plays at training camp. Plays like that cannot be ignored, and coach Campanile recently spoke to the media during training camp about Jones' progress:

"I see a lot of the drill work he's doing every day is showing up now. The muscle memory is starting to set in, and he's really playing with good technique. "

Anthony Campanile, Jaguars DC

Jones could move from the nickel role he played the majority of last season to more of an outside role this upcoming year. Good depth at corner and good depth on the defensive line are two of the most important parts to a successful defense. Luckily, the Jaguars have it. If they play to their potential, it could make for a very exciting year in Jacksonville.

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