The Jacksonville Jaguars entered the offseason with clear needs. Cornerback was among the biggest ones, and they spared no expense to take care of it. First, the front office inked Jourdan Lewis in free agency and later selected two-way star Travis Hunter second overall in the NFL Draft. Both Hunter and Lewis should have an immediate impact, but Ryan Fowler of The Draft Network believes the Jags should also expect an undrafted free agent to earn a roster spot and contribute in 2025.
Fowler put together a list of undrafted free agents that he expects to make a push for a roster spot next season, and included cornerback Jabbar Muhammad, who signed with the Jags. He didn't give a reason, but it's easy to see why the former Oregon Duck could get the nod.
At 5'9", Muhammad is better suited to line up in the slot but has the versatility to play in the boundaries. He lacks top speed and must work on his footwork, but his ball skills and ability to track the football allow him to make plays. On top of that, the DeSoto, Texas native excels at defending the run. While that's not a must-have trait to succeed at cornerback, it certainly helps.
Cody Giddins of the Bleacher Report projected Muhammad to go in the fourth round, so it's fair to say that Fowler was far from the only analyst who was high on him. Here's what Giddins had to say about the 2023 Second-Team All-Pac 12 before the draft:
"Jabbar Muhammad projects as a day-three pick with the potential to develop into a valuable role player. Though his best chance of seeing the field would be as a nickel, his versatility and ball skills make him an attractive option for zone-heavy schemes. However, improving his consistency in coverage and adding strength to handle bigger receivers will be key to his success."
Does Jabbar Muhammad have a shot at making the Jaguars 53-man roster?
Cornerback went from a weakness to a potential area of strength for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025. Sure, they had Tyson Campbell in the fold, but he's been struggling with injuries the past two seasons. On the other hand, veteran Ronald Darby was a liability in coverage, so nobody batted an eye when he was benched and later released. Jarrian Jones is also in the mix, but it looks like the Jags didn't want to bank on him to make a leap, so they added Jourdan Lewis and Travis Hunter.
By now, you may be wondering where Jabbar Muhammad would fit, and here's what the road to cracking the team would look like: Four spots are virtually earmarked for Jones, Lewis, Campbell, and Hunter. Of course, Hunter could be listed as a receiver, so that would free up one spot on defense. That potentially leaves two spots up for grabs.
Montaric Brown was the primary backup last year and saw an uptick in playing time when Darby was benched. That said, he's not a lock to make the team. He and sophomore DeAntre Prince will probably have to earn their roster spot. That's where Muhammad comes in. He would need to beat either Prince or Brown to get the nod. One thing he has going in his favor is that there's a new regime in place, so they all will be on equal footing.
That could allow Muhammad to make the Jaguars 53-man roster. It's not a given that he will, but he certainly has the talent to pull it off. At worst, he could join the practice squad, work on his craft, and once again try to earn a spot in 2026.