Several NFL analysts think that the Jacksonville Jaguars could have trouble replacing Travis Etienne after he left for the New Orleans Saints. While there's no doubt that Etienne was a key cog, some of the concerns stem from the Jags' dearth of experience at running back, but they have more than enough talent to fill the void left by his exit.
Bhayshul Tuten is the first in line to replace Etienne, but Jacksonville will run a backfield committee, so free-agent acquisition Chris Rodriguez should also get a robust workload. Similarly, sophomore LeQuint Allen Jr. should also have a significant role due to his pass-blocking and receiving skills.
DeeJay Dallas and Ameer Abdullah are also in the mix. One of them could end up with the RB4 job, but both of them will have to fend off undrafted rookie J'Mari Taylor, who has a legitimate chance to make the team.
J'Mari Taylor has a shot at making the Jaguars roster despite the odds
Jordan De Lugo of Generation Jaguar made an appearance on 1010 XL and heaped praise on J'Mari Taylor, pointing out that he has the skill set to make an NFL roster.
"Yeah, he didn't run all that well in terms of the 40-yard dash, which is one of those things where it can have an impact when you're a projected Day 3 pick, and then it ends up not going super well for your testing and all that stuff. You can kind of slide down the board and get overlooked," De Lugo told host Ryan Hacker (5:51 mark). "I think that same thing that happened with Devin Marshall, the corner that they were able to get in undrafted free agency out of NC State."
De Lugo continued, "But Jamar Taylor's a player. I mean, I think I have had looked at him as high as, like, the fourth or fifth round throughout the pre-draft lead up, because you see the ability to break tackles, vision, patience, and pace in the behind the line of scrimmage, and in the open field, and then he was like pretty solid in pass pro, and a really, really good receiver out of the backfield. When he combined all those things, I thought he was definitely a backup, at least making an NFL roster. It's going to be an uphill battle to do that here in Jacksonville, but you'll love to see that competition."
As De Lugo noted, Taylor didn't have showcase top-notch speed or burst during the pre-draft process. However, he excels in pass protection and is a dependable target out of the backfield.
J'Mari Taylor could have an edge to make the Jaguars roster
So far, J'Mari Taylor has made a positive impression at OTAs, taking advantage of Chris Rodriguez's absence. Sure, he has an uphill battle to make the roster, but he most definitely has a shot. While Ameer Abdullah and DeeJay Dallas are fine players who can also contribute on special teams, Taylor has the higher ceiling of the three. That could give him an edge if the running battle comes down to the wire."
Of course, the former Virginia standout needs to build off his strong start to OTAs and make plays in training camp. That could be tough because he'll get limited reps in what appears to be a crowded backfield.
You won't see J'Mari Taylor suddenly challenging Bhayshul Tuten for the RB1 job, but he should most definitely feel good about his chances of making the team next season.
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