3 bold predictions for the Jaguars ahead of roster cutdown day

The Jacksonville Jaguars are gearing up for the start of the regular season. But before that, they must trim down their roster to 53 players before the 4:00 p.m. ET deadline on August 27.

The good news is that this is the deepest team Doug Pederson has coached since taking over in 2022. On the other hand, the Jags have a few tough decisions to make precisely because they're stacked at a handful of position groups.

Ultimately, the team's brass will aim to end up with the best 53 players. Along the way, though, general manager Trent Baalke will make a handful of moves to bolster the roster. After all, he's shown in previous years that he's not afraid to make trades or look into the waiver wire for reinforcements. With that in mind, here are three bold predictions for cutdown day.

The Jaguars will keep 5 running backs

When it comes to predictions, this might be rather bold but the Jaguars have a burden-of-choice kind of situation going on at running back. Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby are locks to make the team. The dependable D'Ernest Johnson should also have a roster spot secured. Having said that, Jalen Jackson and Keilan Robinson may be worthy of a slot and the team's brass might not want to run the risk of losing them in the waiver wire. That would lead them to keep both.

Robinson was a fifth-round pick who's slated to have an impact on the return game. However, a toe injury has hampered his development, forcing him to sit out chunks of training camp and the preseason. Still, he may be too valuable to let him walk.

Jackson, for his part, was an undrafted free agent out of Villanova. He's gotten ample reps and playing time because of Robinson's absence. He's made the most of his chances and Jacksonville may not want to part ways with him.

Unless, the Jaguars move on from Johnson, keeping Robinson and Jackson is a reasonable course of action. Keep in mind that they held on to seven receivers last year, so it wouldn't be shocking to see them carry more players at running back at the expense of another position.

The Jaguars will bolster the interior O-Line via trade or the waiver wire

By starting to release players, the Jaguars will have some cushion ahead of cutdown day, and one area where they could use additional reinforcements is the interior offensive line. Jacksonville is loaded at offensive tackle but they could use help at either guard at center.

Right now, Luke Fortner is slated to be the top reserve at center. Granted, he's gotten snaps at guard too but he's left much to be desired at either position. Cooper Hodges, on the other hand, has made strides but has his work cut out. Ideally, the Jaguars will stay healthy (or as close as they can be) in 2024, but if the injury bug strikes, they will want to be prepared.

For that reason, the front office will look into the waiver wire for help. Already, the Cincinnati Bengals have moved on from former second-round pick Jackson Carman, who would be an interesting reclamation project but there will be other options available in the upcoming days.

Either way, the Jaguars shouldn't hesitate to fortify the interior offensive line ahead of the regular season.

The Jaguars will trade Roy Robertson-Harris

Throughout the offseason, Cam Robinson and Walker Little were brought up as potential trade candidates (guilty as charged). However, it looks like the Jaguars are keeping both of them in 2024, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Both are capable left tackles and having both of them is a luxury not many teams have. That said, the front office could ship other players. One of them is Roy Robertson-Harris.

Robertson-Harris has been a mainstay of the defensive line dating back to 2021 but Jacksonville made upgrades to the interior defensive line in the offseason. Besides signing Arik Armstead in free agency, they used a pair of draft picks on Jordan Jefferson and Maason Smith. Add the return of DaVon Hamilton to the fold after an injury-marred season and the former UTEP Miner could be a victim of the numbers game.

Granted, the Jaguars just gave Robertson-Harris an extension in 2023 and would have to eat up $11.7 million in dead money but if they don't think there's room for him, they're better off flipping him for future assets. He would be an enticing alternative for teams in need of help on the interior defensive line.

Robertson-Harris won't be making the Pro Bowl anytime soon but he's appeared in 48 games with 47 seven starts and has logged 9.5 sacks during his three-year stint in Duval. That kind of production could make him an intriguing trade target.

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