The Jacksonville Jaguars were pretty good last year and they could be even better in 2023 after a productive offseason that saw them fortify their roster. Also, they're enjoying a relatively clean bill of health ahead of the preseason, and that should help them on their quest of making the playoffs and winning the AFC South title for the second straight season.
On the other hand, the Jags are still figuring a few things out. They're assessing their roster and looking for ways to make upgrades to positions in need ahead of the 2023 season. With that in mind, here are three questions Jacksonville needs to answer in the upcoming weeks.
3. The Jaguars must figure out the left guard position
The Jags knew Ben Bartch was going to need ample time to recover from the dislocated knee he sustained last year. Doug Pederson said earlier this year that he wasn't going to be probably ready for training camp, and that turned out to be the case. Bartch is currently on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list and Pederson told the media in late July that he could need a few more weeks to return.
During Bartch's absence, Tyler Shatley got reps with the first team but he's currently out after an incident of Atrial Fibrillation. He should be back soon but the team is currently thin at the position. They're currently rolling with Blake Hence, who was in the practice squad last year. Rookie Cooper Hodges and Cole Van Lanen could also be in the mix but neither seems to be ready to step for a featured role right now.
This could be a cause for concern if Bartch isn't ready for the opener or if Shatley needs to miss more time than expected to recover. He was back with the team on Day 9 of training camp but didn't participate in drills.
Having said that, the coaching staff could take advantage of the situation and give their younger players a bigger workload during training camp. By giving Hodges Van Lanen and Hence more reps, it will be easier for the Jags to sort out the depth chart come roster cutdown day.
2. Who will line up in the slot for the Jaguars in 2023?
Cornerback Darious Williams, a free-agent signing last year, started the 2022 season in the slot but fared much better once he moved to the perimeter. With Williams remaining in the boundaries in 2023, the coaching staff is still figuring out who will handle slot duties.
After Day 2 of the draft, general manager Trent Baalke said that Tre Herndon was the No. 3 cornerback and he currently seems to have the inside track to line up in the slot. However, there are a handful of couple players who could challenge Herndon and seize his spot in the lineup.
Sophomores Greg Junior and Montaric Jr. have made strides and both have gotten praise from Doug Pederson. Also in the mix are rookies Antonio Johnson and Erick Hallet II. Both are listed as safeties on the depth chart but they've gotten reps at nickel. Then, there's Kaleb Hayes, who went undrafted in April, but has made plays in training camp and earned the praise of star receiver Calvin Ridley.
By virtue of having the most experience, Herndon may play nickel in the opener. However, he gave up a 71.1 percent completion rate and 14.8 yards per catch when targeted. Granted, he allowed some of those completions when he lined up outside but the Jaguars most certainly want better production from the slot and the sooner they pick someone, the more time they'll give him to get acquainted with the position.
1. Who will be pass rusher No. 3 for the Jaguars?
Pass rush remains a need for the Jaguars even though they brought back defensive end Dawuane Smoot on a one-year deal. A third-round pick by the Jags in 2017, Smoot was an important piece of their rotation last year but tore his Achilles near the end of the season. He's still rehabbing and might more time to be 100 percent.
But even after Smoot returns, the pass rush still looks like a question mark. Outside linebacker Josh Allen has dominated in training camp while sophomore Travon Walker has made strides. However, there isn't much depth behind him. K'Lavon Chaisson is currently No. 3 behind Allen and Walker and he doesn't really inspire confidence, having registered a total of three sacks over the last three years.
Maybe this is the year Chaisson finally puts it all together but there's an equal chance he'll be a non-factor. Losing defensive end Arden Key in free agency certainly stings and to fill the void, Jacksonville drafted Tyler Lacy and Yasir Abdullah in Rounds 4 and 5, respectively. Both are intriguing talents but expecting either one to contribute right off the bat might be too much to ask.
Pederson said in early June that the team wanted to see what their young guys could do before considering bringing in outside help. It's possible that he hasn't changed his stance, and if either Chaisson or the rookies fail to impress in training camp, they should then look at the available options. The issue with that is that Yannick Ngakoue, Leonard Floyd, and Frank Clark are off the market, so Justin Houston and Melvin Ingram might be the top options.
This begs the question, should the Jags ink a veteran pass rusher? They should first see what they got in Lacy and Abdullah but shouldn't rule out bringing in someone else.