3 Jacksonville Jaguars in danger of losing their jobs after OTAs
The Jacksonville Jaguars have just wrapped up Organized Team Activities. While pads weren't allowed and contact was forbidden, many players took advantage of the opportunity to shine. Conversely, others saw their stock drop in recent weeks.
Granted, the regular season is still a few months away, so those players who failed to make an impression will have a chance to make up ground. That said, these three Jaguars shouldn't feel great about where they stand after OTAs.
Jaguars DE Jeremiah Ledbetter could be on thin ice after OTAs
Defensive end Jeremiah Ledbetter was somewhat of a pleasant surprise last season. A sixth-round pick by the Detroit Lions, the Arkansas product laned in the Jaguars' practice squad in 2021. He was waived before the start of the 2022 season and later landed in the practice squad.
Ledbetter ended up appearing in one game that year. The team's brass was pleased enough that they brought him back in 2023. With DaVon Hamilton missing a good chunk of the regular season, he got an increased workload. The Florida native played 17 games with two starts, registering 24 total tackles and three pressures.
Jacksonville re-signed Ledbetter this past offseason, giving him a one-year deal. However, he's far from a lock to make the team after the arrival of Arik Armstead. A first-round pick in 2015, he was one of the team's biggest acquisitions in free agency and will get a featured role next to Roy Robertson-Harrison next season.
Moreover, the Jags bolstered the defensive front with the addition of Maason Smith and Jordan Smith in the draft. By virtue of being a second-round selection, the former should get lots of playing time in 2024.
if that wasn't enough, Hamilton is back at full strength after dealing with a non-football medical issue with his back. He looked like his old self in training camp. All things considered, the Jaguars' defensive line rotation looks great, but Ledbetter could ultimately be a victim of the numbers games.