3 recent draft picks who may be playing their last game in Jaguars vs. Falcons
Center Luke Fortner will give the Jacksonville Jaguars a tough decision on roster cutdown day. A third-round pick in 2022, the former Kentucky Wildcat showed potential as a rookie but regressed last year. The fact that he's struggled in training camp and the preseason has led to chatter about the Jags potentially releasing him ahead of the regular season. That said, he's not the only recent selection who could get the boot after the preseason finale against the Atlanta Falcons.
While far from perfect, the Jaguars roster has depth and talent at several position groups. This is great news for the team but not so much for a handful of players who are on the outside looking in ahead of cutdown day. The following three, in particular, are at risk of getting a visit from the Turk after the finale.
Jaguars CB Monatric Brown, 7th-round pick in 2022
Montaric Brown got his name called in 2023 because Tyson Campbell dealt with injuries throughout most of the year. All things considered, he fared well. He struggled at times but also came in clutch at key moments, including late in the game against the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football.
On the other hand, the front office has made upgrades to their cornerback room since the end of the 2023 season. While they moved on from Darious Williams in a cap-saving move, they signed Ronald Darby and later used a pair of draft picks on Deantre Prince and Jarrian Jones. Sophomore Christian Braswell and Tre Flowers are also in the mix. When you factor in that Campbell is once again healthy, Brown could be a victim of the numbers game.
Already, Jacksonville has already moved on from cornerback Gregory Junior, a sixth-round pick in 2023. Brown could be next.
Jaguars LB Yasir Abdullah, 5th-round pick in 2023
Upgrading the pass rush was among the biggest needs for the Jaguars in 2023. However, the front office opted not to make significant additions even though they had several chances to do so because they expected K'Lavon Chaisson to step up. He didn't, and outside Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen, Jacksonville didn't have many options to get after the quarterback last year.
One of the few moves the Jaguars made to bolster the pass-rush rotation was drafting Yasir Abdullah. A standout at Louisville, the Florida native made the 53-man roster as a rookie but was a healthy scratch for most of the year, ending the season with a measly one total tackle. In his defense, the Jacksonville defense was going through the motions with Mike Caldwell at the helm. Everyone got a fresh start when Ryan Nielsen took over.
In Abdullah's case, he didn't have the length to bring the heat on the edge, so he's moved to off-linebacker under Nielsen. The swith could be benficial for him in the long term. However, he's currently on the outside looking in because the Jags are stacked at the position.
Foyesade Oluokun and Devin Lloyd are the starters. Behind them is an improved Chad Muma. Sophomore Ventrell Miller and Caleb Johnson are also in the fold, which makes it hard to envision Abdullah making the team in 2024.
Jaguars RB Keilan Robinson, 5th-round pick in 2024
The Jaguars used a fifth-round pick on Keilan Robinson because they thought he could provide a spark in the return game. That's what he did for the Longhorns last year. The former Texans standout certainly showed throughout the offseason that he was capable of providing said spark. However, a toe injury has kept him out of the preseason.
This wouldn't be a concern if it weren't for the fact that the Parker Washington has also proved he can be a game-changer. Moreover, undrafted rookie Jalen Jackson has made the most of his chances during Robinson.
When you factor in that Robinson is 5'10" and wouldn't probably see time outside of special teams, he's at risk of not making the 53-man roster.
Is that fair? Probably not but availability is the most important ability in the NFL, and if you cannot contribute on game day, someone else will.