4 Jaguars in need of a strong performance vs. the Chiefs in preseason Week 1

While training camp is still ongoing, the Jacksonville Jaguars are preparing to take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the first week of the preseason. Already, head coach Doug Pederson said that he wants to see the starters play, but they will get one or two series at most. On the other hand, there are a handful of players who'll need to make the most out of whatever snaps they get in the game.

These four, in particular, are looking to secure a roster spot or move up the depth chart, and they'll benefit from a strong outing in the preseason opener.

Myles Cole, defensive end

It's hard for seventh-round picks to generate hype without having played a snap in the regular season, but that's precisely what Myles Cole accomplished when the Jags selected him 236th overall in this year's draft. So why has there been so much fuzz surrounding the former Texas Tech Red Raider? His impressive size and length.

For starters, his 36.88-inch arms were the longest among edge rusher prospects in the 2024 class. On top of that, he ran the 40 yards in 4.67 seconds despite being 278 pounds.

By now you may be wondering, if Cole was so athletic, why did he last until the seventh round? That's also easy. He entered the draft without much experience and is nothing more than a developmental prospect at this point in his career. If he wants to make the team, the Louisiana native will need to show that he's already ready to contribute, even if it is in a rotation role.

While Cole has flashed in training camp, that won't cut it. The Jaguars revamped the defensive line in the offseason, and there might be other players more deserving of a roster spot than the rookie. As it is, he's facing a steep hill to make the cut, but he'll narrow down the distance with a strong showing in Preseason Week 1.

Javon Foster, offensive tackle

Walker Little and Cam Robinson are set to hit the open market in 2025. At this point, it's uncertain if they're part of the team's long-term plans, so the Jaguars went ahead and drafted Javon Foster in the fourth round.

In theory, Foster will provide insurance in case either Little or Robinson doesn't return next year, but that plan will only work if the rookie out of Mizzoue proves he can be a viable replacement. At 6'6" and 313 pounds, he certainly has the size but must work on his fundamentals during his rookie season.

If Foster proves he isn't ready, Jacksonville could be less inclined to move on from one of their offensive tackles. Conversely, they will be incentivized to trade one of them if they know the Michigan native is ready. A good preseason debut would most definitely help his case.

Josiah Deguara, tight end

The Jaguars are virtually set at tight end. Evan Engram is the unquestioned starter, with sophomore Brenton Strange and Luke Farrell sitting behind him on the depth chart. The only roster spot that is in question is Josiah Deguara's.

Deguara showed in 2021 that he can be a dependable role player, hauling in 25 receptions for 246 receptions and two touchdowns. On top of that, he can block and line up anywhere across the line of scrimmage, even at fullback, so the Jags could deploy him in different ways.

But as versatile as Deguara is, there's no guarantee he'll make the roster. If the Jaguars need to use the roster spot at another position, they can easily move on from the 2020 third-round pick. Only $25,000 of the $1.292 million deal he signed in free agency is guaranteed. Having said that, he'll give the Jaguars a tough decision if he shows out in the preseason.

Joshua Cephus, wide receiver

If Joshua Cephus were competing for a roster spot with any other team, he would have a better shot of getting the nod. The trouble is that Jacksonville is stacked at the position, so not only does the undrafted free agent have to prove that he belongs in the NFL, but he'll also need to show that he deserves to make the team over Tim Jones or Elijah Cooks.

Cephus most certainly has the skillset to develop into a steady contributor and showed at UTSA just how productive he can be, hauling in 305 receptions for 3,486 yards with 28 touchdowns from 2020-2023.

Granted, Cephus needs to work on the finer details of the position, and even if he shines in the preseason, there's no guarantee he'll make the team. Then again, an impressive performance could convince the Jaguars to once again carry seven receivers like they did last year. Or even better, beat Jones and Cooks for the roster spot.

More Jaguars analysis here: