4 Jaguars players who aren't safe with Ryan Nielsen as the defensive coordinator

2. Ventrell Miller, linebacker

Linebacker Ventrell Miller was a typical Trent Baalke pick. Throughout his career, the general manager has consistently looked for value in players coming off major injuries. Although there's merit in finding contributors that slip in the draft due to medical flags, you cannot over-rely on the strategy, which is precisely what Baalke has done.

In Miller's case, he played the 2022 season through a foot injury. He then underwent surgery before the Senior Bowl to ensure he would be in time for organized team activities. To his credit, Miller was able to return but he would eventually suffer an Achilles injury in the preseason, effectively ending his rookie campaign before it even began.

Now, it's not Miller's fault that he got hurt, and there's only so much players can do to prevent injuries in a sport as violent as football. If anything, the blame should fall on Baalke for ignoring Ventrell's injury history. The silver lining is that signs point toward the former Florida Gator making a full recovery. If he manages to stay healthy, he might be able to catch up. However, he won't have an easy path to making the roster, especially if he misses time early in the offseason.

Keep in mind that Ryan Nielsen will be installing his scheme, and the last thing Miller will want is finding himself trying to catch up. While he has the attributes to play either linebacker on either a 3-4 or 4-3 system, it's not a given that he'll make the roster, especially if the Jaguars add competition to the linebacker corps in free agency or the draft.