The Jacksonville Jaguars parted ways with Mike Caldwell after watching the defense crumble in the second half of the 2023 season. After a comprehensive search, they chose Ryan Nielsen to fill their defensive coordinator vacancy. Even though the Jags met with several qualified candidates (Wink Martindale, Chris Hewitt), they arguably ended up with the best of the bunch.
Nielsen, who held the same position with the Atlanta Falcons last year, has his work cut out for 2024. He will be tasked with making sure his unit remains disciplined and prepared, something they didn't always achieve last year.
Working in his favor is that Nielsen has always put a premium on physicality and fundamentals, attributes that will help him get the most out of his personnel. While his philosophy will benefit a handful of players, others, including the next four, could ultimately be affected.
4. Tyler Lacy, defensive end
The Jaguars have poured lots of resources on the defensive line but the returns have been minimal. Last year, they gave new deals to Roy Robertson-Harris and DaVon Hamilton with the expectation that they would set the tone. Unfortunately, neither had the impact the team envisioned. Similarly, defensive end Tyler Lacy didn't do much of a note, which is why opposing teams had no trouble moving the ball at ease down the stretch in 2023.
Lacy, a fourth-round pick in last year's draft, got minimal playing time. Granted, it's not realistic to expect mid-round picks to have a feature role right off the bat but you want them to contribute somehow. In Lacy's case, his rookie season was unremarkable, registering a measly 12 total tackles and one tackle for a loss.
Nielse's area of expertise is the defensive line, so Lacy could flourish under his tutelage and turn into a dependable rotational piece. Conversely, there's a chance he will flop. As the adage says, pressure makes diamonds but also burst pipes. The 2024 season will tell the Jaguars where Lacy falls.
3. Yasir Abdullah, edge rusher
Here's another member of the Jaguars' 2023 draft class. Dubbed a hidden gem/sleeper pick, analysts and talking heads (guilty as charged) believed Abdullah could become the No. 3 pass rusher Jacksonville sorely needed in their rotation. Looking back, this take aged poorly as the former Louisville Cardinal was inactive for more games than the ones he suited up for last year.
In his defense, Abdullah was relatively raw coming out of college and was always going to need to undergo an adjustment period. The fact that he lacked ideal length and size didn't help matters. On the other hand, it's a bit concerning that he wasn't able to get playing time despite the fact that the Jaguars didn't get much production from K'Lavon Chaisson.
Chaisson is now set to become a free agent, and it's hard to imagine the Jaguars bringing him back. That could be Abdullah's chance to work his way onto the rotation That said, he'll face an uphill battle. Not only will the team add reinforcements to the pass rush, but he may need to make the transition to playing with his hand on the ground if Ryan Nielsen deploys a 4-3 front. That could potentially prevent Abdullah from earning a roster spot.
Maybe Nielsen can find a way to use Abdullah's skill set. After all, he's quick off the edge and has outstanding recognition skills. Perhaps he can find a niche as a pass-rush specialist, but there's also a scenario in which his lack of size will prevent him from contributing in 2024.
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.
1. Gregory Junior, cornerback
After an uneventful rookie campaign, cornerback Gregory Junior was a stud in last year's training camp. He was one of the players who showed the most improvement since the end of 2022, with head coach Doug Pederson publicly recognizing his growth. However, Junior didn't do much of note once the 2023 season began.
At 6'0", the Ouachita Baptist product is better suited to line up in the slot but couldn't get much playing time behind veteran Tre Herndon in 2023. To add insult to injury, Herndon eventually saw his playing time decrease but that's because he paved the way for defensive back Antonio Johnson. Junior ultimately suited up for nine games and played 93 defensive snaps while Johnson became into a steady contributor in the secondary.
Herndon is slated to hit the open market. That bodes well for Junior, who will probably be given a chance to compete for the nickel job. Then again, it's not a sure thing that Herndon will leave. Also, the Jaguars may also consider bringing in competition, so Junior is not a lock to man in the slot next season even if the Jaguars move Johnson to safety, his natural position.
Working in Junior's favor is that most players will get a clean slate under Ryan Nielsen, who will push everyone out of their comfort zone. His system is known for being aggressive and attacking. Perhaps Junior will thrive under him but there's also an equal chance he'll be unable to move up the depth chart.
As Trent Baalke told the media in his end-of-the-season conference, iron sharpens iron and it will be interesting to see who benefits from Nielsen's arrival and who falters. One thing is certain though, everyone will get a chance to prove himself.