The Jacksonville Jaguars have several building blocks in place, including Trevor Lawrence, outside linebacker Josh Allen, linebacker Foyesade Oluokun, and tight end Evan Engram. They also have several unsung contributors such as tight end Luke Farrell or safety Andre Wingard.
All of them should be part of the Jags' plans in 2024. On the other hand, there are other players who haven't done enough to warrant a roster spot next season. Whether it's injuries or underperforming, these four players may not be on the team come September.
4. Shaquille Quarterman, linebacker
The Jaguars' 2020 draft class will go down as one of the worst in team history. Out of all the picks former general manager Dave Caldwell made, only defensive end DaVon Hamilton has gotten a contract extension. Not surprisingly, Caldwell was given the boot near the end of 2020.
Granted, some of the players Jacksonville drafted in 2020 have gone on to fill roles on special teams, but it's fair to say that the Jags expected a bit more out of that year's class. Linebacker Shaquille Quarterman, for example, hasn't done much of note during his four-year stint in Jacksonville.
This season, Quarterman has only played eight defensive snaps and has been mostly relegated to special teams. Simply, he's not made enough plays to earn a contract extension. Add the eventual return of fellow linebacker Ventrell Miller, who's out for the year with an Achilles injury, and it's hard to see a scenario in which Quarterman returns in 2024.
You could argue that Quarterman was a fourth-round pick and expectations should be adjusted accordingly. However, the Jaguars could easily find a player who replaces his production in the later rounds of the 2024 draft.
3. Tre Herndon, cornerback
Cornerback Tre Hernon has been a valuable member of the Jacksonville Jaguars since he signed with them as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Heck, he's one of the few players who have outlasted Doug Marrone and Urban Meyer. The fact that the current regime has kept him around goes on to show how much he's appreciated. That said, his run in Duval may be coming to an end.
Herndon was pressed into action and started 26 games in 2019-2020 when injuries depleted the cornerback group. It didn't help that the Jaguars traded Jalen Ramsey but Hernon answered the call. When Urban Meyer landed in Jacksonville in 2021, Herndon was expected to fill the nickel slot. However, an MCL injury forced him to sit out a few games and spend the second half of the season on the sidelines.
Despite coming off a down year, the Jaguars once again brought Herndon back in 2022 in a reserve role. He saw extended time first in place of Shaquill Griffin and later in the slot when Darious Williams moved to the perimeter.
Herndon returned in 2023 and he saw playing time early on. However, he's been phased out in favor of rookie Antonio Johnson, who's lately gotten plenty of work in the slot. Sophomore Gregory Junior has also played snaps at nickel, so it looks like the Jaguars have a couple options if they decide to move on from Herndon in the offseason.
While a return shouldn't be ruled out just yet, the Jaguars have added enough depth at cornerback the past two years that they can afford to part ways with Tre Herndon.
2. Tim Jones, wide receiver
The Jaguars have a penchant for finding undrafted gems. In 2023, it was wide receiver Elijah Cooks. The year before it was edge rusher De'Shaan Dixon, who made the team's original 53-man roster. Coincidentally, wide receiver Tim Jones, who went undrafted in 2021, also made the cut.
Jones had to wait until 2022 to show he could contribute, having spent his rookie season in the practice squad. The former Mississippi State Golden Eagle secured a roster spot with an impressive showing in the 2022 preseason. However, once the regular season came, he was mostly a non-factor, hauling in three receptions for 30 yards.
This season, injuries paved the way for Tim Jones to get more playing time. At 331 offensive snaps, he's more than double the 145 he logged as a rookie. However, he's not the only wide receiver who's gotten an extended role in light of injuries to Christian Kirk and Zay Jones.
Rookies Parker Washington and Elijah Cook have gotten a considerable amount of snaps in the second half of the season and could see an increased role in 2024. Given they may have more upside than Jones, he could be playing for a roster spot next season.
One thing working in Jones' favor is his blocking prowess. Then again, that's not requisite to play the position, so he could end up becoming a victim of the numbers game next season.
1. Dawuane Smoot, edge rusher
Defensive end Dawuane Smoot, like Tre Herndon, has been a mainstay of the defense for a while. A third-round pick in the 2017 draft, Smoot is the lone member of the celebrated Sacksonville defense that remains on the roster.
Smoot was mostly part of the team's defensive line rotation early in his career but has seen his role increase in recent years. When the Jags traded Calais Cambell and Yannick Ngakoue in 2020, it was Smoot who stepped up. He led the team in sacks that year with 5.5 and got a two-year deal worth $10 million in 2021 as a reward for his contributions.
The former Illinois Fighting Illini picked up where he left off in 2021, registering 6.0 sacks. The 2022 season was much of the same until he tore his Achilles in Week 16. Still, he logged a respectable 5.0 sacks. He then spent the offseason in rehab and signed a one-year deal to return in 2023.
Unfortunately, Smoot hasn't had as much of an impact as he's had in previous years. He has had a quiet 2023 campaign, recording one sack, 10 total tackles, and three quarterback hits. He's set to become a free agent in March, and the Jaguars need to decide if they'll bring him back or make upgrades to their pass rush rotation.
Maybe Smoot could return on another one-year deal but the Jaguars could also look for a potential upgrade in free agency or the draft. It could ultimately come down to how much better Smoot will be with enough time to recover from the Achilles injury, but the team's brass will have options to bolster their pass rush if they decide to move on.