4 potential waiver-wire pickups the Jaguars must monitor vs. Chiefs in preseason

The Jacksonville Jaguars will be evaluating several players in their bout against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL Season. They'll also use the opportunity to scout any potential waiver wire pickups. Keep in mind that this isn't an uncommon practice. Clubs can have a finite number of roster spots, and more often than not, a handful of talented players will be left behind because they were victims of the numbers game.

Just last year, the Jags waived tight end Garrit Prince because they wanted to carry seven receivers. Under different circumstances, the former UAB Blazer would've made the cut. You know he certainly had upside because Kansas City wasted no time putting a claim on him.

Heading into the preseason, Jacksonville has already made several moves. Among the most notable ones, they moved on from defensive end Adam Gotsis, cornerback Gregory Junior, and edge rusher De'Shaan Dixon. The front office also signed defensive end Jonathan Marshall, safety Adrian Amos, and former second-round pick defensive lineman Breeland Speaks.

This is to say that the Jaguars have already earmarked several spots ahead of cutdown days but they'll continue to make moves ahead of the regular season. And to have a better idea of which players general manager Trent Baalke should be keeping an eye on in the opener, Black & Teal reached out to Matt Conner of sister site Arrowhead Addict, which provides Chiefs coverage.

With this in mind, here are the four players Conner thinks on the waiver wire that could help other teams. B&T then takes a look at whether it would or wouldn't make sense to keep the tires on them.

4 Chiefs players the Jaguars must scout in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL Preseason

Nikko Remigio, receiver

Matt Conner: If the Chiefs decide to stick with bigger-name receivers in whom they have bigger investments (Skyy Moore, Kadarius Toney), then Nikko Remigio could wiggle free at the 11th hour. Any team would be smart to make the claim, since Remigio profiles as a coach's dream (a workhorse and sponge of a student) who has deceptive agility, great hands, and loads of special teams value.

In fact, Chiefs S/T coach Dave Toub will likely go into cardiac arrest if they let him go. Remigio is the most "sure thing" on this list, but nothing is certain, so he also belongs here.

Would it make sense for the Jaguars to pick up Nikko Remigio?

Matt Conner: The Jaguars aren't hurting for wide receiver depth. They have already earmarked five spots for Gabe Davis, Christian Kirk, Brian Thomas Jr., Parker Washington, and Devin Duvernay. That potentially leaves one or two slots open, depending on how many they want to allocate to the position in 2024.

Tim Jones, Elijah Cooks, and undrafted free agent Joshua Cephus will be vying for that roster spot (or two). Whoever fails to make the cut will probably land in the practice squad, but even if injuries strike the receiver corps, there are also other players Jacksonville would consider before Remigio. Seth Williams comes to mind.

Lucas Niang, offensive tackle

Matt Conner: Niang is a former third-round pick for whom things have never, ever worked out as planned at the NFL level. Coming out of college in the same draft class as Chase Young in 2020, Young even pointed to Niang as the toughest blocker he ever faced in the college ranks.

Unfortunately, he has dealt with injuries after opting out of his first season (COVID) and since then, he's been passed on the depth charts as he tries to return to form following a patellar tear. Patience could yield starting talent at tackle along with some versatility at guard. Given the upside, it's worth a shot for someone if he doesn't make the Chiefs.

Would it make sense for the Jaguars to pick up Lucas Niang?

The Jaguars have a logjam at left tackle. Cam Robinson is currently the starter in 2024, and Walker Little is slated to be the swing tackle. The front office used a fourth-round pick on Javon Walker in this year's draft, so they currently don't have a need at left tackle.

On the other hand, the Jags could use Niang at offensive tackle if they were to trade either Robinson or Little before the start of the regular season. He may not make much sense at guard, though, as the Jags have three backups in Cooper Hodges, Luke Fortner, or Blake Hance.

Of course, injuries can change a team's needs in the blink of an eye but Niang seems like a pass for Jacksonville at this point.

Nic Jones, cornerback

Matt Conner: Jones is a lengthy playmaker in the secondary who the Chiefs snuck into their 2023 NFL Draft class in the seventh round after loving both his game tape from Ball State and a closer look during pre-draft visits and workouts. He profiles as a boundary corner and special teams player, and at this point, it'd be a sad state of affairs to lose him.

That said, the Chiefs are loaded in the secondary and Jones is not quite as versatile as other prospects who could stick. Again, Jones might make the final 53, but the competition is tough and he's a playmaker. Plus three more years of cost control is something every team would want.

Would it make sense for the Jaguars to pick up Nic Jones?

Like the Chiefs, the Jaguars have solid depth at cornerback. It may not be a strength but it's not the weakness the national media portrays it to be. Even after waving Gregory Junior, they're in good shape. Tyson Campbell, Ronald Darby, and Jarrian Jones are at the top of the depth chart. Behind them sit Montaric Brown, Christian Braswell, and rookie Deantre Prince.

Tevaughn Campbell is also in the mix but is currently on the outside looking in. This is to say that Jones would be only a potential pickup if the Jaguars had injuries at corner (and if he were waived).

Curtis Jacobs, linebacker

Curtis Jacobs - Jacobs is a three-year starter at Penn State who brought plenty of production and leadership to the pro level. Unfortunately, his measurables weren't great and he's more one-dimensional as a coverage linebacker who could struggle against the run.

That said, he came into Chiefs camp as their most heralded undrafted free agent signing and was given a solid signing bonus to choose KC. Since then, however, it seems that we're hearing about other LBs in camp instead, including fellow UDFA Swayze Bowman. Jacobs should be a nice special teams/depth fit in the right system and if that's not KC, a team would be wise to see if they have the right shoe.

Would it make sense for the Jaguars to pick up Curtis Jacobs?

The Jaguars are set at linebacker, with Devin Lloyd and Foyesade slated to start while Chad Muma, Ventrell Miller, and Caleb Johnson serve as the backups. Maybe if injuries hit them, they could consider Jacobs in the future.

You have probably noticed a theme by now, most of the Chiefs' potential cutdown casualties will be at positions where the Jaguars may not need help. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it's a sign that their roster is in solid shape ahead of the 2024 season.

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