4 under-the-radar Jaguars players who can help this team get back on track

The Jacksonville Jaguars are coming off a disappointing season. Fortunately, they have enough talent in place to get back on track in 2024. Players such as Trevor Lawrence and defensive end Josh Allen will be leading the way but they're not the only ones the Jags will be counting on.

There are other players who don't get nearly as much attention as Lawrence or Allen but will need to step up if Jacksonville wants to bounce back next season. These four, in particular, come to mind.

Ezra Cleveland is an under-the-radar player who can help the Jaguars rebound

Can you really say that Ezra Cleveland is flying under the radar when he signed a three-year deal worth $24 million in the offseason? You bet. A second-round pick in the 2020 draft, the former Boise State Bronco joined the Jags via trade last year but didn't have the impact he was expected.

When the front office traded for Cleveland, left guard was a liability. Incumbent Ben Bartch dislocated his knee in 2022 and spent the offseason recovering. He managed to suit up in the opener but wasn't a full-go. After a handful of games, he was benched. The coaching staff went with veteran Tyler Shatley but wasn't much better. Things got so bad that they bumped left tackle Walker Little inside.

Cleveland was supposed to bring stability at left guard but injuries prevented him from hitting his stride. But despite his struggles, he re-signed with the Jags because they think he can be part of the solution, and it's easy to understand why.

Before he got hurt, the Washington native had given up just one sack in 2023. Moreover, he had made 49 consecutive starts for the Vikings. With enough time to rest and fully acclimate to the Jacksonville offensive scheme, he's in a position to succeed in 2024.

Devin Duvernay is an under-the-radar player who can help the Jaguars rebound

One of the very few things Urban Meyer got right during his short stint as the head coach of the Jaguars was putting an emphasis on special teams. In his lone season at the helm, Jacksonville signed return specialist Jamal Agnew.

Agnew most definitely brought a spark to special teams but he became a free agent and the team's brass didn't make an effort to bring him back. That might've been because he's dealt with a handful of injuries these past two years. Still, the Jags needed to fill the void and found the best possible replacement they could get in Devin Duvernay.

A two-time Pro Bowl selection during his tenure with the Baltimore Ravens, Duvernay is an upgrade on the return game. Given the changes to kickoff rules, having him around will be huge. Over the past four years, the 2021 First-Team All-Pro nod averaged 12.8 yards on punt returns and 24.8 yards in kickoffs. On top of that, he reached the end zone twice.

If that wasn't enough, Duvernay is a dependable pass catcher, having caught 94 receptions for 894 yards with five touchdowns with the Ravens. The Jags have ample talent at wide receiver but if they need him to step up, he'll deliver.

Roy Robertson-Harris is an under-the-radar player who can help the Jaguars rebound

Defensive tackle Arik Armstead is getting the spotlight ahead of the 2024 season, and rightly so. He's been one of the top players at his position since the San Francisco 49ers drafted him 17th overall in 2015. In Jacksonville, he'll shore up the interior defensive line and give a massive boost to both the run defense and the pass rush. Having said that, he's not the only player the coaching staff will be counting on to make an impact in the trenches.

Roy Roberston-Harris is one of the free agents Urban Meyer imported who is still on the roster. An undrafted free agent in 2017, the former UTEP Miner joined the Jags in 2021 and signed an extension last year. He went on to post 3.5 sacks and 42 total pressures, both career-bests.

With the arrival of Armstead, Robertson-Harris may see his playing time decrease, but that doesn't mean he will be any less productive. He'll now be part of a rotation that includes DaVon Hamilton. By rotating with Hamilton and getting a reduced workload, Robertson-Harris will stay on game day, which could in turn increase his production.

Add the arrival of defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, whose expertise is the defensive line, and Robertson-Harris could have a banner season.

Travis Etienne is an under the radar player who can help the Jaguars rebound

Travis Etienne isn't necessarily underrated but he most definitely doesn't get as much recognition as he deserves despite posting back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. One reason is that he played in the same division as Derrick Henry and Jonathan Taylor.

Fortunately for Etienne, Henry is gone and Taylor hasn't been nearly as dominant as he was in 2021. That could pave the way for the former Clemson Tiger to get the spotlight. Last year, he averaged a measly 3.8 yards per carry but that was mostly the result of running behind a porous offensive line that couldn't open lanes.

But despite the poor blocking, Etienne crossed the 1,000-yard mark. On top of that, he led the league in broken tackles, showing that he'll always be looking to get the tough yards. With the changes the team's brass made to the offensive trenches in the offseason, the Louisiana native should be as productive as he was in 2022. That year, he averaged 5.1 yards per carry.

The Jaguars built their offense around Trevor Lawrence but Etienne will be pivotal to their success. Don't be surprised if the running back makes the first Pro Bowl of his career in 2024.

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