5 Jaguars players who must make a huge impression in OTAs

The Jacksonville Jaguars will bring most of their starting lineup from last year in 2023, so there won't be many open jobs. Having said that, they added depth to nearly every position group in the offseason, so there will be several players vying for a roster spot in training camp.

Conversely, there are a handful of players that will need to shine during the team's Organized Team Activities if they want to avoid tumbling down on the depth chart. Here are five of them.

5. Jaguars player who must shine in OTAs: Jordan Smith, Edge

You knew the Jaguars liked edge rusher Jordan Smith when they moved up nine spots to take him in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. However, once it was time to show what he got, the former UAB Blazer disappeared.

Smith was a healthy scratch through his rookie campaign, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Players' readiness is always variable and some need more time than others to develop, which is why Smith seemed to be in a favorable position to hit his stride last offseason but he suffered a knee injury that forced him to miss the rest of the year.

Ready to pick up where he left off, Smith was practicing with a brace in OTAs. Head coach Doug Pederson expects him to be part of the Jaguars' pass rush rotation in 2023 but he'll need to compete with former first-round pick K'Lavon Chaisson and rookie Yasir Abdullah for playing time. That's why he must make a strong impression in the upcoming days.