5 players the Jaguars must make room for on the final 53-man roster

The Jacksonville Jaguars have more star power and depth heading into the 2023 season than they had in several years. The downside of having a surplus of talent is that there's only room for 53 players and the team's brass will have to move on from players that deserve a spot.

In fact, don't be surprised if many of the players the Jags release in the upcoming days quickly latch onto a new team. This is why Jacksonville needs to be meticulous and keep the best 53. With this in mind, here are five players that the Jaguars should make room for:

No. 5 player the Jaguars must make room for on the roster: Nathan Rourke, QB

This might be the easiest choice but also a complicated one. On one hand, you want to you don't want to run out of healthy quarterbacks. However, third-string passer rarely see action and some teams rather allocate a roster spot to a player who will contribute on game day.

That said, it simply makes too much sense to carry Nathan Rourke into the season, even if he doesn't get a single snap in 2023. The reason is simple, the Jags spent the offseason developing him and if they move on from him before the start of the season, they run the risk of another team poaching him.

Rourke, who played for the B.C. Lions before getting a shot in the NFL, has had a productive offseason, going 21-of-37 for 291 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. While that should be enough for him to make the cut, the Jags are unsure whether they'll give him a roster spot.

But even if Rourke clears waivers and lands in the practice squad, another team could still sign him. The best course of action would then be to keep him around as insurance.

No. 4 player the Jaguars must make room for on the roster: Montaric Brown, CB

The Jaguars have done a good job of replenishing their cornerback room over the last three years. Tyson Campbell is the best of the bunch but by no means the only talented one. Darious Williams got off to a shaky start last year but finished strong once he moved to the perimeter. The much-maligned Tre Herndon, who can line up inside and outside, is also back and provides depth at the position.

If that wasn't enough, the youngsters have stepped up. In particular, sophomores Gregory Junior and Montaric Brown. The former has come up with several big plays in the preseason while the latter made a strong impression in training camp. Moreover, both have received praise from head coach Doug Pederson.

This is a bit impressive/encouraging when you take into account that Junior and Brown didn't do much of note last year. Junior didn't originally make the 53-man roster and only suited up for one game. Brown, on the other hand, appeared in eight contests but wasn't particularly great, giving up six passes on nine targets for 81 yards.

Heading into the 2023 season, Brown is one of the most improved players on the Jaguars roster. While Junior will vie for playing time in the slot, he will most likely play outside. Optimally, you want your corners to have the flexibility to line up anywhere but there's nothing wrong with faring better in either the slot or the boundaries.

Back in training camp, Brown got lots of playing time with the first team. He won't get probably much playing time in 2023 barring injury to either Williams or Campbell but he has most definitely earned a roster spot.

No. 3 player the Jaguars must make room for on the roster: Elijah Cooks, WR

By now, you've probably seen a pattern develop. The Jaguars don't have any starting jobs up for grabs and all the players on the list are instead competing for backup roles but that doesn't make them any less valuable.

After all, backups are always one injury away from setting foot on the field, and when it comes to the wide receiver, Jacksonville has several capable players. This would be great news if it weren't for the fact that there will only be one or two spots available, which means that a handful of players that are deserving of making the team won't make the cut.

Time Jones got a roster spot last year on the strength of a productive preseason. However, he didn't do much of note in the regular season and is now facing stiff competition to make the cut in 2023. Among his challengers are Seth Williams, Jacob Harris, Parker Washington, and Elijah Cooks, who went undrafted this year.

Jones and Washinton seem to be the favorites to earn a roster spot but Cooks also has a solid case. At 6'5", the former San Jose State Spartan brings size to the position, and due to his length frame, he could be a devastating weapon in the red zone.

Make no mistake though, Cooks isn't just a one-trick pony. He isn't a burner but he's got the ability to gain yards after the catch, as he showed against the Detroit Lions in Week 2 of the preseason.

Furthermore, Cooks has one of the highest Pro Football Focus grades among rookies this preseason.

Giving Cooks a roster spot will be one of the toughest decisions the Jaguars' will have to make but he certainly has lots of upside, which is why they're better off keeping him.

No. 2 player the Jaguars must make room for on the roster: Jeremiah Ledbetter, DL

Some players need more time to hit their stride than others. Others are stuck at the bottom of the depth chart and just need a chance to prove what they can do. You could argue that defensive end Jeremiah Ledbetter has encountered both situations throughout his career.

A fourth-round pick by the Detroit Lions in 2017, Ledbetter has earned an opportunity to show what he brings to the table in Jacksonville. After one season in Motor City, the former Arkansas Razorback was waived in 2018 and later claimed by the Tampa Bay Buccanneers.

Ledbetter was released again in 2019 and picked up by the Baltimore Ravens. He didn't spend much time with them and returned to the Bucs, this time in their practice squad. He joined the Arizona Cardinals in 2021 and later the Jaguars.

Although Ledbetter originally landed on the practice squad, he was later signed to the active roster and appeared in one game. He's honed his skills and is ready to make an impact. Here's a sample of what the veteran can do.

Currently, defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton is dealing with a non-football back injury. While he will return to the building before the 2023 season begins, it's not a given he'll be ready for the opener. If Ham does miss time, the Jaguars will need to lean on a combination of Ledbetter and fellow defensive end Adam Gotsis. Based on what Ledbetter has shown, it looks like he'll be ready when his number is called.

No. 1 player the Jaguars must make room for on the roster: Gerrit Prince, TE

As recently as 2021, tight end was a weakness for the Jaguars. They had signed an ineffective Tyler Eifert the previous year and James O'Shaughnessy was arguably their best player at the position. Thus, the team's brass proceeded to sign Chris Manhertz and trade for Dan Arnold. While both were fine complementary pieces, neither one provide long-term stability.

For this reason, the Jaguars revamped their tight end once again last year. Signing Evan Engram was big but they also made another move that kind of flew under the radar and that was Gerrit Prince. Then again, there's a reason for that.

Prince was coming off a productive 2021 campaign with the UAB Blazers but was something of a raw prospect, so he went undrafted last year. He then spent his rookie season honing his craft, specifically his route running and it looks like the work paid off.

Throughout the offseason, Prince was one of the stars of the show, consistently reeling every pass thrown in his direction. Heading into Year 2, he's one of the most improved players on the Jaguars' roster and it would be puzzling to see him not make the team.

Engram is firmly entrenched as the starter while rookie Brenton Strange and Luke Farrell are also locks to make the team. But the case could be made Prince should also get a spot. He's not as good of a blocker as either Strange or Farrell but he's shown this offseason that he can make plays if called upon.

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