Cornerback remains a question mark for Jaguars after 2024 NFL Draft

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected a pair of cornerbacks, Jarrian Jones and Deantre Prince, in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, the position remains a question mark and could become a weak link in what's otherwise a stout defense. Matt Holder of Bleacher Report seems to agree.

Holden took a look at every team's biggest weakness following the draft. He believes that Jacksonville's is cornerback, noting that they released Darious Williams in the offseason and Tyson Campbell has struggled to stay healthy the past few years.

"Darious Williams was the Jaguars' top cornerback last season, but he signed with the Rams in the offseason. While the front office added Ronald Darby in the free agency, it's a downgrade from Williams.

Also, Tyson Campbell has struggled to stay healthy during his tenure in the NFL, so there are a few question marks in Jacksonville's secondary."

In Campbell's defense, injuries weren't an issue for him until last year, when a hamstring injury severely limited his impact on the field. The year before, he was among the top 10 cornerbacks in the league, or at least in the conversation on the strength of giving up less than 10.0 yards per reception.

That said, Campbell is entering a contract year and he'll need to prove he can thrive in defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen's press-heavy scheme. The former Georgia Bulldog is much better in zone coverage, so may have trouble making the adjustment. On the other hand, releasing Williams definitely hurt. He was the team's best cornerback last year but the front office couldn't pass up the chance to free up $10 million in space.

It's also worth noting that Williams' contract expired next year anyway, and they potentially found a cheaper replacement in Ronald Darby, who's given up just one touchdown the past two years. Then again, there are legitimate reasons to be concerned about the position as a whole.

The Jaguars may need to sign a veteran corner before the regular season

The Jaguars need to keep making additions to the cornerback room even if Ronald Darby and Tyson Campbell perform well in 2024. Last year, there was a steep dropoff from Campbell to Montaric Brown, the top backup at the position. It's true that the team's brass drafted Deantre Prince and Jarrian Jones but they might need time to get acclimated before they can contribute.

Also in the mix is sophomore Christian Brasswell, who flashed in training camp last year but remains an unproven commodity. Maybe the Jaguars could target Marshon Lattimore or James Bradberry if they're cap casualties. Perhaps it would be a good idea to kick the tires on Xavien Howard, who's still available after being let go by the Miami Dolphins and may still have a bit of gas left.

The point is that the Jaguars should err on the side of caution and keep adding talent to the cornerback group before the start of the season. Their current group may end up gelling but there's a chance they won't, so why wait until disaster strikes?

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