Jaguars final 53-man roster projection for 2023 season, Nathan Rourke makes the cut
• They'll have to make tough decisions at WR, CB, S
• Here's a look at how the 53-man roster could look
Jaguars final 53-man roster projection for the 2023 NFL season: The Defense
The Jaguars kept most of their defensive nucleus from last year together. Although they let defensive end Arden Key walk in free agency, they gave multi-year deals to Roy Robertson-Harris and defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton. On top of that, they brought Dawuane Smoot on a one-year deal despite the fact that he's still recovering from a torn Achilles he sustained near the end of the 2022 season.
So here's the thing: There won't be many staring jobs up for grabs but several players will try to either move up the depth chart or earn a roster spot. The game against the Miami Dolphins in the preseason finale will give them one last chance to make an impression.
One thing that could potentially affect how the 53-man roster looks in the opener is Hamilton's back injury. He's currently out and there's no timeline for his return. The fact that he's not been placed on the Injured Reserve list is a positive sign but the Jags will have to look for players to fill in for him during his absence.
Defensive linemen (7): DaVon Hamilton, Folorunso Fatukasi, Adam Gotsis, Roy Robertson-Harris, Tyler Lacy, Jeremiah Ledbetter, and Raymond Vohasek
Outside linebackers (5): Josh Allen, Travon Walker, Yasir Abdullah, K'Lavon Chaisson, Jordan Smith *
* Dawuane Smoot is still recovering from the torn Achilles, there's a strong chance he'll start the 2023 season on the PUP list and if that's the case, he won't be able to suit up until Week 6.
MIddle linebackers (4): Foyesade Oluokun, Devin Lloyd, Chad Muma, Ventrell Miller
Cornerbacks (5): Darious Williams, Tyson Campbell, Tre Herndon, Gregory Junior, Chris Claybrooks
Safety (5): Rayshawn Jenkins, Andre Cisco, Andrew Wingard, Erick Hallett II, Antonio Johnson