Jaguars trade longtime O-Line starter in 53-man roster projection

The Jacksonville Jaguars are sorting out their roster ahead of the 2024 NFL Preseason. Already, they've released their first unofficial depth chart ahead of the opener. As defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen noted when he met with the local media, it's etched in sand. This is to say that it will undergo several changes before the start of the regular season.

On the other hand, don't anticipate the starters tumbling down the depth chart. Instead, expect a handful of players to either move up or solidify a roster spot. The biggest move the Jaguars could make ahead of the season opener would be releasing or trading left tackle Cam Robinson.

A second-round pick in 2017, Robinson will tentatively be the starter at left tackle in 2024, but the team's brass could free up $17 million in space if they release him or trade him. When you take into account that the Jaguars have Walker Little, a 2021 second-round pick, and rookie Javon Foster in the mix, they could afford to move on from the former Alabama standout before the opener.

If they do, Little would step in at left tackle. While he's had a reserve role the past three years, he's fared well when called upon. Last year, the Texas native started the first four games of the season while Robinson served a suspension for violations of the Performance-Enhancing Drug Policy. He ended up giving up just one sack and five total pressures.

Add the fact that Little had a strong training camp and Jacksonville may at last deal Robinson, who's been seen as a potential trade candidate throughout the offseason.

For the sake of argument, let's say the Jags do part ways from Robinson. Let's say they send him to a team in need of help at left tackle such as the Kansas City Chiefs or the New England Patriots. Little would then be the starting left tackle and Foster would become the swing tackle. On top of that, the front office would free up a roster spot spot. How would they use it?

With that in mind, here's a 53-man roster projection that takes the Cam Robinson trade into consideration.

And here's the previous 53-man roster projection after one week of training camp.

Jaguars QBs (2): Trevor Lawrence, Mac Jones

There is no movement on the quarterback depth chart. Trevor Lawrence has bounced back from a rough start to training camp and is spurning momentum ahead of the preseason. Ditto Mac Jones, who has also played much better in recent days.

The top brass hasn't announced it yet, but it may be a matter of time before they name Jones the top backup behind center. That leaves C.J. Beathard out of the mix. The former Iowa Hawkeye has been QB2 the past three seasons, but the Jags decided that they needed an upgrade and traded for Jones in the offseason.

With Jones slated to win the backup job, Beathard could land in the practice squad.

Jaguars RBs (4): Travis Etienne, Tank Bigsby, D'Ernest Johnson, Keilan Robinson

Like the quarterback room, there aren't any changes to the Jaguars' running back room. Travis Etienne is the unquestioned starter, Tankg Bigsby will be the backup, and D'Ernest Johnson will be the third-stringer at the position.

Keilan Robinson has been limited in practice but should be a full-go in the preseason. The one wild card could be undrafted rookie Jalen Jackson. An undrafted rookie out of Villanova, he's made the most of his reps in training camp. He may need an outstanding performance in the preseason to have a shot at earning a roster spot, which would probably come at the expense of either Johnson or Robinson. But until he proves he can deliver on game day, he seems like a practice squad candidate.

Jaguars WRs (6): Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis, Brian Thomas Jr., Devin Duvernay, Parker Washington, Joshua Cephus

The prospect of carrying seven receivers like the Jaguars did last year is alluring but they could also devote that roster spot to another position group. Christian Kirk, Brian Thomas Jr., Parker Washington, Devin Duvernay, and Gabe Davis are locks to make the team, leaving one slot up for grabs. Tim Jones, sophomore Elijah Cooks, and undrafted rookie Joshua Cephus find themselves in a three-way battle for it.

Even though Jones is the veteran of the bunch and Cooks has made strides, the front office should bet on Cephus' upside, which is why he is WR6 in this roster projection.

Jaguars TEs (4): Evan Engram, Brenton Strange, Josiah Deguara, Luke Farrell

Injuries play a role in roster construction. Patrick Murtagh looked like a non-kicker contributor on special teams before he suffered an ankle injury. He won't likely be ready for the opener. That will increase Josiah Deguara's odds of sticking around in 2024, especially if Jacksonville carries four tight ends like they did in 2022.

Evan Engram returns as the starter, but the coaching staff will push Brenton Strange to earn a bigger role on offense. Luke Farrell and Josiah Deguara would be the reserves but both of them could get ample playing time as blockers.

Jaguars O-Linemen (9) Walker Little, Javon Foster, Ezra Cleveland, Blake Hance, Luke Fortner, Mitch Morse, Brandon Scherff, Anton Harrison, Cooper Hodges

With Cam Robinson out of the picture, Walker Little will get the starting nod. That said, he'll need to have a convincing performance in the preseason for the Jags to legitimately consider moving on from Robinson. If the Jags do part ways with him, Blake Hance would become the third-stringer on the edges.

The preseason will allow the team's brass to evaluate their younger hog mollies, including Cooper Hodges, Javon Foster, and Luke Fortner, who's been getting ample work at guard in training camp. The starters will also get the opportunity to build rapport and gel.

Jaguars defensive linemen (6): Maason Smith, Jeremiah Ledbetter, Arik Armstead, DaVon Hamilton, Roy Robertson-Harris, and Jordan Jefferson

There are no changes to the Jaguars' defensive trenches, but there is a couple of encouraging news. Head coach Doug Pederson says that free-agent acquisition Arik Armstead is getting closer to returning after landing on the Physically Unable to Perform list to begin training camp. He won't play in the preseason opener but looks like a good bet to suit up in Week 1 of the regular season.

Furthermore, DaVon Hamilton has fully recovered and is turning heads in training camp after missing a good chunk of the 2023 season with a non-football back injury. Heading into Week 1, it's not hyperbole to say that Jacksonville has an embarrassment of riches up front.

Jaguars edge rushers (4): Travon Walker, Tyler Lacy, Josh Hines-Allen, Trevis Gipson

The top of the Jags' pass-rusher depth chart is more or less set in stone, at least when it comes to the first three spots. Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen are the starters. Trevis Gipson is No. 3 in the rotation. Tyler Lacy has seen his stock go up in training camp and should get more opportunities than he did in his rookie season.

The front office signed Rasheen Green in the midst of training camp. He's got ample experience, having played 86 games with 29 starts over the last six years. That said, his contract has no guarantees, so Jacksonville can release him without incurring any dead money. That gives Lacy a better chance of getting the nod.

Jaguars linebackers (5): Devin Lloyd, Foyesade Oluokun, Chad Muma, Ventrell Miller, Caleb Johnson

Although Chad Muma is the starter on the unofficial depth chart, he'll be the backup behind Devin Lloyd and Foyesade Oluokun. Ventrell Miller and Caleb Johnson will also make the 53-man roster, the former in a reserve role and the latter as a contributor on special teams.

Jaguars cornerbacks (6): Tyson Campbell, Ronald Darby, Jarrian Jones, Montaric Brown, Christian Braswell, Darnell Savage

The Jaguars waived third-year cornerback Gregory Junior ahead of the preseason. While he's flashed, he's also had a hard time staying healthy. If he goes unclaimed, he'll revert to injured reserve. His departure, though, will bring clarity to the depth chart. Tyson Campbell, Ronald Darby, and Jarrian Jones are entrenched at the top. Darnell Savage also has a spot secured because he'll be the starter at nickel.

With Junior out of the equation, Montaric Brown, Christian Broswell, Tre Flowers, and rookie Deantre Prince will be vying for two roster spots. Brown seizes one by virtue of getting plenty of snaps last year and the other goes to Chrstian Braswell, who's trending in the right direction. On the other hand, Prince could garner consideration with a strong showing in the preseason.

Jaguars safeties (4): Andre Cisco, Antonio Johnson, Daniel Thomas, Andrew Wingard

The Jaguars' safety room doesn't experience changes, but there's a caveat. Andre Cisco and Antonio Johnson are the starters. Daniel Thomas will mostly play special teams. However, Dewey is dealing with a knee injury and could miss significant time. If he does, he'll make the team but depending on the severity, he'll land on the Injured Reserve list after the opener, and the Jaguars will promote Josh Proctor to the active roster.

Jaguars specialists (3): Cam Little, Ross Matisick, Logan Cooke

When Jacksonville waived Riley Patterson, Cam Little became the winner of their battle for the kicker job. He'll join Ross Matiscik and Logan Cooke as the Jags' special teams core.

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