Luke Fortner doesn't deserve spot on Jaguars roster after poor outing vs. Buccaneers

General manager Trent Baalke deserves some credit for making his own job more difficult. Not so long ago, it was easy for fans to predict which players would comprise the initial 53-man roster for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and which ones would be sent packing. But, as overall talent has slowly improved over multiple seasons, those decisions have become more difficult.

While it is certainly questionable — to say the least! — whether Baalke did enough to improve the frontline players in the interior offensive line, he has put the team in a position to retain quality depth. Preseason game 2 against the Tampa Bay Bucs sent some fans into panic mode regarding O-Line depth, but the truth is the Jags probably will not carry ten offensive linemen.

Typically, you're looking for five starters and three to four decent backups. The Jags will have decisions to make on who those three to four players are because there are multiple candidates for those jobs.

Similarly, the Jags will likely be forced to part ways with some quality interior defensive linemen. As the Jags close in on final cuts, Baalke's roster management abilities will be key.

Esezi Otomewo will give the Jaguars a tough decision on roster cutdown day

A perfect example of the quandary facing the Jaguars' front office can be seen in the example of Esezi Otomewo. Although Otomewo is not a well-known name even among the most die-hard fans in Duval, the second-year player has flown around the field in both preseason games, gaining consistent penetration and displaying a great motor.

If you watched both preseason games without names on the backs of the jerseys, you would think Otomewo is one of the Jaguars' featured defensive linemen, and yet, realistically he has an uphill battle to make the final 53. Why is that? Well, the answer is complicated.

Roster management is a challenge for every general manager in the league. For every bubble player who makes the team, another hits the streets. A team may be willing to risk exposing a player like Otomewo to the waiver wire, calculating a good chance to bring him back to the practice squad, thereby keeping another depth piece "on the team" without using up one of the precious 53 slots on the active roster.

Additionally, there are politics. Although it shouldn't matter, a player's draft position and/or guaranteed money play large factors in determining whether they stick around, or not. It's unfortunate for a guy like Otomewo, who joined the team with little fanfare and must take a spot from established, expensive players such as defensive end Roy Robertson Harris.

Speaking of RRH, he has not looked good, and people are starting to notice.

RRH is a fan favorite and has done a lot for the Jaguars during his time in Duval. That's why the team gave him an extension last offseason, figuring him to be a part of their long-term plans. But, the fact that cutting him this year would accelerate nearly $7 million in dead money to this year's cap is also a huge factor.

The Jags do have enough cap flexibility to make that move, but Otomeyo would essentially have to prove that he's $7 million better than Roy Robertson Harris. That's a tough ask.

By the same token, draft status, or lack thereof in Otomeyo's case, can work for or against a player. If you look at the interior defensive linemen predicted to make the cut, you'll find a lot of folks predicting a 5-man group consisting of Arik Armstead, RRH, DaVon Hamilton, Maason Smith and Jordan Jefferson.

Smith's status as a second-round pick nearly guarantees him a spot on the team, and even Jordan Jefferson's status as a fourth-round pick makes taking a roster spot from him a highly difficult task for Otomeyo, even though he has outperformed both Smith and Jefferson in preseason games. Draft position matters. Which brings us to the topic of Luke Fortner.

Luke Fortner hasn't done enough to inspire confidence

Given Luke Fortner's status as a third-round pick in the 2022 draft and full-time starter for two years, you'd be forgiven for thinking Fortner would have a role as a backup locked up on the 2024 squad. But, then there's this:

That many are questioning his value, though, just goes to show how poorly Fortner has played. Watch him get blown two yards into the backfield and into Tank Bigsby's way here:

""We got a lot done. There's still things we're working on.""

- Trent Baalke

Baalke hinted at more roster moves to come before the season starts, and if the team is still searching for backups or even starters, they will likely be coming through the roster cuts of other teams.

For whatever faults Trent Baalke has, and many fans will tell you his faults are plentiful, one of his strengths has been his willingness to realistically assess players regardless of how they were acquired. Unlike most general managers, Baalke has shown a willingness to move on from bad draft picks such as Snoop Conner and Jay Tufele.

That takes courage for a general manager because it is an admission that a mistake was made. But, it is a wise choice because ultimately it makes the team stronger.

Baalke now faces the same decision with Luke Fortner. Do you continue to carry dead weight? Do you cut a player like Cole Van Lanen, who, though not spectacular, can actually contribute to the team in a backup role?

Unlike some of the other backup O-Linemen on the team, Fortner has shown you who he is. Contrast his potential with someone like Cooper Hodges, everyone's favorite up-and-coming Jags interior lineman.

Sure Hodges still displays warts as seen here at the 1:35 mark. But, Hodges also has a lot more upside than Fortner. Are you really going to keep 10 offensive linemen, just to carry Fortner such as in this projection, sacrificing someone like tight end Josiah Deguara who balled out in the first preseason game?

Or how about a sixth interior defensive linemen, Like Esezi Otomewo, who if you're basing your decision on merit, deserves to make the team, certainly a lot more than Luke Fortner.

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