The Jacksonville Jaguars made nine picks in the NFL Draft but were among the teams with the most open roster spots, so they moved quickly to sign 20 undrafted free agents in the aftermath. Most of them will have a steep hill to climb to crack the team, but Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report feels bullish about quarterback Seth Henigan's chances.
Sobleski drew up a list of the undrafted free agents most likely to make each NFL team's 53-man roster and picked Seth Henigan for Jacksonville, citing the fact that the former Memphis Tiger has the three traits new head coach Liam Coen looks for in a quarterback.
"Memphis quarterback Seth Henigan has three traits that should keep him in the NFL for a long time. His new head coach, Liam Coen, mentioned all three after Henigan signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent."[He's a] coach’s kid with a ton of production and a natural stroke," the Jags' new coach reporters. Henigan left the Tigers program as a four-year starter and its all-time leading passer, with 14,266 yards and 104 touchdown tosses. Mainly, the incoming quarterback understands what it means to play the quarterback position and how to approach it every day in a workman-like manner, which makes him an ideal long-term backup option for starter Trevor Lawrence. "
All this makes Sobleski believe that Henigan can immediately replace John Walford as QB3 and eventually become the primary backup once Nick Mullen's contract expires at the end of 2026.
It's worth noting that Sobleski isn't the only NFL analyst who's high on Henigan. Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic also thinks that the former ACC quarterback can earn a roster spot with consistency and technique.
Barring any further signings, Henigan will enter training camp as QB4, with Trevor Lawrence firmly entrenched at the top, Mullens slated to be the primary backup, and Walford as the third-stringer.
Why Seth Henigan will have trouble making the Jaguars initial 53-man roster in 2025
There's no doubt that Seth Henigan has the attributes to carve a niche as a backup quarterback in the NFL. That said, he'll have a long way to go to earn a roster spot with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024. Leaving aside that he would have to beat John Walford, which could be a reasonable outcome depending on who he fares in training camp, he would need to truly impress the team's brass. And this is mostly because most teams only carry two quarterbacks into the regular season.
Last year, Liam Coen kept Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask on the initial 53-man roster. Nobody would bat an eye if he keeps the same amount with the Jags, and that's understandable.
Nowadays, clubs would rather give that roster spot to a player who will contribute on special teams or will actually step onto the football field on game day. More often than not, they'll keep a signal-caller in the practice squad and promote him if needed. That could be the best-case scenario for Henigan. This doesn't mean he should just throw in the towel, but rather that his road to make an NFL team won't be easy.
Keep in mind that Henigan, as QB4, won't get many reps in training camp and will have limited opportunities to make a strong impression in the preseason, if he makes it that far. Rather than making the 53-man roster, a more realistic outcome would be to make the practice squad, hone his skills, and challenge Mullens for the primary backup role next year.
The bottom line is that Seth Henigan has what it takes to eventually earn a roster spot. Whether it happens with the Jaguars or another team remains to be seen. The talent is there, but he'll need to be patient and make the most of the chances he'll get in the summer.