The Jacksonville Jaguars will soon report to training camp, or perhaps they already did, depending on the time you're reading this. Anyway, the team's brass will have an invaluable opportunity to assess the roster.
Like every other year, the Jags will have several position battles. This year, though, only a couple could be for starting jobs. That said, there may be several intriguing battles for a handful of roster spots. Undrafted rookie J'Mari Taylor will make a push for one of them.
Why J'Mari Taylor is part of the Jaguars roster conversation?
The Jaguars raised concerns when they let Travis Etienne bolt for the New Orleans Saints in free agency. However, they're confident that they can replace him with the trio of Chris Rodriguez, Bhayshul Tuten, and LeQuint Jr. Aside from those three, DeeJay Dallas, Ameer Abdullah, and J'Mari Taylor are in the mix.
It's hard to tell how the roster will look, but nobody would be shocked if Jacksonville keeps four running backs into the season. That means that Dallas, Abdullah, and Taylor would compete for that last slot.
Of the bunch, Dallas has a slight edge by virtue of having spent part of the 2026 season in Duval, but Abdullah has plenty of special teams experience and is a pretty good pass-catcher out of the backfield. That said, Taylor may make the most sense because of his upside.
The former Virginia Cavalier showed explosiveness in the offseason program, being able to keep up with Tuten in terms of big runs. The Jaguars could use that kind of skill set in their backfield. However, Taylor would also need to contribute on special teams to make the team.
And that's the thing, Taylor wouldn't get much playing time behind Rodriguez, Tuten, and Allen if he were to make the roster. Heck, he may even be a healthy scratch in a few instances throughout the year. And if Taylor were to be active, he would most definitely need to contribute in either the coverage or return units.
Still, Taylor has a legitimate shot at making the initial 53-man roster.
J'Mari Taylor has an uphill battle to make the Jaguars roster
It's common for young players to flash in the offseason program but disappear once the pads go on in training camp. J'Mari Taylor will need to avoid that and make a strong impression with the limited chances he'll get. And even then, it may not be enough to make the team.
John Shipley of Sports Illustrated has Jacksonville carrying just three running backs next season and didn't include the undrafted rookie on his 53-man roster projection, going as far as saying that he would be the toughest cut at the position. Michael DiRocco of ESPN also had the Jags keeping three running backs and leaving Taylor out.
This is understandable because they could use that extra spot at cornerback or another position with a greater need. Of course, Jacksonville could waive Taylor and stash him on the practice squad, but it would run the risk of losing him to another team on the waiver wire.
If the Jaguars end up cutting J'Mari Taylor, it won't be because he isn't talented, but rather because he would be the victim of the numbers game. On the other hand, keep an eye on him, as he could force his way into the roster conversation.
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