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2019 NFL Roster Breakdown: Jacksonville Jaguars


Roster Changes

 

Key additions

QB Nick Foles, RB Alfred Blue, RB Thomas Rawls, RB Benny Cunningham, WR Chris Conley, WR Terrelle Pryor, TE Geoff Swaim, OT Cedric Ogbuehi, G Parker Ehinger, LB Jake Ryan

 

Key losses

QB Blake Bortles, RB T.J. Yeldon, RB Carlos Hyde, RB Corey Grant, FB Tommy Bohanon, WR Donte Moncrief, WR Rashad Greene, TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE Blake Bell, OT Jeremy Parnell, OT Ereck Flowers, G Patrick Omameh, DT Malik Jackson, LB Telvin Smith, S Tashaun Gipson

 

2019 draft class

DE Josh Allen (1.07), OT Jawaan Taylor (2.35), TE Josh Oliver (3.69), LB Quincy Williams (3.98), RB Ryquell Armstead (5.140), QB Gardner Minshew (6.178), DT Dontavius Russell (7.235)

 

Projected Starters

 

Offense

QB: Nick Foles
RB: Leonard Fournette
WR: Marqise Lee
WR: Dede Westbrook
WR: Chris Conley
TE: Josh Oliver
LT: Cam Robinson
LG: Andrew Norwell
C: Brandon Linder
RG: A.J. Cann
RT: Jawaan Taylor

 

Defense

DE: Yannick Ngakoue
DT: Calais Campbell
DT: Marcell Dareus
DE: Josh Allen
LB: Myles Jack
LB: Jake Ryan
CB: Jalen Ramsey
CB: A.J. Bouye
CB: D.J. Hayden
S: Jarrod Wilson
S: Ronnie Harrison

 

Team Outlook

 

Notable depth

QB Gardner Minshew, RB Alfred Blue, RB Ryquell Armstead, RB Thomas Rawls, RB Benny Cunningham, WR D.J. Chark, WR Terrelle Pryor, WR Keelan Cole, TE Geoff Swaim, TE James O’Shaughnessy, OT Cedric Ogbuehi, OT Will Richardson, C Tyler Shatley, DE Dawuane Smoot, DE Datone Jones, DT Abry Jones, DT Taven Bryan, DT Dontavius Russell, OLB Quincy Williams, OLB Najee Goode, OLB Leon Jacobs, OLB Lerentee McCray, MLB Ramik Wilson, CB Quenton Meeks, S Cody Davis

 

Biggest strength: Defensive line

Jacksonville already boasted one of the best defensive line groups in the league, but they got even better when Kentucky pass rusher Josh Allen—who I thought was the best player in the draft—fell to them at No. 7 overall. As Tom Coughlin said at the time, Allen was simply too good a value to pass up there, and his presence will allow Calais Campbell to kick inside with the athletic Taven Bryan and powerful Abry Jones coming off the bench.

 

Biggest weakness: Culture (or running back)

Leonard Fournette was drafted with the fourth-overall pick in 2017 to be a dominant offensive centerpiece for the Jags, but he’s averaged just 3.7 yards per carry so far in his career, and more concerning is his overall attitude. If he starts slow in 2019, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Fournette fall completely out of favor, allowing rookie fifth-rounder Ryquell Armstead (who has a little Marshawn Lynch to his game) to take over in the backfield.

 

Position battle to watch: Wide receiver

It will be interesting to see who earns a role for Jacksonville’s receiving corps, as they have six legitimate candidates to start. The team will hope 2018 second-round pick D.J. Chark can force himself into the lineup, but I would say Marqise Lee (if healthy) and Dede Westbrook are near locks to start, while Chris Conley has the athleticism (45-inch vertical) to play “above the rim” for Nick Foles better than anyone. Plus, Terrelle Pryor will turn 30 this month, but his skillset also fits Foles’ game as a big body on the perimeter.

 

One more thought

It’s odd that the Jaguars—led by old-school football guy Tom Coughlin—have allowed “me, me, me” personalities like Jalen Ramsey to run things, but we saw signs of Coughlin giving players more leeway when Odell Beckham Jr. started turning into a diva with the Giants, and he clearly feels Jacksonville can get back to what they had a couple years ago when the same core had New England on the ropes. Nick Foles will be a key to steadying the ship, but the team might have been better off trading Ramsey this offseason, especially since 2018 undrafted free agent Quenton Meeks can step right into the lineup.

 

Early over/under: 8 wins (via CBS Sports)

Under. The Jags have the star power, depth, and quarterback to get back into the postseason, but the toxic culture—including multiple issues for Leonard Fournette and Jalen Ramsey, Yannick Ngakoue’s current holdout, and Telvin Smith’s decision to retire for the 2019 season—makes it tough to bet on the franchise exceeding expectations.

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