2021 Jacksonville Jaguars Depth Chart
Quarterback | Trevor Lawrence | Gardner Minshew | C.J. Beathard |
Running Back | James Robinson | Carlos Hyde | Travis Etienne |
Wide Receiver 1 | D.J. Chark | Jamal Agnew | |
Wide Receiver 2 | Marvin Jones | Phillip Dorsett | Collin Johnson |
Wide Receiver 3 | Laviska Shenault | Michael Walker | |
Tight End | James O'Shaughnessy | Chris Manhertz | Ben Ellefson |
Left Tackle | Cam Robinson | ||
Left Guard | Andrew Norwell | Brandon Thomas | |
Center | Brandon Linder | Tyler Shatley | |
Right Guard | AJ Cann | Will Richardson | |
Right Tackle | Jawaan Taylor | Ben Ijalana |
After a successful stint, the Jacksonville Jaguars are hoping for more of the same in 2020. The team created a fruitful playoff run that end in a close competition with the New England Patriots. The Jaguars were doing everything right in this contest but failed to hold onto a big league thanks to late-game heroics from Tom Brady. Keeping this sour taste within their mouth, the team will look to improve at areas that left them short-staffed last season. The team took this approach into the off-season knowing they needed to make a few situational additions to give their roster the necessary talent boost needed to compete.
While the team spent the majority of their regular season campaign without the production of Allen Robinson at the receiver position, the team will now have to move forward without him. Robinson signed his free-agent tender in Chicago, creating a hole at the wide receiver position. Robinson was a bigger target, which is something the team desperately needed to influence the passing game of Blake Bortles. The team also moves forward from Mercedes Lewis, a reliable target for Bortles. This brings a new crew for Bortles to work with. The core isn’t completely gone, with the likes of Marquise Lee and second-year standout Keelan Cole returning to action. The breakout season that Cole had bodes well for the prospects the team currently has on their roster. Dede Westbrook also sees his second season of action within the organization and should be afforded more looks at the outside receiver position. The team drafted DJ Chark to deepen their core and signed Donte Moncrief from in-division foe, the Indianapolis Colts. While size still creates a glaring issue for this bunch, they will have to work from their skill sets to host production. Playing the game at an up-tempo pace can help fluctuate looks across the field. The loss of Lewis saw a replacement body in Austin Seferian-Jenkins. Jenkins is a bigger target, the historical favorites of Blake Bortles in red zone situations. Niles Paul was also added to the roster for open-field play. This tandem should create a cover-up for their speedy wide receivers to flourish.
On the defensive side of the ball, the team got much deeper at nearly all positions. The draft was a bigger coming-out party for this defense. Positional boosts were seen at defensive end, linebacker, and secondary. The team utilized a majority of their draft picks to keep a healthy stream of talent flowing throughout their defense. In terms of free-agent signings, the team took a flier on a former first-round draft pick in D.J. Hayden. Hayden has traveled a tough road throughout his 6-year career. Now facing his third team, he looks to pull the pieces and tangibles together. If there is a system that can influence a player to reach their full potential, it can be found within the Jaguars organization. Taven Bryan is the team’s most highly touted draft pick. He was placed immediately under the wings of Calais Campbell, a relationship that should flourish if continued. The team added all of the raw and younger talents to be featured within back-up roles to their talented defensive make-up. Most of these players will learn from leaders who spent time within their shoes. The leaders on defense have paid their dues and they understand the stance of the organization. This defense looks to finish near the top of the league in all, measurable statistical components once again this year.
One area the team wants to keep protected and healthy is what lies beyond the offensive line. Blake Bortles has been chosen as the franchise quarterback, battling the critics and adversity along his path to success. He is given full reigns on offense this season with the help of Leonard Fournette. Fournette became the back the team needed when they took a chance drafting him early. He showed patience in his development and let his blocks take shape before letting his excelled playmaking capabilities take over. This is a bright sign for the team moving forward as they look to improve ahead of the 2020 season. Keeping Bortles and Fournette healthy and happy is key to offensive success. Look for Bortles to spread the ball around more this year. He will have to keep his footwork within check, setting his feet for deep balls and limiting his throw-on-the-run habits.