{"id":173756,"date":"2025-07-01T19:46:11","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T19:46:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/173756\/"},"modified":"2025-07-01T19:46:11","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T19:46:11","slug":"projecting-the-53-man-roster-for-the-jaguars-before-training-camp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/173756\/","title":{"rendered":"Projecting the 53-man roster for the Jaguars before training camp"},"content":{"rendered":"

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 The Jaguars begin training camp in the first year of the Liam Coen regime later this month. News4JAX sports reporters Jamal St. Cyr and Justin Barney take a shot at predicting the 53-man roster for the upcoming season. What did we change from our initial 53-man projections last May? Take a look at those here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

QuarterbackJamalJustinTrevor LawrenceTrevor LawrenceNick MullensNick Mullens<\/p>\n

Jamal\u2019s thoughts: No change here for me, Lock it in.<\/p>\n

Justin\u2019s thoughts: No surprises. Lawrence needs to be quite a bit better than he\u2019s been the last year and a half. I do have a cautious optimism that things will finally click for Lawrence this year. <\/p>\n

Running backJamalJustinLe\u2019Quint Allen Jr.Le\u2019Quint Allen Jr.Tank BigsbyTank BigsbyTravis EtienneTravis EtienneBhayshul TutenBhayshul Tuten<\/p>\n

Jamal\u2019s thoughts: I need to make up some ground on Justin but I can\u2019t do it here; these four are locks so I\u2019ll have to catch up elsewhere.<\/p>\n

Justin\u2019s thoughts: The bigger question is who does the coaching staff think is the featured back, Bigsby or Etienne? Etienne has to shake off a bad 2024 season and showcase the player he was in 2022 and \u201823. <\/p>\n

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 06: Tank Bigsby #4 of the Jacksonville Jaguars breaks a tackle and runs for a fourth quarter touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts at EverBank Stadium on October 06, 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson\/Getty Images) (2024 Getty Images)Tight endJamalJustinHunter LongHunter LongJohnny MundtJohnny MundtBrenton StrangeBrenton Strange<\/p>\n

Jamal\u2019s thoughts: Make this three in a row with no changes.<\/p>\n

Justin\u2019s thoughts: This is a weak position group because we just haven\u2019t seen enough from Strange in his two seasons. But he\u2019s got a major opportunity. I shaved UDFA John Copenhaver off from my initial 53. I think Jacksonville will add a fourth tight end somewhere. Maybe it\u2019s Copenhaver or maybe they give Shawn Bowman a chance. This unit needs another pass catcher. <\/p>\n

Wide receiverJamalJustinDyami BrownDyami BrownJoshua CephusTravis HunterEli Pancol (UDFA)Eli Pancol (UDFA)Brian Thomas Jr.Brian Thomas Jr.Parker WashingtonParker Washington<\/p>\n

Jamal\u2019s thoughts: The top of the receiver room is easy. The bottom is more difficult. Right now, I have Cephus and Pancol getting on the roster. Both had really good offseasons. They are the two lead dogs, but Dorian Singer is right behind them.<\/p>\n

Justin\u2019s thoughts: Had a whiff on my first 53 with Gabe Davis making it, but the team cleaned up that mistake with a release. Pancol has been a guy I\u2019ve liked from the outset. He\u2019s got a great story. Hunter will be primarily a receiver, so he\u2019s in this position group for me. <\/p>\n

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) runs the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo\/John Raoux) (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)AthleteJamalJustinTravis HunterN\/A<\/p>\n

Jamal\u2019s thoughts: I still like listing him as an athlete. Maybe that is the \u201cCFB 26\u2033 player in me, but Hunter is going to play receiver and cornerback. Justin and I differ on how much he will play on defense but I still say he is going to be at corner a ton this season. <\/p>\n

Offensive lineJamalJustinEzra ClevelandEzra ClevelandChuma EdogaChuma EdogaRobert HainseyRobert HainseyAnton HarrisonAnton HarrisonFred JohnsonFred JohnsonWalker LittleWalker LittlePatrick MekariPatrick MekariWyatt MilumWyatt MilumJonah MonheimJonah MonheimCole Van LanenCole Van Lanen<\/p>\n

Jamal\u2019s thoughts: I had to make a swap. My first go around, I had Cooper Hodges on the roster. But he got waived because of injury, so Hodges he is on the physically unable to perform list. So, that opened up a spot. I have Van Lanen getting on the 53 in the O-line room now. <\/p>\n

Justin\u2019s thoughts: I added veteran Fred Johnson and swapped him for UDFA Sal Wormley. Johnson makes sense as a veteran add with plenty of starting experience. So difficult to gauge the OL during the offseason without pads on. Could Luke Fortner play well enough to push Monheim to the practice squad? Harrison, a first-round pick in 2023, is being pushed by Edoga at right tackle. <\/p>\n

Jacksonville Jaguars first-round draft pick offensive lineman Anton Harrison answers questions from the media at an NFL football news conference in Jacksonville, Fla., Friday, April 28, 2023. (AP Photo\/Gary McCullough) (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)Defensive lineJamalJustinArik ArmsteadArik ArmsteadDaVon HamiltonDaVon HamiltonJosh Hines-AllenJosh Hines-AllenJordan JeffersonJordan JeffersonEli MostaertTyler LacyEmmanuel OgbahEmmanuel OgbahMaason SmithMaason SmithDawuane SmootDawuane SmootTravon WalkerTravon Walker<\/p>\n

Jamal\u2019s thoughts: Lock in Smoot. He wasn\u2019t on the roster the last time we did this. That\u2019s my only change here. Mostaert is on the bubble, but I still lean him for the final spot in the room.<\/p>\n

Justin\u2019s thoughts: I added Smoot to my original 53. He signed late in the offseason program. Love bringing him back on a value contract for edge depth. <\/p>\n

LinebackerJamalJustinJack KiserJack KiserDennis GardeckDennis GardeckDevin LloydDevin LloydJalen McLeodJalen McLeodVentrell MillerVentrell MillerFoye OluokunChad MumaN\/AFoye Oluokun<\/p>\n

Jamal\u2019s thoughts: Another vet who was a late add to the roster in Gardeck. If he is healthy, he will be on the roster. So I swapped him for Combs. The rest of the room is simple but that one spot could be in flux. Health and special teams will be in play.<\/p>\n

Justin\u2019s thoughts: The change for me is adding Gardeck, who was signed late in the offseason program. He has 17 sacks in seven seasons and provides serious rush reinforcements. Rookies Kiser and McLeod are locks. <\/p>\n

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Dennis Gardeck (45) reacts after sacking New York Jets quarterback Joe Flacco (5) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in East Rutherford. (AP Photo\/Seth Wenig) (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)CornerbackJamalJustinMontaric BrownMontaric BrownTyson CampbellTyson CampbellJarrian JonesJarrian JonesJourdan LewisJourdan LewisAydan White (UDFA)Aydan White (UDFA)<\/p>\n

Jamal\u2019s thoughts: White made some waves during the offseason as a guy who could be in play to get a spot on the roster. I made a slight swap with one less corner on the roster since I\u2019m expecting Hunter to play a bunch of DB snaps. <\/p>\n

Justin\u2019s thoughts: Brown was my first guy off my initial 53, but I\u2019m bringing him back over Jabbar Muhammad. <\/p>\n

SafetyJamalJustinRayuan Lane IIIRayuan Lane IIIEric MurrayEric MurrayCaleb RansawCaleb RansawDarnell SavageDarnell SavageAndrew WingardAndrew Wingard<\/p>\n

Jamal\u2019s thoughts: Safety is one of the toughest spots on the roster. A ton of talent that is fighting for a few spots. I went light at corner to get an extra safety on the team. I didn\u2019t have Wingard crack it the first time but that was a miss on my part, but I have fixed it. <\/p>\n

Justin\u2019s thoughts: My same five from my initial 53. I could see stretching to six here. In that case, I\u2019d lean Daniel Thomas or Antonio Johnson, but likely Thomas. Wingard remains one of my favorite players in terms of his ability to not only make the roster but perform when he\u2019s called on. <\/p>\n

Jacksonville’s Andrew Wingard (42) makes a tackle during Thursday’s preseason loss to the Falcons.SpecialistsJamalJustinLogan CookeLogan CookeCam LittleCam LittleRoss MatiscikRoss Matiscik<\/p>\n

Jamal\u2019s thoughts: Lock it in.<\/p>\n

Justin\u2019s thoughts: Cooke just signed a contract extension. Matiscik is a Pro Bowler. And Little was excellent as a rookie. Great unit. <\/p>\n

Copyright 2025 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 The Jaguars begin training camp in the first year of the Liam Coen regime later…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":173757,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2060],"tags":[7,212,125,2401,213,11589,6,14035],"class_list":{"0":"post-173756","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-jacksonville-jaguars","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-jacksonville","10":"tag-jacksonville-jaguars","11":"tag-jacksonvillejaguars","12":"tag-jaguars","13":"tag-news4jags","14":"tag-nfl","15":"tag-sports4jax"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/114779703731702926","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173756","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=173756"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173756\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/173757"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=173756"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=173756"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=173756"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}