Our final projections for the Jaguars 53-man roster

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jaguars have to get down to the NFL limit of 53 players on the roster by Tuesday at 4 p.m. News4JAX sports reporters Jamal St. Cyr and Justin Barney projected the roster after the draft and before the start of training camp.

Our projections before minicamp | Our projections before training camp

Quarterback

Jamal’s thoughts: Enough said here. Not much competition. Kind of just straight forward. I’d expect John Wolford to end up on the practice squad.

Justin’s thoughts: Lawrence has looked sharp in the preseason. Mullens has been a guy who you hope to not see have to play in the regular season.

Running back

Jamal’s thoughts: Trade? That is the only thing that could change this. Liam Coen talked about how hard it will be to have four RBs active on game day. I still think this will be more of a redshirt year for Tuten unless injuries or a trade happen.

Justin’s thoughts: What I thought it would be back after the draft. No changes.

Tight end

Jamal’s thoughts: Easy, no questions here. Lock it in.

Justin’s thoughts: What I thought initially, although I considered putting Patrick Herbert on. I don’t know if they keep four tight ends though. Not a particularly star-studded group, but Strange is positioned to have a big year.

Wide receiver

Jamal’s thoughts: Watch the waiver wire. Sean Payton spilled the beans that the Jags called the Broncos about a WR. Those No. 5 and 6 spots are unsettled. Won’t surprise me if they go light after cuts and fill the spots with free agents.

Justin’s thoughts: BTJ hasn’t looked the best in camp, but he didn’t last year and look what he turned in. Brown has been disappointing to me, too. He’s a guy who hasn’t really done much in the NFL in his career. Washington has had a great camp. I like him better than Brown at this point. I think receiver is ultimately the position Hunter plays long term in the NFL. Call me a skeptic, but I’m leery of him playing both ways full time for more than a year or two. Eli Pancol has been on my 53 throughout my projections, but I think he winds up on the practice squad.

Offensive line

Jamal’s thoughts: Injuries will play a roll here. I think Milum and Cole Van Lanen will start the year on IR. So make the “53” but then be put on IR so it is short-term and they can come back when they are healthy.

Justin’s thoughts: I think the starting line (Little and Harrison at the tackle spots, Cleveland and Mekari at guard and Hainsey at center) is still league average at its very peak. But it doesn’t need to be elite. The best stretch of Lawrence’s career came behind a line that was in the bottom third of the league, according to PFF. Monheim and Milum look like future starters. This position group worries me, but I think Coen will address that with what we’ve seen in the preseason with quick passing. Depth here is problematic.

Defensive line

Jamal’s thoughts: I had Green on my first 53 back before rookie minicamp then I second-guessed it, but now I’m back right where I started.

Justin’s thoughts: I like this group in theory. If Armstead can show that he’s still got something left, and Smith plays like he did down the stretch in 2024, this unit will be better. Walker and Hines-Allen are going to have big seasons. I love the addition of Smoot and Saunders. This squeezes Jordan Jefferson and Tyler Lacy off the list, but I don’t feel good about moving on from Lacy.

Linebacker

Jamal’s thoughts: I think McLeod lands on IR before cuts and is done for the year.

Justin’s thoughts: I think Chad Muma is the guy squeezed from here by Kiser. Rookie Jalen McLeod has been out all of camp so I could see the draft pick being cut and then brought back and stashed on IR.

Cornerback

Jamal’s thoughts: Corner is another spot; it wouldn’t surprise me to see them try to scoop up a player off waivers to add another body. I’d think Brown will land on short-term IR.

Justin’s thoughts: I still think Jacksonville was bidding against itself in landing Lewis, but he’s looked impressive on the field and as a leader. Campbell has looked great in camp, but he’s going to have an asterisk next to his name as long as injuries continue to pop up. Brown has been out virtually all of camp with an injury. That opens up a spot for Prince to sneak on.

Safety

Jamal’s thoughts: I’m heavy here, but Ransaw is another that I think makes the “53” only to land on short-term IR. Remember, special teams matter, and that’s when Johnson, Lane and Thomas separate themselves.

Justin’s thoughts: I could see stretching to six here. In that case, I’d lean Daniel Thomas. Wingard remains one of my favorite players in terms of his ability to not only make the roster but perform when he’s called on.

Specialists

Jamal’s thoughts: No questions.

Justin’s thoughts: Little could be the league’s best this year.