JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In his first cutdown day as the team’s general manager, James Gladstone got to experience a little bit of everything.
Now, he’s got the pieces in place for the new era of Jaguars football.
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Gladstone continued to take a hatchet to a roster largely assembled by the previous regime of Trent Baalke and Doug Pederson, bolstering both lines, adding reinforcements at receiver, and affirming the team’s plans for two-way star Travis Hunter. This comes as the Jaguars barrel toward the regular season opener on Sept. 7 against the Panthers.
“I think it wasn’t something you intentionally set out on saying, hey, we’re going to turn over this percentage or this number of the roster. It was an organic approach,” Gladstone said.
“Certainly excited about the group we got in the moment, but can’t say it was with any intent to get to a certain number or percentage of roster turnover.”
That turnover was substantial.
Under Baalke’s watch from 2021 to 24, he drafted 38 players. After Tuesday’s cuts, only 19 players Jacksonville selected in that time remain with the team.
Some of the notable cuts included Baalke’s draft picks Chad Muma (third round in 2022) and 2024 fourth-round picks Jordan Jefferson and Javon Foster. Defensive tackle Tyler Lacy was also a notable cut, along with 2020 draft pick Daniel Thomas.
Two undrafted rookie defensive linemen made the team, Danny Striggow and B.J. Green II, big needed big bodies on a line that needs reinforcements. Arik Armstead didn’t play in the preseason due to a back injury, and last year’s second-round pick Maason Smith was largely a spectator on the PUP list.
Green and Striggow both looked good in camp and made plays when they had chances in the preseason. Gladstone said those players were notable because they took the undrafted path to the 53-man roster. Scouting and bringing in undrafted free agents were one of Gladstone’s main points of emphasis during his time with the Rams.
“I think, as you guys followed us through the preseason, it became abundantly clear that those two guys were making a dent in real live performances, and that was the case in practice settings, and both showed up not only on the phase of defense, but also special teams, Gladstone said of Green and Striggow. “To find players at that position who can contribute on special teams isn’t always easy. They’re made of the right stuff.”
Some of the biggest questions of roster cutdown time were trying to fill out units on the roster that have caused the Jaguars some grief over the last few seasons.
The offensive line has been a spot of trouble for Jacksonville. Injuries, retirements, and average-to-below-average play forced the coaching staff to shake things up. The starting line – Walker Little, Ezra Cleveland, Robert Hainsey, Patrick Mekari, and Anton Harrison – has some depth behind it.
Draft picks Jonah Monheim and Wyatt Milum have shown promise during the preseason. Chuma Edoga is a higher-quality backup.
The biggest thing among this group is versatility.
“Obviously, with the fact that you’ve got guys that can swing from left to right, guard to tackle, guard to center,” he said.
“It’s a great group, and nobody’s pigeonholed to a singular spot with that in mind. That obviously gives you the luxury on game day to feel like you’re not pigeonholed and that you’re not going to be tight.”
In the lead-up to the roster moves, Gladstone made a pair of deals. After the second preseason game, he traded center Luke Fortner to the Saints for defensive tackle Khalen Saunders. This week, Gladstone made another deal by sending offensive lineman Fred Johnson to the Eagles for a seventh-round pick.
On Wednesday, Gladstone continued his dealing ways, sending a sixth-round pick to the Lions for receiver Tim Patrick. The team cut receiver Austin Trammell to make room for Patrick, 31.
Patrick had 33 catches and three touchdowns last year for Detroit. Gladstone also said the team hadn’t changed its plans for No. 2 overall draft pick Hunter. The Heisman Trophy winner didn’t play in two of the team’s preseason games as he continued to heal from an upper-body injury. Jacksonville still plans to play Hunter at both receiver and cornerback. Gladstone said Hunter is “rolling full speed” in practice.
“There hasn’t been any shift on that front,” Gladstone said. “We expect him to be who we know him to be, and that’s someone who impacts both sides of the football, and can’t wait to see him on Sundays and one Monday night here this season.”
Rookie linebacker Jalen McLeod and defensive back Caleb Ransaw were both put on injured reserve. McLeod was designated to return, but he will have to miss at least four weeks before he’s eligible to come back.
Gladstone said Ransaw had a non-contact foot injury and had surgery.