Jaguars 2023 roster review: CB Kaleb Hayes

The brunt of the offseason is in the books and training camp is still off on the horizon. Join us in the NFL’s dead zone with a player-by-player review of the Jaguars roster ahead of the 2023 season.

The Jacksonville Jaguars entered the offseason with a need at cornerback after parting with Shaquill Griffin, but didn’t do much to address the situation. Rather than fill out depth at the position in free agency or early in the 2023 NFL draft, the Jaguars waited until the later rounds and undrafted free agency to add defensive backs.

Former BYU and Oregon State cornerback Kaleb Hayes was one of those additions. And with only first- and second-year players standing between him and a roster spot, Hayes has as strong a chance as any to earn a permanent spot.

With 4.33 speed and a 40-inch vertical, Hayes isn’t lacking for athleticism. He’ll have to prove in training camp that his raw skills are enough to warrant a spot over the several cornerbacks drafted by the Jaguars in the 2022 and 2023 drafts.

Contract (2023): $750,000 base salary, $8,333 prorated signing bonus, $758,333 salary cap hit.

Acquired: Jaguars signed Hayes as an undrafted free agent on May 1, 2023.

PFF grades:

62.0 (2022 – BYU)
71.1 (2021 – BYU)
38.7 (2019 – Oregon State)
68.0 (2018 – Oregon State)

Statistics:

Seven passes defended, 41 tackles (2022)
11 passes defended, 26 tackles (2021)
Two tackles (2020)
Eight passes defended, 44 tackles (2019)

Highlight:

Kaleb Hayes BYU does a great job of looking for the ball and playing through the receiver hands/catch point. Add him to the watch list! pic.twitter.com/uY3ebPmwUB

— Robert Cardona (@CARDONAFAM29) June 12, 2022

Quote: “He is a good kid, handles business on and off the field. Natural leader, competitor, a guy who adapts well to any kind of situation. It just makes him a perfect fit.” – BYU cornerbacks coach Jernaro Gilford on Hayes

Calvin Ridley (No. 0)	Travis Etienne Jr. (No. 1)	Rayshawn Jenkins (No. 2)	C.J. Beathard (No. 3)	Tank Bigsby (No. 4)	Andre Cisco (No. 5)
Chris Claybrooks (No. 6)	Zay Jones (No. 7)	Logan Cooke (No. 9)	Parker Washington (No. 11)	James McCourt (No. 12)	Christian Kirk (No. 13)
Kendric Pryor (No. 14)	Tim Jones (No. 15)	Trevor Lawrence (No. 16)	Evan Engram (No. 17)	Nathan Rourke (No. 18)	Sammis Reyes (No. 19)
Daniel Thomas (No. 20)	Latavious Brini (No. 21)	JaMycal Hasty (No. 22)	Foyesade Oluokun (No. 23)	Snoop Conner (No. 24)	D’Ernest Johnson (No. 25)
Antonio Johnson (No. 26)	Divaad Wilson (No. 27)	Tevaughn Campbell (No. 29)	Montaric Brown (No. 30)	Darious Williams (No. 31)	Tyson Campbell (No. 32)
Devin Lloyd (No. 33)	Gregory Junior (No. 34)	Ayo Oyelola (No. 35)	Christian Braswell (No. 36)	Tre Herndon (No. 37)	Qadree Ollison (No. 38)
Jamal Agnew (No. 39)	Erick Hallett (No. 40)	Josh Allen (No. 41)	Andrew Wingard (No. 42)	Kaleb Hayes (No. 43)	Derek Parish (No. 43)
Travon Walker (No. 44)	K’Lavon Chaisson (No. 45)	Ross Matiscik (No. 46)	De’Shaan Dixon (No. 47)	Chad Muma (No. 48)	Leonard Taylor (No. 49)
Shaquille Quarterman (No. 50)	Ventrell Miller (No. 51)	DaVon Hamilton (No. 52)	Willie Taylor III (No. 53)	DJ Coleman (No. 54)	Dequan Jackson (No. 55)
Yasir Abdullah (No. 56)	Caleb Johnson (No. 57)	Raymond Vohasek (No. 59)	Darryl Williams (No. 60)	Samuel Jackson (No. 62)	Coy Cronk (No. 64)
Chandler Brewer (No. 67)	Brandon Scherff (No. 68)	Tyler Shatley (No. 69)	Cole Van Lanen (No. 70)	Walker Little (No. 72)	Blake Hance (No. 73)
Cam Robinson (No. 74)	Cooper Hodges (No. 75)	Anton Harrison (No. 76)	Josh Wells (No. 77)	Ben Bartch (No. 78)	Luke Fortner (No. 79)
Kevin Austin Jr. (No. 80)	Seth Williams (No. 81)	Elijah Cooks (No. 84)	Brenton Strange (No. 85)	Gerrit Prince (No. 86)	Jaray Jenkins (No. 87)
Oliver Martin (No. 88)	Luke Farrell (No. 89)	Henry Mondeaux (No. 90)	Jordan Smith (No. 92)	Tyler Lacy (No. 93)	Folorunso Fatukasi (No. 94)
Roy Robertson-Harris (No. 95)	Adam Gotsis (No. 96)	Nick Thurman (No. 97)	Michael Dogbe (No. 98)	Jeremiah Ledbetter (No. 99)	Brandon McManus
Jacob Harris