The brunt of the offseason is in the books and training camp is underway. Join us for a player-by-player review of the Jaguars roster ahead of the 2023 season.
The Jacksonville Jaguars had high hopes for outside linebacker Jordan Smith when they picked him in the 2021 NFL draft.
After trading away multiple picks to move and select him, Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke told reporters that the team was impressed with Smith’s size, first step, and ability to shed blockers.
Two years later, Jacksonville is still waiting to see it in action. Smith was a healthy scratch for all but two games as a rookie and finished the year with one tackle. Then he missed his entire second year after suffering a season-ending knee injury in the offseason.
Smith, who described himself in 2021 as “the best pass rusher in this draft,” is still hunting for his first career sack. But he’s running out of time to show he deserves a role in the Jaguars defense.
Contract (2023): $940,000 base salary, $184,897 prorated signing bonus, $1,239,897 cap hit.
Acquired: The Jaguars picked Smith with the No. 121 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft.
- N/A (2022)
- 27.8 (2021)
Highlight:
#Jaguars 4th round pick UAB DE Jordan Smith vs. Tennessee:#NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/eAOlZN4veW
— Andrew Gibson (@1010XLAG) May 1, 2021
Quote: “I feel like this year is going to basically dictate the way the rest of my future goes. That’s just the way I look at it. I really feel like I have to have a standout, breakout year and I’m motivated and trying to push towards that every day. So I really don’t have a doubt in my mind that I’m going to accomplish my goal.” – Smith
