The Jacksonville Jaguars’ roster for the 2023 season is just about set.
With the start of free agency more than a month in the rearview mirror and the 2023 NFL draft in the books, the Jaguars had their opportunities to make significant changes. They didn’t make many, though.
While there’s still a chance for the Jaguars to add veteran help before training camp opens in the summer, most of the work is done.
It’ll be a long time before Jacksonville releases its first depth chart for the 2023 season, but it’s not too early for us to take a crack at it. Here’s a post-draft look at the current state of the Jaguars roster:
Quarterback
- Trevor Lawrence
- C.J. Beathard
- Nathan Rourke
There’s no mystery at the top, for obvious reasons. Lawrence has quickly developed into a Pro Bowl talent and will be the Jaguars’ starter for the foreseeable future.
The backup role may get interesting, though. For now, that job seemingly still belongs to Beathard, a former starter for the 49ers who was re-signed by the Jaguars after spending the last two years behind Lawrence. However, the competition with Rourke, a former Canadian Football League star, will be one to watch in August.
Running back
- Travis Etienne Jr.
- D’Ernest Johnson
- Tank Bigsby
- JaMycal Hasty
- Snoop Conner
- Qadree Ollison
- Derek Parish (fullback)
Etienne missed his entire rookie year due to a foot injury, but showed why he was a first-round pick last season when he finished with 1,441 yards from scrimmage. It’s quite the logjam behind him, though.
For now, we’re giving the edge to Johnson, a veteran who averaged 5.2 yards over four seasons with the Cleveland Browns. But expect Bigsby, a third-round pick, to get plenty of opportunities during his rookie season.
The other three running backs — Hasty, Conner, and Ollison — may all face an uphill climb to earn a spot on the 53-man roster. So will Parish who, despite being the only fullback listed on the team, probably needs to show special teams value to stick.
Wide receiver
- Calvin Ridley
- Christian Kirk
- Zay Jones
- Jamal Agnew
- Tim Jones
- Parker Washington
- Kendric Pryor
- Kevin Austin Jr.
- Jaylon Moore
- Seth Williams
- Jaray Jenkins
- Elijah Cooks
There’s a clear trio at the top in Ridley, Kirk, and Zay Jones. And while Agnew doesn’t add a ton in the passing game, his Pro Bowl-level return skills mean he’s almost guaranteed a roster spot.
After that, roster spots are up for grabs. Tim Jones, who signed as an undrafted free agent in 2021, has steadily developed and earned more playing time. Washington was just picked by the Jaguars in the sixth round. That gives those two the inside track for roster spots.
The rest are undrafted players who are all essentially on equal footing and could be rearranged in almost any order.
Tight end
- Evan Engram
- Brenton Strange
- Luke Farrell
- Gerrit Prince
- Leonard Taylor
On a roster where not a lot changed this offseason, the tight end position was a bit more dramatic than most other spots.
The Jaguars used the franchise tag to make sure that Engram was still their starter at the position, but players two and three on the depth chart last season — Chris Manhertz and Dan Arnold — both hit free agency.
Now Strange, a second-round pick, will battle a 2021 fifth-rounder, Farrell, for the backup role.
Tackle
- Cam Robinson (LT)
- Walker Little (RT)
- Anton Harrison
- Josh Wells
- Coy Cronk
Offensive tackle is going to be an absolutely fascinating position to watch in training camp. While Robinson, a six-year starter, currently sits at the top spot on the depth chart, he’s expected to be suspended soon. That likely means that Little will begin the season at left tackle and the Jaguars’ first-round pick, Harrison, will start at right tackle.
That’s probably the Jaguars’ tackle duo of the future, but what they do with Robinson remains to be seen.
Behind those three are Wells, a veteran who was signed earlier in April.
Guard
- Brandon Scherff (RG)
- Ben Bartch (LG)
- Tyler Shatley
- Chandler Brewer
- Cooper Hodges
- Cole Van Lanen
- Blake Hance
- Darryl Williams
- Samuel Jackson
Scherff, a five-time Pro Bowler who joined the Jaguars last year, has the right guard spot locked down. Left guard will likely again be up for grabs, though.
Bartch won the role last year before suffering a season-ending injury and getting replaced in the lineup by Shatley. Those two may again be set up to battle for the starting spot. Perhaps Brewer, a former Rams lineman, or seventh-round pick Hodges could make a surprise push, but for now those two are in a crowded group fighting for reserve roles.
Center
- Luke Fortner
- Jimmy Murray
The Jaguars’ 2022 third-round pick, Fortner, quietly had one of the best rookie years for any offensive lineman in the NFL last year. There’s no question he’ll be the starting center for Jacksonville in 2023 and beyond.
While Murray is second on the depth chart, that’s far from a guarantee that the veteran will make the roster. He’s spent most of his career on practice squads and the Jaguars would likely slide Shatley or another player to center, if needed.
Defensive end
- Roy Robertson-Harris
- Folorunso Fatukasi
- Adam Gotsis
- Tyler Lacy
- Michael Dogbe
- Henry Mondeaux
- Jeremiah Ledbetter
- Nick Thurman
- Jayson Ademilola
The Jaguars highly value scheme versatility among their front-seven players, so it can be difficult to pigeonhole players into defensive end when some could rush off the edge and others can slide to defensive tackle.
Still, the two starters are Robertson-Harris and Fatukasi who were significant investments at the position. Gotsis, who re-signed with the Jaguars this offseason, and Lacy, a fourth-round pick, are well-positioned to see snaps rotationally.
The rest will likely be battling to make the roster.
Nose tackle
- DaVon Hamilton
- Raymond Vohasek
Hamilton has been holding down the nose tackle job for a while and recently received a big extension from the Jaguars. Last year, he didn’t really have a backup until Jacksonville promoted Corey Peters from the practice squad in the latter half of the season.
Vohasek, a seventh-round pick, is listed at 24 pounds lighter than Hamilton, but general manager Trent Baalke described him as a nose tackle during their post-draft press conference. As previously mentioned, versatility can make positions a little tricky to pin down.
Outside linebacker
- Josh Allen (WILL)
- Travon Walker (SAM)
- K’Lavon Chaisson
- Jordan Smith
- Yasir Abdullah
- De’Shaan Dixon
While the Jaguars undoubtedly have their starters in Walker and Allen, this position may still be under construction. Jacksonville has high hopes for Smith, Abdullah, and maybe even Dixon, but all three are untested. It wouldn’t be surprising at all if the Jaguars added some veteran experience by making another free agent addition.
Chaisson, a disappointing 2020 first-rounder, probably won’t be with the Jaguars a whole lot longer, but he’s easily the most experienced player after the starting duo and gets the third spot on the depth chart for now.
Inside linebacker
- Foye Oluokun
- Devin Lloyd
- Chad Muma
- Ventrell Miller
- Shaquille Quarterman
- Caleb Johnson
- Dequan Jackson
Oluokun is one of the best off-the-ball linebackers in the NFL and 2022 draft picks, Lloyd and Muma, both got significant play time as rookies. Those two will likely be battling for the starting spot next to Oluokun.
Then it’s Ventrell, a fourth-round pick, and Quarterman, a 2020 fourth-rounder, who have the best shot at landing the remaining roster spots at the position.
Cornerback
- Tyson Campbell
- Darious Williams
- Tre Herndon III
- Tevaughn Campbell
- Chris Claybrooks
- Montaric Brown
- Gregory Junior
- Christian Braswell
- Kaleb Hayes
- Divaad Wilson
Tyson Campbell is a rising star and Williams is a capable starter, but this is probably the Jaguars’ weakest position group.
Herndon looks like the likely starter in the slot, as Jacksonville didn’t do much to supplant him from that role. Tevaughn Campbell is a veteran who re-signed and Claybrooks brings special teams value (although a recent arrest has his roster spot in jeropardy).
The bottom half of the depth chart is a logjam of late-round draft picks and undrafted players added in 2022 and 2023 who will have a chance to show out in camp.
Safety
- Andre Cisco (FS)
- Rayshawn Jenkins (SS)
- Andrew Wingard
- Daniel Thomas
- Antonio Johnson
- Erick Hallett II
- Deionte Thompson
- Ayo Oyelola
- Tyree Gillespie
The Jaguars have a solid pairing on the back end with Cisco and Jenkins. Behind them is a very reliable backup in Wingard, who had his best career season last year.
That doesn’t leave much room for anyone else, but special teams ace Thomas, and 2023 draft picks, Johnson and Hallett, will all have a great shot at roster spots. It’ll be tough sledding for the other three.
Specialists
- Riley Patterson (K)
- James McCourt (K)
The Jaguars carried McCourt on their practice squad all of last season, but never needed him because Patterson proved to be a reliable first option. There’s not much reason to believe it won’t be Patterson again in 2023.
- Logan Cooke (P)
The only punter on the roster happens to be one of the best punters in the league.
- Ross Matiscik (LS)
Matiscik won the role in 2020 and hasn’t let it go. For now, there’s no competition to try to take it this year.3
