2024 Jacksonville Jaguars 53-man roster prediction: Who should make the cut?

The Jacksonville Jaguars are set to return from their summer vacations in just under two weeks with training camp kicking off into full bore on July 24. The team's veterans will report to camp a day before July 23, while rookies will report on July 18.

With the team's 91-man roster essentially finalized without any major additions expected to come before the start of the regular season, we take a look at what the team's 53-man roster could look like by cut-down day on Aug. 27. Both head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke have their work cut out for them.

How you can be at camp:Jaguars announce 16 training camp practices open to public in 2024

If you would like to see our 53-man roster prediction just after the 2024 NFL Draft, click here.

Since the draft, the Jaguars have hosted players for minicamps and Organized Team Activities, giving us more insight into how the team feels about the players on their roster.

Quarterbacks (2)

Trevor Lawrence, Mac Jones

A few months later and it's still difficult to see the Jaguars holding more than two quarterbacks on the team's 53-man roster.

This year, the league adjusted its third, emergency quarterback rule to allow for practice squad quarterbacks to be called up and play on game day. That makes it even more unrealistic for the team to retain a third QB.

After trading for Jones in the spring, the Jaguars won't be parting ways with the former Patriots signal-caller.

Instead, it's likely veteran QB C.J. Beathard will get the short end of the stick, but we wouldn't be surprised if he re-joins the team on the practice squad if he's waived in August.

Wide receivers (6)

Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis, Brian Thomas Jr. (R), Devin Duvernay, Parker Washington, Brevin Easton (R)

For the receiver position in Jacksonville, there's only one or two spots that matter. Five players are virtual locks to make the team including last year's sixth-round pick, Washington.

Jacksonville has a mixed bag of receivers on the backend of their roster including former Jets second-round pick Denzel Mims. While Mims could play himself onto the team, the Jaguars will probably opt to go with one of their younger players to retain their services and develop.

Last year's seventh receiver was Elijah Cooks, who was signed via undrafted free agency in 2023. Now, the team may turn to another undrafted free agent, rookie Easton out of Albany.

Running backs (4)

Travis Etienne, Tank Bigsby, D'Ernest Johnson, Keilan Robinson (R)

There isn't much uncertainty at the running back position this year in Jacksonville. Two players — Etienne and Bigsby — are locks to make the team.

Veteran back Johnson was re-signed in free agency and doesn't have much competition as the lone vet in a group of rookies aside from Etienne and Bigsby.

The Jaguars drafted Robinson out of Texas this year to be one of the team's primary return specialists.

Tight ends (3)

Evan Engram, Brenton Strange, Luke Farrell

The Jaguars kept this trio of tight ends last year and that should be the expectation again unless players like Josiah Deguara, who was signed via free agency this year, Shawn Bowman (rookie) or Patrick Murtagh (international) stand out.

Jacksonville is fully invested in Strange, who was slowed down by a foot injury last year, after drafting him in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Engram is coming off his best season as a pro, earning a Pro Bowl nod after accounting for 114 catches, 963 yards and four touchdowns.

Farrell has long been used as the team's blocking tight end and has the upper hand heading into training camp.

Offensive linemen (9)

Cam Robinson, Ezra Cleveland, Mitch Morse, Brandon Scherff, Anton Harrison, Walker Little, Javon Foster (R), Cooper Hodges, Luke Fortner

This is the toughest group to project. Last time, we had the Jaguars retaining 10 offensive linemen. Cutting down to nine leaves out rookie Seven Jones and veterans Blake Hance, Tyler Shatley, Keaton Sutherland, Cole Van Lanen and Darryl Williams.

One of those players will probably find themselves on the 53-man roster one way or another, but the first eight players listed are essentially locks to make the team.

One question could come between Robinson and Little, whether or not the team opts to go with the younger, healthier left tackle to start the year. If that's the case, then Robinson might not be long for the roster.

Defensive linemen (10)

Arik Armstead, DaVon Hamilton, Roy Robertson-Harris, Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker, Tyler Lacy, Maason Smith (R), Jordan Jefferson (R), Trevis Gipson, Jeremiah Ledbetter

The Jaguars are loaded on the defensive line this year.

That's not something they could have said in years past and much of that is thanks to the re-emergence of Hines-Allen, the development of Walker, the signing of Armstead and the drafting of both Smith and Jefferson.

The team's new-look defense will feature the team's defensive line with plenty of bodies rotating throughout games and the season.

Linebackers (5)

Foye Oluokun, Devin Lloyd, Chad Muma, Ventrell Miller, Caleb Johnson

The first four players are likely locks for the team's 53-man roster. The competition between Muma and Miller will be born out through camp, while Johnson could slide in again as one of the team's core special teamers.

One aspect of the team's linebacker group that'll be interesting is where both Lloyd and Oluokun line up in the team's new defensive system.

Cornerbacks (6)

Tyson Campbell, Jarrian Jones (R), Ronald Darby, Darnell Savage, Montaric Brown, D'Antre Prince (R)

The Jaguars revamped the team's cornerback room after hiring Ryan Nielsen as the defensive coordinator and Kris Richard as the secondary coach.

After releasing Darious Williams, the Jaguars signed Darby and Savage to compete at outside cornerback and nickel, respectively. Savage is a shoo-in to start in the slot, while Darby could face some tough competition from Jones.

Keeping both drafted rookies is a lock, while the team feels strongly about Monaric 'Buster' Brown's development.

Safeties (5)

Andre Cisco, Antonio Johnson, Andrew Wingard, Daniel Thomas, Erick Hallett II

The final spot for this group is completely up in the air. The Jaguars paid both Wingard and Thomas recently, so it would be surprising to see them part ways. Cisco and Johnson are set to start at safety, leaving a final spot to a developmental player.

The team liked Hallett last year, but he spent most of the season on the practice squad. The Jaguars signed veteran Terrell Edmunds at the tail-end of OTAs and minicamp this spring, so he could be the man for the job.

Otherwise, the Jaguars signed former Ohio State safety Josh Proctor via undrafted free agency. He has a shot, too.

Special teams (3)

Punter: Logan Cooke

Kicker: Cam Little

Long snapper: Ross Matiscik

There's nothing to say here. The Jaguars drafted Little, making him a lock to make the roster barring an unmitigated disaster performance during camp and the preseason.

Both Matiscik and Cooke are among the best at their respective positions.

Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X,  formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82.

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