Jaguars News (5/3): Keon Coleman hypes up Jarrian Jones

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Here is today’s roundup of the latest news, rumors, and analysis on your Jacksonville Jaguars.

Local chatter

2024 NFL Draft: 3 things to know about Javon Foster (Big Cat Country)

A Detroit native, Javon Foster only started playing football late – something a little unusual for a young man in a football-mad city. But Foster literally only put on pads for the first time as a junior in high school, a result of initially attending an underfunded high school that couldn’t provide equipment for a full team and shut down completely in his sophomore year.

Post-Draft Jaguars’ 53-Man Roster Projection: Who Are the Hard Cuts? (Jaguar Report)

Maybe the Jaguars keep three quarterbacks, but I don’t see it. I think they try to get C.J. Beathard to stick on the practice squad since he is less likely to be scooped up elsewhere. The Jaguars didn’t trade away a sixth-round pick to have Mac Jones be the No. 3 quarterback, though, and all signs point to him being Trevor Lawrence’s backup.

Jacksonville Jaguars roster projections 2024: Resetting 53-man roster after NFL Draft (Times-Union)

The Jaguars kept seven receivers last year, including both rookies Elijah Cooks and Parker Washington on the roster. This year the team may not have that flexibility with more resources needed for the running back and offensive/defensive line positions.

Jaguars signed 13 players after the 2024 NFL Draft. Who has the best shot of making it? (Times-Union)

Jacksonville’s linebacker depth leaves some to be desired. The team invested a fourth-round pick in Ventrell Miller last year, but he was unable to see the field after suffering a preseason Achilles injury. Both Chad Muma and Caleb Johnson have value as special teamers but have also yet to crack serious playing time on defense. [Andrew] Parker enters a situation that bodes well for his chances to make the team, especially if he stands out on special teams.

Gene Frenette: Jaguars’ first-round pick Thomas has legitimate shot to set rookie receiving mark (Times-Union)

Before his career crashed and burned, 2012 first-rounder Justin Blackmon established the Jaguars’ top rookie numbers with 64 catches and 865 yards. The rookie TD record is held by undrafted Allen Hurns with six in 2014.

Analyzing the Jaguars’ 2024 wide receiver room reconstruction (Jags Wire)

In the short term, Pederson wishes for the Jaguars’ younger, new-look receiving quartet to improve the team’s intermediate passing attack, where the team struggled in 2023 compared to 2022.

Jaguars counting on Arkansas’ Cam Little to tee up new era following four-year kicking carousel (AP News)

Jacksonville employed a whopping 16 kickers, including unrelated Brandon and Matthew Wright, between the start of the pandemic and selecting Little in the sixth round of last week’s NFL draft. It’s a head-shaking stretch that spans numerous injuries, several one-week tryouts and a few downright debacles.

Keon Coleman reassures Jaguars fans that Jarrian Jones is a keeper (Black & Teal)

“You want him to go lock down the slot, or do you want him to the field and jump every route? It’s up to you, so you’re getting a very versatile defensive guy that’s gonna come up and tackle,” Coleman said. “He’s gonna make plays. He can play man, he can play zone. You’re gonna do a lot. You can blitz him off the edge. You gotta to be a good nickel, you gotta blitz. If you wanna be a good nickelback, you gotta be able to come off the edge.”

Jarrian Jones’ Former CB Coach on His Maturity | Coaches Corner (Jaguars.com)

“You not only see it in his playmaking on the field, but you just see his personality,” he said. “He’s got a really good outlook. He really had to grow through it and I think you’re getting a really mentally developed young man at this point in his career.”

NFL execs unfiltered on all AFC teams’ draft classes: Should the Patriots have traded down? (The Athletic)

“I think (third-round pick) Jarrian Jones is someone who we could look back on and wonder why he was available that long,” another exec said. “He is a good, good player. Tough, tackles well, covers well, can play in the nickel, can play outside.”

2024 NFL best UDFA fits: One undrafted prospect to watch on each roster (The Athletic)

One of Ohio State’s highest-energy players, [Josh] Proctor (6-1 1/2, 199) was instrumental in restoring the Buckeyes defense the last two years. Proctor (who had a fifth-round grade from Brugler) recorded 47 tackles last year, defended nine passes and had a pick six. He will compete with two other rookie defensive backs (third-round CB Jarrian Jones and fifth-round CB Deantre Prince) for time, but his special-teams play could make a difference.

2024 NFL Draft: Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr. among the most questionable selections made by each team (CBS Sports)

The Alabama transfer had a limited role with the Longhorns given the presence of Bijan Robinson and Jonathon Books over the past two years. He [Keilan Robinson] brings additional value as a return man with the new kickoff rules but it felt like a reach in the moment.

Eight Pressing Questions for NFL Teams After the 2024 Draft (The Ringer)

Lawrence’s injuries, Taylor’s inexperience, Meyer’s everything—they’re either excuses or reasons for the Jaguars not living up to expectations. Baalke likely prefers the framing of the latter, but that broken record can’t keep playing now that the offense has Baalke’s fingerprints all over it. He signed (and overpaid) wide receiver Christian Kirk, tight end Evan Engram, and, most recently, Gabe Davis in free agency. Baalke also traded for, drafted, or signed four of the team’s five starting offensive linemen.

National links

Chargers agree to deal with WR DJ Chark Jr., source confirms (ESPN)

Ravens CB Nate Wiggins becomes first first-rounder from 2024 draft to sign contract (NFL.com)

Steelers decline RB Najee Harris’ fifth-year option (NFL.com)

Steelers RB Jaylen Warren: ST coach said Justin Fields could be kick return option (NFL.com)

NFL execs on Falcons’ process after doubling up at QB in NFL Draft: ‘No adult supervision’ (The Athletic)

Editor’s pick

‘Finding Rams’: One year behind the scenes of the NFL Draft scouting process, Part I (The Athletic)

Over the last 10 months, The Athletic was granted access inside the team’s scouting and draft operation — from shadowing scouts on school visits and all-star events to sitting in on the internal meetings that shaped the team’s draft board and attending the beachside mansion where they held their draft. Some details do not include identifiers to protect the competitive nature of the process.

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