Three Jaguars with work to do after OTAs/minicamp
The Jacksonville Jaguars concluded their offseason team workouts with their veteran minicamp last week. A number of new faces and select veterans managed to help themselves over the last couple of months. While there weren't any real losers during the activities themselves, there are a number of players whose places on the team and/or their […]
The Jacksonville Jaguars concluded their offseason team workouts with their veteran minicamp last week. A number of new faces and select veterans managed to help themselves over the last couple of months.
While there weren't any real losers during the activities themselves, there are a number of players whose places on the team and/or their respective roles are more in question now than they previously were.
D'Ernest Johnson
Johnson has been a part of a good backfield before, when he was third string in Cleveland behind Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. He might be in that same position again in Jacksonville. Travis Etienne, Jr. is clearly the team's lead back, but third-round draft pick Tank Bigsby has made a name for himself this offseason, starring in rookie minicamp with his receiving skills and catching attention in last week's mandatory minicamp.
Bigsby was already a physical, capable runner, and now he's proving that he's a viable option in the passing game. With two good all-around backs on the roster, not to mention a third valuable and productive receiving back in JaMycal Hasty, Johnson will have to prove the Jags have three if he wants to crack the two-deep depth chart.
K'Lavon Chaisson
Chaisson, the Jaguars' 2020 first round pick, already saw his snaps cut back in 2022 to 217, with just 109 of them on defense. That number could be in danger of dropping further. Fifth-round pick Yasir Abdullah has been making some good early impressions this offseason as an edge rusher and could end up playing himself into a role as a situational pass rusher.
If Chaisson doesn't figure it out quickly, the former LSU product – whose fifth-year option the team declined – could see his role reduced even further in what is likely his final run in Jacksonville.
Christian Braswell
Tre Herndon, who the Jaguars re-signed in March to a one-year contract, earned praise from defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell last week for his play at nickel down the stretch in 2022. 2023 fifth-round pick Antonio Johnson also earned mention at the nickel position by Caldwell this month. Johnson was a safety at Texas A&M and that's his most likely primary position in Jacksonville. However, it speaks to the team looking for ways to address the nickel position and take advantage of Johnson's pure athleticism.
For rookie Christian Braswell, who Trent Baalke previously mentioned as a nickel candidate back in May, and the Jaguars' other plentiful depth options competing to see the field, the path to securing the nickel position will have a couple of obstacles.
Featured image via Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
