The Jacksonville Jaguars have just wrapped up Organized Team Activities. While pads weren’t allowed and contact was forbidden, many players took advantage of the opportunity to shine. Conversely, others saw their stock drop in recent weeks.
Granted, the regular season is still a few months away, so those players who failed to make an impression will have a chance to make up ground. That said, these three Jaguars shouldn’t feel great about where they stand after OTAs.
Jaguars DE Jeremiah Ledbetter could be on thin ice after OTAs
Defensive end Jeremiah Ledbetter was somewhat of a pleasant surprise last season. A sixth-round pick by the Detroit Lions, the Arkansas product laned in the Jaguars’ practice squad in 2021. He was waived before the start of the 2022 season and later landed in the practice squad.
Ledbetter ended up appearing in one game that year. The team’s brass was pleased enough that they brought him back in 2023. With DaVon Hamilton missing a good chunk of the regular season, he got an increased workload. The Florida native played 17 games with two starts, registering 24 total tackles and three pressures.
Jacksonville re-signed Ledbetter this past offseason, giving him a one-year deal. However, he’s far from a lock to make the team after the arrival of Arik Armstead. A first-round pick in 2015, he was one of the team’s biggest acquisitions in free agency and will get a featured role next to Roy Robertson-Harrison next season.
Moreover, the Jags bolstered the defensive front with the addition of Maason Smith and Jordan Smith in the draft. By virtue of being a second-round selection, the former should get lots of playing time in 2024.
if that wasn’t enough, Hamilton is back at full strength after dealing with a non-football medical issue with his back. He looked like his old self in training camp. All things considered, the Jaguars’ defensive line rotation looks great, but Ledbetter could ultimately be a victim of the numbers games.
Jaguars CB Ronald Darby could be on thin ice OTAs
Cornerback may not be a need for the Jaguars after all. In the week preceding the 2024 draft, this position group has been discussed as the Jags’ biggest remaining need. However, the ascension of rookie Jarrion Jones could put most doubts to rest.
A third-round pick in this past draft, Jones made the most of his chances to shine in Organized Team activities. Whether he showcased his talent or confidence, he did enough to eventually earn consideration for a featured role in the regular season.
Head coach Doug Pederson said after the draft that he expects the Florida product to play nickel or contribute on special teams to start the season. However, his quick rise may force the coaching staff to revisit their plans.
Jones can play inside or in the boundaries but says that it’s up to the coaches to decide where he’ll line up. Former first-round pick Darnell Savage will tentatively man the slot, so maybe Jacksonville could give the Magee, Mississippi native a shot outside. That’s probably where he could help the most.
The Jags released Darious Williams in a cap-saving move. He was arguably their best cornerback last year but the savings ($10 million in space) were too good to pass up. To replace Williams opposite Tyson Campbell, the front office inked Ronald Darby to a two-year deal.
Darby is a vested veteran who’s played in all kinds of schemes since joining the NFL in 2015. He’s given up just one touchdown the past two seasons, so there shouldn’t be any doubts about a potential decline in his play heading into Year 10. That said, availability could be an issue for the former Florida State Seminole.
Not only has Darby failed to play a full season in his career but he’s also missed 17 games the past two years. Add the fact that Jones may have a bigger upside at this stage of his career, and the veteran corner could be phased out in favor of his rookie counterpart.
Jaguars WR Tim Jones could on thin ice after OTAs
Wide receiver wasn’t necessarily a weakness for the Jaguars in 2023. But it wasn’t a strength either. While they had a couple of playmakers in Christian Kirk and Calvin Ridley, injuries to Kirk and teammate Zay Jones exposed the team’s lack of depth at the position.
Not surprisingly, the Jags let Ridley walk in free agency. Granted, they got outbid by the division rival Tennessee Titans but if they really wanted him back, they would match the offer. Either way, they let the player formerly known as Agent 0 leave. Furthermore, the team’s brass moved on from Jones after the draft.
On the other hand, Jacksonville signed Gabe Davis and drafted Brian Thomas Jr. to replenish their wide receiver corps. Their starting trio looks much better, at least on paper, than it did last year. Their bench also appears to be in better shape. One reason is that sophomore Parker Washington has taken several steps forward since the end of 2023.
A sixth-round pick in last year’s draft, Washington was inactive several games to start the season. He later landed on Injured Reserve. He eventually came back but it wasn’t until Kirk was out with a core injury that he began to get playing time. The former Penn State Nittany Lion ended the year with 16 receptions for 132 yards with one touchdown.
The coaching staff raved about Washington’s progress in OTAs and he could become the primary backup at wide receiver. This may not be great news for Tim Jones, who’s seen his role progressively go up the last two years.
After going undrafted in 2021, Jones had to wait until 2022 to make the Jags’ 53-man roster. He pulled it off again last year. Having said that, he’s not the type of player opposing coordinators will game plan for. Sure, the former Mississippi State Golden Eagle is a great blocker but you need more than that if you want to make the team and earn a consistent role.
One thing working in Jones’ favor is that he mostly lines up in the boundaries, whereas Washington usually plays in the slot. Then again, the Jaguars will have a finite number of roster spots to give away, and there may not be room for Jones if the coaching staff believes Washington could contribute more in 2024.
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