53-man Roster
JT: This is why he’s the coach.
Well, this is why we write the columns and don’t make the cuts. Let’s take a look at how well JaguarsTalk predicted the final 53-man Jacksonville Jaguars roster. The final roster had to be cut down by 4pm. On Tuesday Aug. 30 per NFL rules. The Jaguars made cuts throughout the day so as not to keep us all in suspense until the last moment. Below we will compare the JaguarsTalk 53-man roster to the actual Jacksonville Jaguars 53-man roster and see where we parted ways.
Quarterback: The Jags kept Trevor Lawrence and C.J. Beathard, waiving E.J. Perry. I thought for sure that Head Coach Doug Pederson would keep three ball slingers this season. I thought that only because…well here is exactly what I wrote two columns ago, “Many NFL teams are trending toward keeping only two quarterbacks on the final roster, an idea that might tickle Doug Pederson’s fancy considering the WR decisions he has to make. That said, I don’t see JAX running with only two QBs since Beathard has a nagging injury. That’s too bad considering EJ Perry ain’t great and Jacksonville could always use some padding in lineman positions and WR.” I feel like partial credit might be in order here. Frankly, if Pederson could wave both initials-for-first-names, QBs, I think he would have. #MissingMinshew.
Running Back: Jacksonville kept Travis Etienne, James Robinson and Snoop Conner. JaguarsTalk wants full credit for outright calling this position like a boss. Here is what JaguarsTalk had to say in our earlier post. “Most teams keep four running backs on the roster as it’s a brutal position. Add the fact that JAX’s top two RBs are coming off major injuries and there is a case for Pederson to roster four RBs. That said, he won’t.” Boom! Mic drop. Can’t take this one away from us. This was a big call considering most NFL teams keep four RBs and the Jags first two are both coming off major injuries. That spells confidence in the Snoopster. Nothing like giving ourselves a well-deserved pat on the back.
Wide Receiver: The Jaguars kept Christian Kirk, Marvin Jones Jr., Zay Jones, Tim Jones and Jamal Agnew. Wait, what? Only five wide receivers. FIVE! Talk about nobody being able to keep up with the Joneses (Zay, Marv and Timmy). I’m miffed. I would have kept at least six. JaguarsTalk had these five players plus Laquon Treadwell. The Jags threw a wrench in that plan, however, when they waived Treadwell yesterday. We wrongly assumed that was done to clear roster space for Laviska Shenault Jr. The Jags also threw a wrench in that when minutes later they announced a trade with the Carolina Panthers, Laviska Shenault for what we can assume is a 2023 seventh round draft pick. The Panthers also have a fifth rounder to deal but JaguarsTalk is not so sure Laviska is worth a fifth rounder. Once Treadwell and Shenault were shown the door, JaguarsTalk figured that undrafted golden domer, Kevin Austin Jr. was going to get a shot at the roster spot. Again, Doug Pederson threw a wrench in that plan by waiving Austin today. We can take three things away from this wide receiver saga, the first being that Pederson doesn’t see his top three receivers getting hurt this season. The second, is that Pederson was thoroughly impressed by Timmy Jones, and the third is that the Jags have a lot of wrenches and a decent throwing arm.
Tight End: The Jaguars kept Evan Engram, Chris Manhertz, Dan Arnold and Luke Farrell. JaguarsTalk felt the need to keep the first three rostered but why in the world would you need four tight ends. The only thing I can think of, now that I’ve seen the anemic wide receiver group, is that Pederson and the Jags brass are going to be using Evan Engram in receiver sets quite often. JaguarsTalk is still not convinced that Evan’s hands are good enough to be a top five or even top ten tight end, so we will see. I’m obviously still hung up on rostering so few receivers.
Offensive Line: The Jaguars kept Cam Robinson, Tyler Shatley, Luke Fortner, Brandon Scherff, Jawaan Taylor, Walker Little, Ben Bartch, Will Richardson Jr. and Cole Van Lanen. If there is anywhere you would want some extra padding it would be on the offensive line. If these big guys go down, Trevor Lawrence is in danger. Trevor Lawrence is your franchise QB so you want this kid bubble wrapped. I can only assume that Doug Pederson was extremely confident with the versatility he has in his offensive line. Almost all of his lineman can be a plug and play type guy if anyone goes down. That has allowed Pederson to roster only nine O-linemen. JaguarsTalk thought he might go heavy on this position and also keep Nick Ford and KC McDermott. We did not have Will Richardson Jr. making the team.
Offensive total:23
Defensive Line: Jacksonville rostered Folorunso Fatukasi, DaVon Hamilton, Roy Robertson-Harris, Dawuane Smoot, Arden Key and Adam Gotsis. This seems to be becoming a trend, the fact that I want partial credit. Again, look at what JaguarsTalk said two columns ago when we predicted Jacksonville’s final cut down: “And on the bubble is Jay Tufele. It will all depend upon whether or not JAX goes with six or seven big men.” Partial credit please? Tough crowd.
Linebacker: The Jaguars kept Josh Allen, Devin Lloyd, Foyesade Oluokun, Travon Walker, K’Lavon Chaisson, Chad Muma, Shaquille Quarterman, Jamir Jones, De’Shaan Dixon, Jordan Smith (IR). JaguarsTalk agreed with the first eight linebackers but did not see Dixon and Smith creeping out of the woodwork to gain roster spots. Though, in truly thinking about it, it makes sense to keep a few more backers when running a 3-4 instead of a 4-3.
Defensive Backs: Jacksonville kept Darious Williams, Rayshawn Jenkins, Andre Cisco, Shaquill Griffin, Tyson Campbell, Andrew Wingard, Daniel Thomas, Chris Claybrooks, Tre Herndon, Josh Thompson and Montaric Brown. So close it hurts. JaguarsTalk picked everyone that Coach Pederson picked except that Pederson thought 11 DBs would be better than 10. Enter Josh Thompson. We did not see Thompson receiving a roster invite. Well, more is better, right?
Defensive Total: 26 - DE Jordan Smith on IR
Special Teams: JAX kept Ross Matiscik, James McCourt, Logan Cooke, and Jake Verity. JaguarsTalk nailed the special teams, but really who didn’t? Wait, Jake Verity got a roster spot? Man, we got caught with our pants down on this one. Even Verity didn’t expect this. JaguarsTalk can only assume that Pederson and Baalke are expecting to grab a decent player off the waiver wire and need an easy cut to make roster room. Thus, Verity is a sacrificial lamb. A place holder if you will. The question becomes, is James McCourt the answer Jacksonville needs.
Special Teams: 4
Well, I can’t say that JaguarsTalk wouldn’t make a good General Manager (i love double negatives. They keep you on your toes). At the same time, I wouldn’t say that we’d make a great GM either. When it comes to grading the Jacksonville Jaguars 2022 53-man roster cut predictions, JaguarsTalk receives a solid B+. We don’t hate the two QB play, nor do we disagree with keeping only six D-lineman and stacking the linebackers. We are really only concerned offensively with the lack of wide receivers and O-linemen. One more of each would have made JaguarsTalk much more comfortable. Take away a DB and/or LB or TE to make the roster room.
What do you all think of the Jags 53-man roster? Let us know in the comment section below. Also, if you think we deserve an A for our predictions and like our roster better than what Jacksonville ended up with, we aren’t gonna get mad atcha for leaving that in the comment section as well.