(08-10-2023, 08:53 PM)TheDuke007 Wrote: When I look at the potential 53 man roster, I see a lot of questions on defenses, but very few on offense. I know there are usually a couple of "surprise cuts", but I feel like the following are all likely to be on the team:
QB:
Lawrence
Beathard
WR:
Ridley
Kirk
Jones
Agnew
Washington
RB:
Etienne
Bigsby
Johnson
Hasty
TE:
Engram
Strange
Farrell
Prince
OL:
Robinson
Little
Harrison
Scherff
Fortner
Wells
Bartch
Shatley
Hance
That's 24 players. If you assume 25 offensive players, that leaves one spot at wide receiver. This one is a competition. Tim Jones is probably the favorite as the incumbent, but Austin is challenging and others such as Pryor or Cooks could be considered too.
The only other consideration is that Robinson is suspended for the first four games. My understanding is that he doesn't count as one of our 53 players for those games. That leaves one other roster spot open. This one is a real tossup to me. It could be a tackle but doesn't need to be considering we have Little and Harrison as starters with Wells as a backup and Hance also having tackle experience. The Jaguars could just keep someone at another position, but who? Is this Parish's opportunity to make the team? Do they keep an emergency quarterback in Rourke? We seem to have deep talent at wide receiver. Do we keep seven initially? The Jaguars could also just opt to keep an extra defensive player instead. This is a tough roster spot to call.
Any thoughts?
I think they will keep Rourke initially, but he could be trade bait for a team in need of a backup QB (likely due to an injury). If Rourke keeps performing, it might be Beathard that becomes the trade bait.
With Agnew being the team's primary return specialist, in addition to a WR spot, he has a higher risk of injury. I think they will keep an additional WR, and my money is on Tim Jones for his WR/ST skills and being his 2nd year in the system. Kevin Austin showed unreliable hands in the preseason game, which was a supposed issue for him last season. If not Jones, I could see them keeping a taller threat, such as the battling Cook or Harris. The practice squad will be stacked with good WRs, that will not take long for other teams to cannabilize.
Completely agree with you on RB and TE spots.
The initial OL group will be interesting. Robinson will be on the commissioner's suspended list for the first 4 games, not counting within the Jag's 53 during that time (...I believe). I think they'll initially put Bartch on IR, with the hope of him being 100% fully healthy by mid season. I think that move will leave an opening for Hodges, or another OG from the league's cut down day.
