JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars opened training camp Tuesday at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars finished the 2020 season 1-15 to earn the No. 1 overall pick, which they used on quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The Jaguars have lost 10 or more games in nine of the past 10 seasons and have made the playoffs just once since 2007, so owner Shad Khan hired Urban Meyer, who won three national titles at Florida and Ohio State, to turn around his franchise.
Here's a 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (3): Lawrence, C.J. Beathard, Gardner Minshew II
There's still a chance the Jaguars trade Minshew if they can get a reasonable offer. However, he looked better than Beathard, whom the Jaguars guaranteed $2.75 million, in the open practices during the spring and if he keeps that up he may win the backup job.
RUNNING BACK (4): James Robinson, Carlos Hyde, Travis Etienne, Devine Ozigbo
Robinson, just the third rookie to rush for 1,000 yards in franchise history, and Hyde are physical runners who are better receivers than they're given credit for. Etienne is a big play waiting to happen (61 combined runs of 20 or more yards and receptions of 30 or more yards in four years at Clemson) and the Jaguars were woefully short on those last season (NFL-worst 16). He'll line up out wide and in the slot, too.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): Marvin Jones Jr., DJ Chark Jr., Laviska Shenault Jr., Collin Johnson, Phillip Dorsett II, Jamal Agnew
This may be the team's best position group. Shenault was arguably the most impressive offensive player in the spring during the open practices. Jones' consistency and propensity for scoring TDs (he's had nine in three of past four seasons) will help Lawrence and also keep defenses from concentrating on stopping Chark. Agnew was signed to be the Jaguars' kick returner and also can return punts.
TIGHT END (3): Chris Manhertz, James O'Shaughnessy, Luke Farrell
Tim Tebow doesn't make the roster if the Jaguars are going to use him strictly as a tight end, and it's unfair to expect him to pick up all the fundamentals and nuances of the position in only five months. If the plan is to use Tebow in multiple roles -- H-back, Wildcat QB, trick plays -- then he's got a decent chance to make the roster. However, Meyer said they won't begin to define Tebow's role until camp begins. Tebow could end up on the practice squad, however, since the CBA allows teams to keep two players with unlimited accrued seasons on the practice squad in 2021.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Cam Robinson, Andrew Norwell, Brandon Linder, A.J. Cann, Jawaan Taylor, Tyler Shatley, Walker Little, Ben Bartch, Will Richardson Jr.
The starters return intact. It's a big year for Robinson, who is playing on the franchise tag at left tackle, and Taylor at right tackle. Per ESPN Stats & Info, they combined to give up 27 sacks, including a league-high 18 by Taylor, and the two have to be significantly better in 2021. Coaches have raved about Little and if Robinson or Taylor struggles don't be surprised if Little gets on the field, despite not playing the past two seasons (injury and COVID opt-out).
DEFENSIVE LINE (8): Roy Robertson-Harris, Malcom Brown, Jihad Ward, Dawuane Smoot, DaVon Hamilton, Jay Tufele, Adam Gotsis, Doug Costin
Half of this unit wasn't with the team last season, headlined by free-agent signees Robertson-Harris and Ward. Ward, who played for coordinator Joe Cullen last season in Baltimore, has the flexibility to also play as an outside linebacker. Costin, an undrafted free agent out of Miami (Ohio) who out-played 2018 first-round pick DT Taven Bryan last season and eventually became the starter, sticks and Bryan joins Dante Fowler, Jalen Ramsey and Leonard Fournette as recent first-round draft picks that were cut or traded before the end of their rookie contract.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER/EDGE (3): Josh Allen, K'Lavon Chaisson, Jordan Smith
Allen needs to rebound from a disappointing 2020 (2.5 sacks, a knee injury that limited him to eight games). Since this is his more natural position and he was dominant at this spot in his senior season at Kentucky (17 sacks) the Jaguars believe he can be an elite rusher. Chaisson played here at LSU and he'll be the strongside linebacker. Smith is a raw rookie who will get limited reps.
INSIDE LINEBACKER (5): Joe Schobert, Myles Jack, Shaq Quarterman, Damien Wilson, Leon Jacobs
Jack is coming off the best season of his career after moving to weakside linebacker from 4-3 middle linebacker and he'll be used in much the same way as one of the inside linebackers in a 3-4. Schobert is one of only 14 players to record at least two interceptions, two sacks and two forced fumbles in consecutive seasons dating back to 1994, when forced fumble data began being accurately kept. Wilson, added in April, is a big-hitting run-stuffer.
CORNERBACK (5): CJ Henderson, Shaquill Griffin, Tre Herndon, Tyson Campbell, Sidney Jones IV
Griffin was the team's marquee free-agent signee (three years, $40 million, $29 million guaranteed) and is a former Pro Bowler. Campbell, the 33rd overall pick, also can play safety. Henderson had an up-and-down rookie season in 2020 and needs to find some consistency.
SAFETY (4): Rayshawn Jenkins, Andre Cisco, Jarrod Wilson, Rudy Ford
Wilson is the only safety that was on the roster last season and he likely will begin as the starter at free safety. Cisco was a ball hawk at Syracuse (13 interceptions in 24 games) but is coming off a torn ACL, so it may take some time before he can unseat Wilson. Jenkins should start at strong safety and Ford is a very good special teams player.
SPECIALIST (3): K Josh Lambo, P Logan Cooke, LS Ross Matiscik
Aldrick Rosas and Lambo battle throughout camp, but Lambo is the more consistent kicker (88.9% field goal accuracy, compared to 81.4%) and wins the job.