JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars open the 2022 NFL season on the road against the Washington Commanders on Sept. 11.
They're coming off a disastrous and dysfunctional season in which former coach Urban Meyer was fired after 13 games amid allegations of mistreatment of players and assistant coaches. The Jaguars went 3-14 in 2021, the 10th time in the past 11 seasons the franchise has lost at least 10 games.
Owner Shad Khan hired Super Bowl winning coach Doug Pederson to replace Meyer, and Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke gave out $158.25 million in guaranteed money via free agency to eight players, including receivers Christian Kirk and Zay Jones, tight end Evan Engram, guard Brandon Scherff and linebacker Foyesade Oluokun.
Even with all the changes, the biggest storyline heading into training camp will be how quickly second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence improves with a better group of playmakers and an NFL-experienced head coach.
Here's a 53-man roster projection heading into the summer break:
QUARTERBACK (2): Trevor Lawrence, C.J. Beathard
The Jaguars are counting on Lawrence, the former No. 1 overall pick, making a big jump after the additions to the passing game and the return of his fellow 2021 first-round pick, running back Travis Etienne Jr., from a Lisfranc injury that cost him his entire rookie season. Coach Pederson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor have raved about the way Lawrence handled himself throughout the 2021 season despite the dysfunction, and both said his leadership and confidence have been fantastic in the spring.
RUNNING BACK (4): James Robinson, Travis Etienne Jr., Snoop Conner, Ryquell Armstead
Robinson (Achilles) is expected to be cleared to return at some point in training camp. Etienne looked smooth and explosive during OTAs. How the Jaguars are going to use him will be one of the things to watch throughout camp and the preseason, as will how the carries are divided once Robinson does return. The Jaguars still view him as their top back.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, Marvin Jones Jr., Laviska Shenault Jr., Jamal Agnew, Laquon Treadwell
This is the most upgraded position on offense -- and it pretty much had to be for Lawrence's sake. Kirk's best spot is in the slot, but he lined up everywhere in the spring. Adding Kirk and Zay Jones means Marvin Jones Jr. doesn't have to play 90% or more of the snaps like he did last season. Shenault is still in the Jaguars' plans, and they want to use him similarly to the dual-threat Etienne, but that could be a challenge because that means keeping someone else off the field. The wild card is Agnew, one of the league's top returners, who should be completely cleared from a hip injury at some point in camp. He showed promise as a receiver last season but how much will the Jaguars use him there?
TIGHT END (4): Evan Engram, Dan Arnold, Chris Manhertz, Luke Farrell
The Engram signing finally gives the Jaguars a big-time playmaker at the position. Engram is essentially another receiver, and he'll line up pretty much anywhere. This position group is pretty set, and it would take an injury or a massive camp performance for any other tight end to crack the top four.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Cam Robinson, Ben Bartch, Tyler Shatley, Brandon Scherff, Jawaan Taylor, Walker Little, Luke Fortner, Will Richardson Jr., K.C. McDermott
The biggest camp battle to watch will be between Taylor and Little, as they compete to be the starting right tackle. The loser becomes the swing tackle. Bartch has a good lead in the battle at left guard, but he could be pushed by Shatley if/when Fortner takes over at center. Richardson can play guard and tackle, so he fills a valuable backup role. That's important because Scherff hasn't played a full season since 2016.
DEFENSIVE LINE (8): Folorunso Fatukasi, Malcom Brown, Roy Robertson-Harris, Arden Key, Dawuane Smoot, Adam Gotsis, DaVon Hamilton, Jay Tufele
Fatukasi was brought in to shore up the run defense, which improved last season from 2020 but still gave up 125.1 yards per game (23rd in the NFL). Robertson-Harris, who really came on at the end of the 2021 season, and Brown should give the Jaguars a pretty solid top three. Key is coming off of a career-high 6.5 sacks, and the Jaguars are hoping he can give them some help in the pass rush. The Jaguars need to see more out of Hamilton and Tufele.
LINEBACKER (7): Josh Allen, Foyesade Oluokun, Devin Lloyd, Travon Walker, Chad Muma, Shaquille Quarterman, K'Lavon Chaisson
Walker, this year's No. 1 overall pick, is a raw talent with impressive athleticism, but he has to learn how to play outside linebacker. He's not shying away from expectations, though: He said he wants to break Allen's rookie sack record (10.5). The Jaguars are counting on Walker's presence freeing up Allen so his production can match what he did as a rookie in 2019. He's had 10 sacks in the 24 games since then. Lloyd, taken 27th overall, can play inside and outside, and he'll get some chances to rush the passer, in addition to working in coverage against backs and tight ends. It's a big camp for Chaisson, the 20th-overall pick in 2020, who has just two sacks. He has to carve out a role for himself or he could be on the roster bubble.
CORNERBACK (5): Shaquill Griffin, Tyson Campbell, Darious Williams, Chris Claybrooks, Tre Herndon
Williams, who didn't participate in the spring because he was rehabbing a shoulder injury, will be the nickel back, leaving Campbell and Griffin outside. Herndon has worked inside as well. There should be good competition for the last two spots with veteran Xavier Crawford and rookies Josh Thompson, Montaric Brown and Gregory Junior names to watch.
SAFETY (5): Andre Cisco, Rayshawn Jenkins, Rudy Ford, Daniel Thomas, Andrew Wingard
The Jaguars didn't address this spot in free agency or the draft, and it's the weakest position group on defense. Cisco has all but locked up a starting spot, but the other appears to be open. Ford, signed mainly as a special teams player last season, ended up being the team's most effective nickel. He'll compete at safety, but his top role likely will be on special teams. Wingard keeps hanging on.
SPECIALISTS (3): Logan Cooke, Ryan Santoso, Ross Matiscik
Santoso has to beat out rookie Andrew Mevis to be the kicker, and the strength of his leg gives him an advantage. Cooke, who finished eighth last season in average yards per punt (47.8) among players with 10 or more punts, and long-snapper Matiscik are locks.