Make or Break Year for Jaguars 2023 Draft Class

The Jacksonville Jaguars made a franchise record 13 draft picks in the 2023 draft and 9 of those 13 picks are still on the roster at the time this article is being written. The problem is none of the 9 remaining players from that draft have established themselves as cornerstones of the franchise or even locks to be starters beyond this season. This article will break down the remaining players from the 2023 class and their importance to the team in the upcoming season.

Anton Harrison Rd 1 Pick 27

Importance Level: Highest

Harrison has started at Right Tackle the past two seasons for the Jags. He had a solid rookie year in 2023 and was arguably the best offensive lineman on the team at the time. 2024 was a much different story as he struggled in pass protection and the entire group consistently failed to get any push in the run game. Jacksonville will need him to return to that 2023 form for the simple fact that they just don't have many other options at the moment. If anyone else currently on the roster is starting over a healthy Harrison, the Jags are going to be in some trouble. The only other players listed behind him on the unofficial depth chart are Cole Van Lanen and Ricky Lee. Neither should beat out a healthy Harrison.

Brenton Strange Rd 2 Pick 61

Importance Level: Very High

Strange didn't have a ton of opportunities the last two seasons outside of the occasional Evan Engram injury. Engram took most of the targets at TE when healthy for obvious reasons. With Engram gone Brenton Strange will now be the guy at TE for Jacksonville. He's now the only high ceiling player the Jags have at the position from a pass catching perspective. Hunter Long and Johny Mundt were both brought in to be solid back ups and run blockers who know the Liam Coen offense, but neither are as talented as Strange. He'll look to build on a terrific finish to 2024 in his new expanded role. Remember this is a guy who did have an 11 reception game against the Jets in the back half of the season. He should be viewed as a breakout candidate this year and the Jags will certainly need him to do that.

Tank Bigsby Rd 3 Pick 88

Importance Level: Somewhat Important

Bigsby is currently listed as co-RB1 with Travis Ettiene. Bigsby like Strange took advantage of injuries to carve out a role for himself last season. As the more physical back Bigsby got a lot of work running behind a mediocre O-line but never did anything to permanently wrestle the starting job away from Ettiene. He looked explosive at times but also struggled with ball security and pass catching. He had multiple check downs bounce off his hands for INTs last season. Bigsby would be listed as higher importance if the Jaguars weren't absolutely loaded with guys the coaching staff really likes. Ettiene is still viewed as a home-run hitter with a much better feel for the passing game. The Jags also drafted Bayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr this year, who have been so good in camp that Jacksonville is going to keep 4 RBs on the active roster this season. If Bigsby continues to struggle with ball security and pass catching he could find himself at the bottom of this rotation very quickly.

Ventrell Miller Rd 4 Pick 121

Importance Level: Very High

It's not so much that it's important for Miller specifically to play well than it is that Jacksonville just desperately needs a linebacker not named Foyesade Oluokon to play well. Outside of Oluokon the Jags have been abysmal at linebacker with Devin Lloyd and Chad Muma currently battling to see who can be out of position the most. Both have shown small flashes of potential but it is constantly overshadowed by inconsistency. Miller struggled with injuries his first year in Jacksonville but came on strong last year, showing flashes of playmaking and the kind of downhill play the Jaguars could really use against the run. He's listed as Devin Lloyd's backup right now but that could change as the preseason continues. If he can step up this season he'll have a chance to emerge as Oluokon's new running mate at linebacker.

Tyler Lacy Rd 4 Pick 130

Importance Level: Low

Unfortunately for Lacy he's just not a guy who will find much playing time this season if he manages to make the roster. Lacy is currently the 6th DT on the depth chart that hasn't listed new addition Khalen Saunders yet. Hopefully the Jags can get Lacy to the practice squad but he won't have much determination on how this season plays out in Jacksonville.

Yasir Abdullah Rd 5 Pick 136

Importance Level: Low-Medium?

This is where things get interesting for the Jags. When he was drafted Abdullah was supposed to be a pass rushing OLB in a 3-4 scheme. He was never very effective in that role with 0 career sacks over 2 seasons and struggling to get on the field even when the Jaguars lacked true pass rushing depth. If he were making the switch to DE in the new 4-3 scheme then there probably wouldn't be a spot for him on the roster. However, it appears from the unofficial depth chart he's listed as the 3rd starting LB in their base package. If he's going to play this position his importance level is certainly higher than Lacy's was. The fact that most teams aren't in base package very often makes him less important than Miller was listed at. It'll be interesting to see if Abdullah can make an impact at his new position this season.

Antonio Johnson Rd 5 Pick 160

Importance Level: High

Johnson looked like a massive steal his rookie season when he made some huge plays and displayed great instincts in his limited opportunities. 2024 was a much different story where he and the rest of the secondary were absolutely abysmal in coverage. Now how much of that is on Johnson or just on poor coaching remains to be seen. The reason Johnson returning to that 2023 level is so important for the Jags is pretty simple. Much like Anton Harrison on the O-line, there just isn't much competition at that position. This isn't meant to be a knock on anyone else in that plays safety for Jacksonville just more an acknowledgment that Antonio Johnson has the highest ceiling of anyone in that room. They could really use someone to separate themselves as a bon fide playmaker on the back end of the defense and Johnson has the best shot at it.

Parker Washington Rd 6 Pick 185

Importance Level: Medium-High

Washington has had a very good start to his career considering he was a 6th round pick. He managed to carve out a nice role in the offense last season as the backup slot receiver for Christian Kirk until Kirk went down with an injury. Washington has been a major talking point his last two camps and coaches seem to rave about him. His importance for Jacksonville will largely be tied to how Travis Hunters season goes however. His baseline here is medium importance because he will at the very least be a factor in the pass game even if it is just as the 4th receiver on the team. However, there is unfortunately injuries in the NFL and those always play a factor for a guy playing as many snaps as Hunter. It may not even be an injury to Hunter that thrusts Washington into a starting role. If the Jags face injuries in the secondary that force Hunter to play more on that side of the ball it could open up lot more snaps on offense for Parker. So his importance is more TBD but its been an amazing start for the former 6th round pick and he'll certainly build on it this year.

Christian Braswell 6 Pick 202

Importance Level: Low

The lowest pick remaining from the 2023 class is currently listed as the 6th corner on the unofficial depth chart. He hasn't seen much action the past two years and probably won't see much this year. The Jags are sneaky deep at corner even if you don't factor in Travis Hunter. Most likely headed for the practice squad if the Jags can retain him.

By Peyton Ferebee