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Which Jacksonville Jaguars undrafted rookies have the best chance of making the roster?
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- Which Jacksonville Jaguars undrafted rookies have the best chance of making the roster?
The Jacksonville Jaguars are set to host rookie minicamp this weekend from the Miller Electric Center. It'll be the first chance to see first-round pick Travis Hunter and all of Jacksonville's rookie class on the grass.
The team drafted nine rookies and signed 22 undrafted free agents to their roster after the draft. Plus, the team will likely host a few players as rookie camp invites as well.
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While attention will obviously be on Hunter and the rest of the drafted rookies , there are a few notable college free agents that were brought in by the team.
The Jaguars had a very thin roster after doing maintenance this offseason, moving on from several veteran players to add players that fit the new culture general manager James Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen are trying to establish.
Several practice squad spots are open for many of the rookie class and the opportunity for instant impact in the case of Hunter and a few other players.
But with the scope of the on-going roster management, we wanted to take a look at several undrafted free agents who have a shot to make the 53-man roster for Jacksonville this fall.
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Seth Henigan , QB, Memphis
Memphis’ Seth Henigan (9) tells the offense the play they’ll be running during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex at the University of Memphis on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.
Seth Henigan is the safest bet among undrafted free agents to make the roster. The former Memphis quarterback recorded 14,266 passing yards during his collegiate career and passed for 102 career touchdowns.
That includes tossing 32 touchdown passes during his junior season in 2023. The Jaguars need a long-term solution at backup behind Trevor Lawrence .
The team brought in veteran quarterback Nick Mullens on a two-year contract because of his familiarity with the system.
However, after a few seasons of development, Henigan can slide into a more permanent role behind Lawrence.
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This summer will be crucial for Henigan as he'll be competing with five-year veteran John Wolford for the third quarterback position.
If he can catch on to Coen's system and show strides in Jacksonville, he could have a home for years to come with the Jaguars.
Darius Lassiter, WR, BYU
BYU wide receiver Darius Lassiter (5) makes a catch against Arizona State defensive back Javan Robinson (12) during the second half at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Nov. 23, 2024.
One of the last reported free agent signings could have one of the strongest shots to make the roster. Darius Lassiter has the versatility it seems the Jaguars are looking for in their receiver room.
He's able to run a multitude of routes and is good after the catch, eluding defenders and picking up extra yards for BYU last season.
Often times, teams look for similarities in skillsets to guard against having to incorporate different concepts when a player is injured. It's why the Jaguars drafted Parker Washington while already having Christian Kirk .
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With this new regime, we don't exactly know what they value. But we've seen through their free agent additions and draft selections how key versatility will be moving forward and Lassiter fits the bill for that.
His only downfall is he isn't a burner. He ran a 4.62 at his Pro Day, but he makes up for it with his quickness and instincts.
Jabbar Muhammad , CB, Oregon
Oregon defensive back Jabbar Muhammad carries the ball during practice with the Ducks Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex in Eugene, Ore. Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard-USA TODAY NETWORK
This is a direct correlation of having Hunter play on both sides of the ball. There's a chance they'll opt for depth in the secondary as a break glass in case of emergency player.
Jabbar Muhammad would be a strong choice if they turned to the UDFA class. He has the coverage versatility to play inside or out. He played primarily as an outside cornerback in college and displayed the ability to jump routes and come up with pass deflections.
Still, he possesses good enough tackling skills to play nickel and be a factor in run support.
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The cornerback position was one of Jacksonville's weakest groups last season. They need mentally aggressive players who won't back down on the field and Muhammad's tape screams he's that.
With the current projection for the room, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Muhammed make the roster if he performs well in camp.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Which Jaguars UDFA players have a chance to make the 53-man roster?
