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Jacksonville Jaguars to begin rookie minicamp: Who could start or see early playing time?
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- Jacksonville Jaguars to begin rookie minicamp: Who could start or see early playing time?
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen did not mince words when asked about the prospect of inviting a large number of rookies to the team's 90-man roster.
Jacksonville's roster was retooled this offseason after the franchise added Coen, along with general manager James Gladstone and EVP Tony Boselli. There will be opportunities for many players to compete for roles they may not have had the chance to with the previous regime.
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The rookies will take the field for the first time on Friday, May 9, during the team's three-day rookie minicamp .
MEET THE NEWEST JAGS: Jaguars fans can get first look at Travis Hunter during Rookie Minicamp May 10. Here's how
"It is exciting. Like I mentioned last time, a conversation we had with the staff and something that we don't want to fear whatsoever. I think, naturally, as a coach, you just go to a safe place of a veteran, which I completely respect and appreciate, but it's definitely something we're going to lean into," Coen said in April.
"The guys should be excited about it. You can continue to coach hard and get the best out of these guys when they're freshly in the league and really want to do their best. We're excited about that factor."
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The Jaguars ultimately added 31 rookies , including nine draft picks and 22 undrafted free agents. The team's youth influx followed the team's floor-raising investments during free agency, inking 10 deals to patch clear holes on both sides of the ball.
Still, the team allowed 14 veterans to depart, whether in typical free agency, trades or standard releases.
The team did not want to splurge in free agency, giving up potential spots for rookies or younger players who can take over.
"If you add a veteran at this point, (he) could just be standing in the way," Gladstone said in March when asked about the lack of veteran defensive line signings during the first couple of waves of free agency. "We're going to allow these rookies to get a chance to get out on the field and help us this coming fall."
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So, which of the team's nine draft picks has the best chance of starting this season? Who may see early playing time?
Jaguars' 2025 NFL draft picks
Here's the full 2025 draft class of the Jacksonville Jaguars :
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Round 1 (No. 2 overall) - Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
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Round 3 (88) - Caleb Ransaw, DB, Tulane
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Round 3 (89) - Wyatt Milum, OL, West Virginia
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Round 4 (104) - Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech
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Round 4 (107) - Jack Kiser, LB, Notre Dame
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Round 6 (194) - Jalen McLeod, EDGE, Auburn
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Round 6 (200) - Rayuan Lane III, S, Navy
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Round 7 (221) - Jonah Monheim, OL, USC
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Round 7 (236) - LeQuint Allen Jr., RB, Syracuse
Travis Hunter has opportunity to start on both sides of the ball
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 09: Travis Hunter #12 of the Colorado Buffaloes runs for a touchdown during the second half of the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium on November 09, 2024 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
The Jaguars made a bold move to trade up to select Hunter with the second overall pick. A two-way player out of Colorado, Hunter played on both sides of the ball through his prep and collegiate years, especially over the last two seasons at Colorado.
In 2024 alone, Hunter totaled 1,360 snaps, including 672 on offense as a receiver and 688 snaps on defense as a cornerback. He excelled in both areas, earning the Fred Biletnikoff Award (given to the nation's top receiver) and the Chuck Bednarik Award (given to the nation's top defensive player).
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During the pre-draft process, many argued whether Hunter would play on offense or defense and the Jaguars are going to give him a shot to do both.
Hunter could immediately come in as the team's No. 2 receiver behind Brian Thomas Jr. and start as the team's top corner opposite Tyson Campbell . There's no question Hunter will be used heavily on at least one side of the ball, but starting on both ends is a real possibility.
Caleb Ransaw 's path to a starting role could come easy
Sep 14, 2024; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Deion Burks (6) runs with the ball as Tulane Green Wave safety Caleb Ransaw (7) defends during the first half at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
The Jaguars made sure to invest in additional secondary help with their second pick in the draft, selecting Ransaw out of Tulane.
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The 5-foot-11, 197-pound defensive back will move to safety with Jacksonville after playing boundary and nickel corner throughout his collegiate career.
Jacksonville ranked dead last in pass defense last year and their safety corps was akin to a turnstile. Multiple players, including Antonio Johnson , Andre Cisco , Darnell Savage , Andrew Wingard and even Daniel Thomas at times received snaps at safety as the team looked for the best combination of players.
That issue was exacerbated this offseason with Cisco's departure, who ultimately signed with the New York Jets . The team signed Eric Murray in free agency to replace him, but there remain questions about what role Savage can play in the defense after signing with Jacksonville to play exclusively in the slot last year.
That could give Ransaw, a player who " embodies Jaguars DNA ," the edge when it comes to a rotation at safety this year.
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"The root word of the position safety is safe, and he's somebody that can make sure that when there is someone who gets loose, he can get them down," Gladstone said in April.
Milum, Tuten have chances to earn early playing time
Nov 12, 2022; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers offensive lineman Wyatt Milum (64) during the third quarter against the Oklahoma Sooners at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Though Jacksonville's rookies may not immediately take over starting roles when the season begins, two players who are in a good position to receive snaps sooner rather than later are third-round guard Wyatt Milum and fourth-round running back Bhayshul Tuten .
Milum was the team's first offensive lineman drafted and represents everything Coen has mentioned when asked about what he wants to see from an offensive lineman in his scheme.
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"It's the ability to play multiple spots at a high level and just the finish. The way the guy plays, the toughness. He's rooted in that," Coen said.
"That's kind of what he prides himself on being, and that's what he is kind of known for around that building is being a guy that finishes, that plays the game the right way, that approaches it the right way, and he's a big dude. He's long."
Milum could compete with left guard Ezra Cleveland , who is entering the second year of a three-year contract extension signed ahead of the 2024 season.
Though Cleveland's salary appears prohibitive to making such a move, much of that has already been given to him via a $14.25 million signing bonus. Cleveland is set to make just $2 million in base salary this year.
Sep 27, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies running back Bhayshul Tuten (33) runs with the football past Miami Hurricanes linebacker Wesley Bissainthe (31) during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
In another effort to reshape the team's running backs room, the Jaguars took two backs in this year's draft. Tuten, drafted out of Virginia Tech, is the most likely player to receive extensive playing time.
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Coen's scouting report seems to indicate that Tuten could get some playing time as the team's change-of-pace back to start with, but can play all three downs if needed.
"If you look at Tuten with the ability to strike from a distance. He can get to the second or third level and score from anywhere on the field. I think behind the line of scrimmage, forced missed tackles was through the roof for him in terms of getting back or at least getting yards after that contact behind the line of scrimmage," Coen said.
Tuten played two years for the Hokies, finishing with 2,022 rushing yards on 356 carries (5.7 yards per carry), 25 rushing touchdowns and 50 catches for 320 yards and four receiving touchdowns. Tuten also excelled in explosion and speed metrics at the Combine, running a 4.32s 40-yard dash, while jumping 40.5 inches in the vertical jump, 10-feet-10-inches in the broad jump.
Jacksonville is entering the year with top backs Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby , but given the extensive work the team has done to reshape the offensive line and their running backs room, neither player's roster spot should be guaranteed.
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Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius .
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars rookie minicamp: Travis Hunter a likely starters
