JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Now that the primary free-agency period and the NFL draft have concluded, it’s time to start looking at what the Jacksonville Jaguars' depth chart could look like. Things aren’t going to change significantly on offense but there could be major changes on defense.
Here are five players who could lose playing time, or even their jobs, in 2016:
DE Ryan Davis: Though he’s listed as a leo (pass-rushing end), Davis spends nearly all his time rushing from the interior. He has been effective there (11.0 career sacks) because guards and centers have trouble with his quickness. However, his playing time may decrease significantly because of the additions of DT Malik Jackson in free agency and DT Sheldon Day in the fourth round of the draft. Davis had his best season (6.5 sacks in 2014) when he was paired alongside DT Sen’Derrick Marks. However, Jackson and Marks will be the top third-down interior rushers -- along with Dante Fowler Jr. and third-round pick Yannick Ngakoue on the edges -- and the team selected three-technique DT Sheldon Day in the fourth round. Day’s a pass-rushing tackle and the draft analysts rave about his motor so he could take time away from Davis, too. The Jaguars may take a look at Davis as a first- and second-down leo – behind Fowler and Ngakoue -- but there are concerns about how well he can hold up against the run.
LT Luke Joeckel: The team declined to pick up his fifth-year option Monday and he’s going to be competing for the starting job with free-agent signee Kelvin Beachum. If he loses that competition, he is definitely in play as a possibility at left guard. Just because the Jaguars didn’t pick up his option doesn’t mean they don’t want him around beyond 2016. However, his role could be completely different moving forward.
DT Sen’Derrick Marks: He’s the team’s best interior rusher and led the Jaguars in sacks (8.5) in 2014, yet he’s on this list? Yes, because there are some questions about how effective he will be. The torn ACL will have had 18 months to heal by the time training camp begins, but there is concern about the torn triceps that ended his 2015 season in November. Jackson is an effective interior rusher and he’ll be taking Marks’ spot on first and second down, with the two playing side-by-side on third down. Michael Bennett should be better than he was as a rookie and the team also drafted Day, so they are both insurance in case Marks isn’t effective. He’s not in danger of losing his roster spot but his role could be much different than it was in 2014.
CB Demetrius McCray: The signing of Prince Amukamara in free agency and the selection of Jalen Ramsey with the fifth overall pick leaves McCray, who has played in 46 games and started 16 (12 in 2014), hanging by a thread. He lost his starting job last season to Aaron Colvin, whom the Jaguars really like to use as a slot corner, and eventually was passed on the depth chart by undrafted rookie Nick Marshall.
DE Chris Smith: The Jaguars drafted two leos in Ngakoue and Tyrone Holmes (sixth round). With the return of Fowler from a torn ACL, Smith is in a fight to be third on the depth chart. Smith has played in only 13 games since being drafted in the sixth round in 2014 and had a half sack in six games last season. Depending on the number of defensive linemen the Jaguars keep, Smith’s roster spot could be in jeopardy.