Big Cat Country
From Brian Thomas Jr. to Myles Cole, lets predict when recent Jags draftees may play.
Nine new players were drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024. Nine lives were changed, and nine guys have the opportunity to make their mark on their new franchise.
The Jags clearly had a certain type of player in mind in who they drafted, and that played the biggest role in who general manager Trent Baalke called this past week.
While it is far too early to tell where and when these guys may be playing, let’s take an early stab at their projected roster position.
Week 1
This one is easy. Not much needs to be said here.
Brian Thomas Jr. will start outside on opening day and will be the immediate Calvin Ridley replacement for the team. He will serve as a vertical threat along the sideline and hopefully work to free up Christian Kirk, who can play even more in the slot. The Jags needed a starting wide receiver and got one on the first day of the draft — Thomas Jr. will likely start all season.
Week 1
Thank you for your game-winner over the Chargers, Riley Patterson, and thanks for something, Joey Slye, but Cam Little is the Jags’ 2024 starting kicker.
Despite being the youngest kicker ever drafted, Little will assume kicking duties in Duval. Out of the University of Arkansas, Little made 82.8% of his kicks (53 out of 64) and never once missed a PAT (129-129) over three years. He has also never missed a kick within 30 yards.
It is hard to beat that production, and it’ll translate into being the starting guy. While some may argue kickers are not football players, Jags fans better get used to Little. He is going to be around for a while. And he can dance.
Week 1-3
Jarrian Jones could see time at nickelback as early as Week 1. He will have to play behind Darnell Savage, but Jones easily could come off the bench in the early weeks in a package or two. With Antonio Johnson playing back at safety, Jones is the natural second player on the roster and was drafted as such. He will probably start on special teams as well before beginning his full-time play on defense. He is another high-upside guy, and potentially a huge steal for the Jags.
“He’s definitely a position flex guy. I can see him playing inside day one and he’s also a really good special teams player, so he’s going to give us value there as well.”
Rotational player by midseason
Maason Smith began the Jaguars’ run on high-upside guys.
Smith tested well in Relative Athletic Score (RAS), which rates body type and NFL Combine workouts against...
