Ranking each Jaguars draft pick by how soon they’ll play 

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.

Round 1, 23rd overall: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

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.

Round 6, 212nd overall: Cam Little, K, Arkansas

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.

Round 3, 96th overall: Jarrian Jones, CB, FSU

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.

From coach Doug Pederson:

“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.”

Round 2, 48th overall: Maason Smith, DT, LSU

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 players for the last 40 years. He is a huge dude who looks the part of a starting defensive tackle.

Smith won’t start right away, as he has been plagued by an ACL injury suffered in 2022 while at LSU. His last full season healthy was in 2021, so it will likely be a little before Smith is ramped up to the vigors of the NFL game.

However, I think Smith will be getting some inside playing time by the middle of the season, rotating behind Arik Armstead. The team likes the physical traits that Smith brings, and being coached by Armstead and guys like Roy Robertson-Harris will only help his development. He may not have been a flashy pick in the second round, but Smith could become a big-impact defender.

Round 5, 167th overall: Keilan Robinson, RB/KR, Texas

Will start on special teams

With the revamped kickoff rules for 2024, Keilan Robinson might have already earned himself as the second kick returner.

Robinson returned kicks at Texas and will likely play next to Devin Duvernay as the one-two punch on special teams. He might begin the year on the bench as a returner if the team decides to roll with Parker Washington or Tank Bigsby out deep, but I think there is a reason Robinson was drafted. That is to help in the kick return game and catch passes out of the backfield. I would anticipate the former comes first on a full-time basis.

From Baalke:

“… But it definitely brings the two-kickoff returners into play and that’s the reason we went out and got Keilan [Robinson], that’s going to be a main responsibility of his along with some other things.”

Round 5, 153rd overall: Deantre Prince, CB, Ole Miss

Could start on special teams

Much like Jones, Deantre Prince could make his instant impact on special teams. As a corner, however, he’ll be behind Tyson Campbell and Ronald Darby on the depth chart.

Assuming health again, Prince shouldn’t be a guy we see outside this season. He will also have to battle with Montaric Brown and Christian Braswell for minutes on the defense if it comes to it. Prince is a solid player but more of a depth piece than anything. Funnily enough, he said his hardest assignment in college was guarding none other than Thomas Jr.

From general manager Trent Baalke:

“There’s a six-foot corner that runs, I think clocked in at 4.36 I believe. He’s 184 pounds, the guy can run, he can cover, he’s got instincts. There’s a lot to like. We had him higher on the board than where he fell to us. We really like a lot of things about him. We feel he can come in here and compete.”

Round 4, 116th overall: Jordan Jefferson, DT, LSU

Late-season or none

Drafting Jordan Jefferson seems a bit redundant, considering the signing of Armstead and the drafting of Smith. There is not a place where Jefferson makes sense to immediately contribute, and he will be behind RRH and DaVon Hamilton on the depth chart.

He has further to go in terms of his development than Smith, so I wouldn’t expect him to make any serious impact on this upcoming season. Much like Foster, he will benefit from limited snaps and consistent learning from older players.

Round 4, 114th overall: Javon Foster, OT, Missouri

Late-season or none

This prediction for Javon Foster is solely based on the assumed health of the offensive line.

With Cam Robinson and Walker Little healthy, Foster will slide behind them on the depth chart as another player who could benefit from learning under veterans.

He could become a starter this season as a swing tackle if needed, or someone off the bench in a heavy package, but I think he was drafted as a player for the future instead of his rookie year. He is yet another athlete with freakish athletic ability and solid player grades, but he doesn’t need to start tomorrow. If everyone remains healthy, he will be on the sidelines.

From Baalke:

“Well we view him as swing tackle, a guy that can play left and right. He played primarily on the left side in college obviously but went to the Senior Bowl and proved he could line up on the right side. You start him out in a swing position. That’s for the coaches to settle in on what his role is going to be. But really like the size, the length, two-time captain, leader in the SEC, 31 game starter, a lot of things that played into the pick.”

Round 7, 236th overall: Myles Cole, DE, Texas Tech

Practice squad candidate

With their seventh-round pick, the Jags selected Texas Tech EDGE rusher Myles Cole. He is another high-upside guy, one who had the longest arms out of anyone in the draft class.

Cole is far down the depth chart, and might get cut in training camp, but if he makes the team it will be as a deep depth piece. He has the build to be a rotational player, but there is zero need for him to take the field if everyone is healthy.