When it’s time for the Jacksonville Jaguars to construct the 53-man roster, some difficult decisions may have to be made at the linebacker position.
This has become a very crowded room.
For now, let’s start with what we know — Foye Oluokun, Ventrell Miller, and Dennis Gardeck will likely make up the starting trio in Anthony Campanile’s base 4-3 defense, accounting for three roster spots.
This leaves two or maybe three roster openings available, if the Jaguars want to go heavy and keep six linebackers. But there is a trade-off: going heavy at linebacker means going light elsewhere.
Potentially accounting for two of those roster spots are Jack Kiser and Branson Combs. Both were key special teams contributors as rookies, and both have seemingly earned more defensive responsibilities during offseason programs.
Also fighting for a roster spot is 2025 draft pick Jalen McLeod, who missed his rookie season due to injury, but is an ideal backup option for Gardeck, with his ability to play linebacker and rush the passer.
If the Jaguars do roster six linebackers, the group of players already mentioned could make up this unit.
But in that case, on the outside looking in is seventh-round draft pick Parker Hughes. Although a recent pick, seventh-round selections are never guaranteed roster spots. His immediate impact will also come on special teams, where the Jaguars already have a lot of help at this position.
Yasir Abdullah is fighting to make the team once again as well. But similarly to Hughes, as a core special teams player in the past, the Jaguars aren’t short on help in that area.
There is still a long way to go before these decisions have to be made, with training camp and the preseason ultimately determining what this depth chart looks like.
That said, we can already see that some difficult decisions will have to be made at the linebacker position.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Difficult roster decisions coming at a defensive position for Jaguars
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Jaguars Wire / Jaguars Wire
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By Paul Bretl, Jaguars Wire | USA TODAY Network
