With minicamp behind us, let’s break down the Jacksonville Jaguars’ roster through a different lens.
In this series, we will be going position-by-position and placing each player into one of three categories — are they a lock to make the team, likely to make the team, or on the bubble and fighting for a role?
What this exercise can do is help bring into focus how many roster spots are actually available this summer, along with highlighting who may be on the outside and looking in.
Up next are the linebackers.
Roster locks (4): Foye Oluokun, Dennis Gardeck, Ventrell Miller, Jack Kiser
Oluokun, Gardeck, and Miller are expected to be the Jaguars’ starting linebacker trio when in their base 4-3 alignment. Kiser was a fourth-round pick last year who was a core special teams contributor and could emerge as Oluokun’s backup in 2026.
Probably makes the team (1): Branson Combs
I don’t quite have Combs as a 100%, no-doubt roster lock, but I certainly think he makes the team. The coaching staff has spoken incredibly highly of him this offseason, and to go along with his contributions on defense, he could earn a backup role defensively.
On the bubble (3): Jalen McLeod, Parker Hughes, Yasir Abdullah
I wrote recently about the difficult decisions that the Jaguars will have to make at linebacker during roster cutdowns. If they keep just five, then the roster may nearly be set already. If the team goes heavy and keeps six linebackers, then there is one spot up for grabs for these three players.
With McLeod’s ability to both play linebacker and rush the passer from the defensive end position, he could have the upper hand as a natural backup for Gardeck. Special teams play will be a differentiator for these players.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars roster breakdown: Who’s a lock, on the bubble at linebacker
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Jaguars Wire / Jaguars Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Paul Bretl, Jaguars Wire | USA TODAY Network
