[Chart last updated 7/4/14]
Notes
• Should Jaguars fans be concerned about that offensive line? While we've seen plenty of offensive tackles take a big step forward in their second year, something which should give hope after Luke Joeckel's early struggles, the rest of the line is still a major concern. Only new starting guard Zane Beadles is considered an average starter or better, and there aren't any backups to get excited about to replace anyone just yet.
• Chris Clemons might not be a top pass rusher anymore but, as we saw in the Super Bowl, he can still be a very effective defensive end on his day. Coupled with Red Bryant, the Jaguars have added two talented linemen from Seattle this offseason.
• Cecil Shorts probably doesn't get the credit he deserves from most and, despite some injury troubles last year, he's a decent receiver to have around. The problem for the Jaguars, though, especially with Justin Blackmon unlikely to feature this season, is that there aren't any other proven receivers on the roster. That's definitely a concern when you are likely to see a rookie quarterback starting for at least part of the season.
• Safety John Cyprien finished the year with a grade of -17.4, so why exactly is he an average starter? Well, as much as he struggled early in the year, he improved drastically in the second half, grading out at +1.1 in the final eight games.
Roster Battles
1. Quarterback
The most obvious battle in Jacksonville this season is who starts the season under center. They made a point of bringing back Chad Henne despite his struggles last year, but drafted Blake Bortles with the third overall pick in the draft. It's clear that this is Bortles' job long term, the bigger question is how long Henne can hold him off.
2. Backup Running Back
After signing him in free agency, the Jaguars expect Toby Gerhart to be their feature back in 2014, but what about behind him on the depth chart? Jordan Todman saw 76 carries last year but, averaging just 3.4 yards per carry, didn't do much to get you excited, while Denard Robinson forced just one missed tackle from 20 carries but fumbled three times. The wild card here is rookie Storm Johnson and, while he may have been drafted in the seventh round, could easily pass Todman and Robinson with a strong preseason.
3. Center
With Brad Meester retiring at the end of the 2013 season, the Jaguars find themselves looking for a new starting center for the first time in a long time. The favorite for the job right now looks to be Mike Brewster, however, his work at guard in his first two seasons will definitely give Jaguars fans cause for concern. Behind him it's the untested Patrick Lewis and rookie Luke Bowakno, and as much as Brewster has struggled, we've haven't seen any of either of those two to judge whether or not they would be a better option.
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