Jaguars 2024 state of the roster: Cornerbacks

Did the Jaguars do enough to bolster a weak group this offseason?

For this week’s analysis of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ roster, we have the biggest position group on the team: the cornerbacks. This group has certainly seen its fair share of scrutiny from the team’s collapse last year and lack of marquee additions this offseason.

The Jags will be rolling out Tyson Campbell in a contract year, after an injury-plagued 2023. He will be flanked by veteran free agent addition Ronald Darby, whose Madden card in 2016 might have been a good add for your team.

Nothing about this position group will be flashy, but there is solid reasoning that says they can get it done. If the new-look defense under Ryan Nielson is as good as believed, the corners should thrive in the same way Nielson’s did last year in Atlanta.

Tyson Campbell

Contract: 4 years, $9,015,105. Cap hit of $4,195,110 for 2024. In final year of deal.

Age: 24 (25 in March).

Games Played: 43 through three seasons with Jacksonville.

Stats: Six career interceptions. Thirty career pass breakups. One career touchdown.

Notes:

It always feels weird to say someone should forget an entire season, but for Campbell, that should be considered. Campbell was having a solid year in 2023 before injuries hampered him in November. After that, he was picked on and overall just looked out of character. He was a guy who logged career highs in picks (three) and pass breakups (15) the year prior and might have been on the cusp of getting paid early. Now, we will have to see what the Jags have in Campbell post-injuries. Conventional wisdom would have you assuming Campbell goes back to his 2022 self, and for the Jags’ sake, they need him to. When healthy, Campbell is a top-10 or so corner in the game: see his 2023 season opener against the Indianapolis Colts.

Ronald Darby

Contract: 2 years, $8,500,000. Cap hit of $3,500,000 for 2024.

Age: 30 (31 in January).

Games Played: 105 since 2015 for Denver, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington and Buffalo.

Stats: Eight career interceptions. 97 career pass breakups. 401 total tackles.

Notes:

That shot at Darby earlier was unnecessary but it is true. He was a beast on Madden Mobile. Moving to the present day, Darby along with Green Bay’s Darnell Savage were the two keep additions to the secondary this offseason along with a pair of rookies. At least for this upcoming season, Darby will start outside opposite of Campbell and be the veteran go-between guy as the Jags look to find their corner(s) of the future. Darby had a productive year last season with the Baltimore Ravens, breaking up seven passes which was his most since 2020. The veteran – somewhat randomly – was also sixth in the league in passer rating and had the lowest average target separation (0.9 yards). Inarguably, the Jags could have done worse with this addition.

Montaric Brown

Contract: 4 years, $3,775,980. Cap hit of $1,013,995 for 2024.

Age: 24 (25 in August).

Games Played: 20 across two seasons with Jacksonville.

Stats: 25 tackles last season, four passes defended.

Notes:

One of the guys who played big minutes last year due to injury was Montaric Brown. A largely forgettable draft pick before last season Brown, and guys like Gregory Junior, were hanging on the fringe of the roster. Brown had his big moment in back-to-back starts against Indianapolis and New Orleans. His two PBUs against the Saints helped save the day and earn his team a win. From that point on, his roster spot was sealed as a capable backup. If Darby or Campbell get hurt, Brown has shown he can more than step in and keep things afloat.

Gregory Junior

Contract: 2 years, $1,575,000. Cap hit of $985,000 for 2024. In final year of deal.

Age: 24 (25 in June).

Games Played: 10 across two seasons with Jacksonville.

Stats: Seven tackles, one pass defended last year.

Notes:

Much like Brown, Junior’s name got called a bit in 2023 due to injuries. He wasn’t as needed and often dealt with his own injuries, but still made an impact and maybe even a future contract. At nickel, he will probably be fighting for minutes behind Savage with rookie Jarrian Jones, but he does have the game experience leg up in that regard. Junior had solid showings against Cincinnati and Cleveland last year and proved to be a fine replacement player. If Jones is as good as people think though, Junior might hardly see the field.

Darnell Savage

Contract: 3 years, $21,750,000. Cap hit of $2,794,110 for 2024.

Age: 26 (27 in July).

Games Played: 72 across five seasons with Green Bay.

Stats: Nine career interceptions. 32 career pass breakups. 302 total tackles.

Notes:

The team’s starting nickel, Savage looks to be a solid addition. He will be moving from safety to the nickel position in 2024, but it is a designed change and one that should put Savage in a lot of interesting spots. He will play down on the line, back with the linebackers and even deep. The Jags needed a versatile player and got one. The below clip gives you all the best attributes Savage brings to a team.

Jarrian Jones

Contract: 4 years, $5,596,312. Cap hit of $1,017,511 for 2024.

Age: 23 (24 in May).

Games Played: Rookie. 44 games played at Florida State.

Stats: 25 tackles, five tackles for loss, three interceptions with one returned for touchdown, three pass breakups last season.

Notes:

Potentially drafted as the corner of the future, Jaguars fans should be plenty excited about Jones. He was a standout defender for one of the nation’s best teams and tested well at the combine. He ran a 4.38 40 and had a 39.5-inch vertical leap. Jones showed the ability to come down and make tackles while also being handsy enough with receivers to disrupt passes. Jones was an Honorable Mention All-ACC player last year. He might end up just being a good nickel corner, but that should be considered a huge win for the team if so.

De’Antre Prince

Contract: 4 years, $4,352,228. Cap hit of $878,057 for 2024.

Age: 23 (24 in October).

Games Played: Rookie. 56 games in college career.

Stats: 36 tackles, five tackles for loss with one sack, one interception, five pass breakups, one forced fumble last season at Ole Miss.

Notes:

Another rookie, Prince will play on the outside if his number ever gets called. With weak depth at corner, Prince could even compete for the backup role alongside Brown. He started for the most part of the last three years in Oxford and had 11 pass breakups in 2022. He also ran a 4.38 40 with almost identical size to Jones. The Jags might be in trouble if he plays right away, but with some maturity and knowledge after a year or two could have found a steal in the fifth round.

Tevaughn Campbell

Contract: 1 year, $1,125,000. Cap hit of $985,000 for 2024. No dead cap hit if cut.

Age: 31 (32 in June).

Games Played: 35 across three seasons with Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville.

Stats: Three tackles last season in Jacksonville.

Notes:

Now we are getting to the bottom of the depth chart. Campbell will likely be a non-factor in 2024, after being elevated from the practice squad late last year. Injuries should regress more towards the mean this season, leaving the team without a need for so many corners to be rostered. Campbell has veteran experience, but there is a reason he has been a fringe guy his whole career.

Tre Flowers

Contract: 1 year, $1,125,000. Cap hit of $985,000 for 2024. No dead cap hit if cut.

Age: 30 (31 in August).

Games Played: 90 across seven seasons with Cincinnati, Seattle, Atlanta.

Stats: Four career interceptions, 22 passes defended. 283 total tackles.

Notes:

About a month ago, the team signed both Terrell Edmunds and Tre Flowers to help bolster the defense. The thinking here is that since Flowers played under Nielson last year, he can be a good short-term replacement for injury and a guy to help coach the others along with the scheme. Especially given his year with the Falcons last season (21 tackles and two PBUs in a limited role) it cannot hurt to have Flowers around.

Amani Oruwariye

Contract: 1 year, $1,125,000. Cap hit of $985,000 for 2024. No dead cap hit if cut.

Age: 28 (29 in February).

Games Played: 53 across four seasons with Detroit. On the Giants practice squad in 2023.

Stats: Nine interceptions, 24 passes defended. 173 total tackles.

Notes:

Amani Oruwariye’s best season was in 2021, since then, he has played just 14 games and didn’t play at all last year. There is likely no reason to think Oruwariye plays in 2024.