Jaguars Preseason Stock Report

Which players stocks are up, and which are down?

With the 2019 preseason nearing its conclusion and the regular season fast approaching, players throughout the Jaguars roster are working to make final impressions on team brass.

 Some players, whether they are undrafted free agents in their first year or free agents new to the team, have begun to carve out roles for themselves. Others, meanwhile, have struggled due to high expectations or injury woes, and hope to turn it around when the games start to matter.

 So, after weeks of practice and several preseason games, which Jaguars players stocks are rising and which are falling entering the final stretch of the preseason? 

Stock Up:

The young defensive backs: Running down the list of young and hungry players in the Jacksonville Jaguars secondary who have impressed this preseason is no easy task. Second-year safety C.J. Reavis gave up a touchdown in the second preseason game vs the Eagles, but he has otherwise looked like a future starter in the backend, showing good development from last season. He is a lock for the roster, likely as the team's third safety.

Reavis has not been the long young bright spot in the secondary this preseason. Second-year cornerback Breon Borders has shown impressive physicality and coverage ability, while Appalachian State rookie cornerback Tae Hayes has made several plays each preseason game. Both Borders and Hayes are going to make it a tough call for Jaguars brass when it comes down to cuts.

WR Chris Conley: While it remains to be seen how effective Chris Conley’s and Nick Foles’ relationship will be when the real games begin, there is no disputing the two have been a prolific duo through the Jaguars’ training camp. 

Conley entered the NFL as a height/weight/speed marvel and occasionally found himself on highlight reels during his four seasons as a Kansas City Chief before signing with Jacksonville this offseason to reunite with Foles, a former Chief teammate. There have been several displays of Foles and Conley connecting deep down the field, which was missing from the Jaguars’ offense last season. If Conley can continue his hot hand, he could find himself with a sizeable role during the regular season.

DL Datone Jones: Like Conley, Jones is a first-year Jaguar who cut his teeth for other teams in the past. A first round selection for the Green Bay Packers in 2013, Jones struggled to find a consistent role due to his defensive tackle/defensive end tweener status and only totaled nine sacks during his four seasons there.

Jones had little fanfare when he joined Jacksonville’s loaded defensive line, but he has done more to make a name for himself than any other bubble player in the front seven. Both during preseason games and in practice, Jones has shown the ability to play inside and out in the Calais Campbell role, indicating he may have finally found a defensive scheme to shine in. He is not a lock to make the roster, but he would be a tough player to cut.

Stock Down:

DT Taven Bryan: Jaguars 2018 first round draft pick Taven Bryan has had the opposite of Jones’ experience so far this preseason. Regarded as a raw project coming out of the University of Florida who was drafted highly due to his top-notch athleticism, Bryan has failed so far to flip the switch in his development.

Despite a lackluster rookie season where he struggled to make an impact, Bryan was pegged this offseason as the likely replacement for Malik Jackson at three-technique defensive tackle. So far, he has done little in the preseason to instill confidence as he has struggled mightily with his awareness and has had several lowlights as a run defender.

CB Quenton Meeks: When discussing the Jaguars secondary entering training camp, second-year cornerback Quenton Meeks was a name commonly thrown around. This came after a rookie year where Meeks was thrown into the lineup and impressed at various points.

Meeks’ second year as a Jaguar has started off much less smoothly, however. Reports from training camp practices are that Meeks has had consistent struggles with the Jaguars speedier receivers like Chris Conley, and he appears to have fallen behind Borders and Hayes in the team’s eyes as they continue to get more early game reps.

OT Cedric Ogbuehi: Like Datone Jones on the other side of the ball, offensive tackle Cedric Ogbuehi is a former first round pick who is looking to revive his career. After falling out of favor in Cincinnati, the former 2015 draft selection arrived in Jacksonville to provide insurance for injured left tackle Cam Robinson.

Through three preseason games and over a dozen training camp practices, Ogbuehi has looked more or less how he looked as a Bengal —a poor pass blocker who struggles with the strength and speed of pass rushers. Robinson looks to be on track to start week 1, but the Jaguars can’t feel too confident in Ogbuehi as their back up plan.