Which Jaguars' Rookies Have the Clearest Paths to Playing Time in 2020: No. 12-10
Entering the 2020 NFL season, the Jacksonville Jaguars are set to be a team of youth.
They have young core starters at quarterback, offensive tackle, wide receiver, defensive line and the secondary, and most of the team's elders from the last several seasons (Calais Campbell, A.J. Bouye, Marqise Lee) are no longer on the roster.
Add in the largest draft class in franchise history with 12 rookies, and the Jaguars are set to lean on their young talent throughout the entirety of this upcoming season as they hope to improve from last year's 6-10 record.
So as the Jaguars depend on their historically large draft class to help them turn around their fortunes, which rookies have the best chance to find the playing field early? We take things into consideration such as the likely depth chart, draft position, role, NFL ready ability and more.
In this edition, we look at the No. 12 through No. 10 rookies in our rankings of clearest paths to playing times, which are the three rookies we think are least likely to see extensive snaps in 2020.
No. 12: QB Jake Luton
With the No. 189 overall pick in the sixth round of April's draft, the Jaguars pulled the trigger on selecting Oregon State quarterback Jake Luton, their third-consecutive sixth-round pick used on a quarterback following Tanner Lee in 2018 and Gardner Minshew II in 2019.
In 2019, the 6-foot-6 signal-caller three 28 touchdowns to just three interceptions, putting him on NFL radars and landing him a spot at the NFLPA all-star game. Combine this solid regular season and offseason with his traits, and it became clear why the Jaguars had an interest in him.
“We liked his size, we liked his release, his arm strength. Bigger body. And we really liked the way he threw the ball at the NFLPA game, at the all-star game he was at," general manager Dave Caldwell said after the draft. "We felt like he has got some upside. He is 6’6”, 200-and 40 some odd pounds, and moves well in the pocket. We just felt like with those traits and what he could offer that he could come in and compete for a spot on this roster.”
Luton won't be walking into the same situation Minshew did last season, however. Minshew was drafted to be Nick Foles' backup (pending the Jaguars didn't sign a veteran to take the No. 2 spot), while Luton is entering a much different depth chart. Jacksonville already has Minshew, Josh Dobbs and Mike Glennon in the quarterback room, so Luton is likely going to land on the practice squad or, at best, as the No. 3 quarterback. He won't see the field unless there is a long string of injuries at quarterback.
No. 11: OL Ben Bartch
One of the most physically talented members of Jacksonville's draft class, offensive guard Ben Bartch has one of the toughest paths to playing time among all of the team's rookies, though that was likely always going to be the case with the former tight end and offensive tackle.
Bartch, a D-III lineman who was a tight end in 2016 and 2017,was picked in the fourth round with the No. 116 pick. The pick made Bartch the first player from the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference to be drafted since Ryan Hoag was selected by the Raiders with the final pick of the 2003 NFL Draft, making Bartch a rare case. He is both inexperienced and coming from a smaller level of competition, though his talent and upside are obvious.
"So when that happens with these small-school guys – and a couple years back there was a player, an interior offensive lineman, that Tampa took and he’s played well and he’s done a really nice job for Tampa. We kind of feel like this player has a very, very high ceiling and can come in and compete at multiple spots for us along the offensive line," Caldwell said following the draft in reference to Bartch and Buccaneers guard Ali Marpet.
Barth will be playing right guard in 2020 and chances are he will have to wait and bide his time behind A.J. Cann before he is thrown into the fray as a starter. The Jaguars used a platoon at guard last year with Cann and Will Richardson, but Richardson wasn't quite as raw as Bartch. Factor in Cann's level of experience (79 career starts counting postseason), and it is hard to see Bartch playing much as a rookie.
No. 10: LB Shaquille Quarterman
One of the most productive college linebackers over the last four years, Jacksonville native Shaquille Quarterman was drafted by the Jaguars because of his toughness, durability, consistency and leadership ability. He should be featured on special teams as a rookie and be looked at as one of the locker room's leaders once he earns his stripes, and it is already evident the Jaguars are high on their fourth-round (No. 140 overall) pick.
“I like him. You put on the tape and watch him and he’s going around making plays. He’s a guy that really loves football," head coach Doug Marrone said after the draft. "I started watching him and I started thinking about some players that I have been involved with on other teams that we drafted from the University of Miami. You dig a little deeper, you see a guy that had great leadership. I believe he was a defensive player of the year. He’s got everything you’re looking for. I’m sure he’s going to have a great opportunity to compete."
But despite Quarterman having a ton of traits the Jaguars were looking for in a linebacker, it is hard to envision him getting extensive snaps in the base defense. It is through no fault of his own, however, and is the result of Jacksonville's big-money addition into inside linebacker Joe Schobert this offseason. Schobert is one of the team's highest-paid defenders after signing a five-year, $53.75 million contract which included $12 million signing bonus and $21.5 million guaranteed.
So while Quarterman is talented and will get his chance eventually, 2020 may be more of a transition season for the productive and thumping middle linebacker simply due to Schobert's presence.
