Jaguars 2019 roster outlook: Running back

Now that the Super Bowl has been decided, it means the offseason talk is going to ramp up quickly for teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars. They’ve filled out their coaching staff, which included the hiring of offensive coordinator John DeFilippo. We can now start looking at the roster and trying to figure out what the team is going to have in 2019 and what they could be adding and what positions they’ll want to be adding to.

You can read about the Jaguars salary cap situation right here for now, until the official numbers are released, that’s the best we’ll get.

Next up, we will look at the running back position.

Players under contract in 2019:

Leonard Fournette: Fournette’s career with the Jaguars since being the fourth overall pick has left a lot to be desired. He had an okay season his rookie year, propped up by his ability to punch it in the endzone and the team’s overall success, but his yards per carry number is abysmal even with facing so many stacked boxes. This isn’t even mentioning is his issues off the field which has led to his guarantees being voided and a pair of “suspensions” leading some to think he could be dumped for the right offer. For now, we’ll assume he’s back.

Carlos Hyde: A day late and a dollar short. Hyde was a mid-season pickup for the Jaguars while Fournette was out with a hamstring injury, but it was late in the trade window and Hyde never seemed to get himself going. He’d have a nice run here or there, but overall seemed like punting a fifth-round pick.

Thomas Rawls: Just recently signed as a street free agent, I’d expect Rawls to be on the roster unless he gets hurt or is just flat out awful. The Jaguars gambled keeping only three running backs last season and I don’t think they’ll do that again.

David Williams: Williams was signed off the Denver Broncos practice squad mid-season during the Fournette injury situation but didn’t get a lot of game action. He did look solid in his few carries he got in the season, so I’m actually really interested in seeing him going forward in training camp and preseason.

Potential cap cuts:

Carlos Hyde: Even though the Jaguars used a 2019 fifth-round pick to acquire Hyde, I have a feeling they’re going to just go ahead and chalk it up as a sunk cost and release him this offseason. The team saves $4.7 million by releasing him.

Potential free agent options:

Corey Grant: The Jaguars used a decent designation on Grant when he was an RFA last offseason, but after coming off a season ending foot injury and being a UFA, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Grant re-signed on a one-year deal.

Mark Ingram: If the Jaguars decided to move on from Fournette and ended up trading him, Ingram would be an excellent free agent addition.

Latavius Murray: The Jaguars had interest in him previously, but he opted to go to the Minnesota Vikings. I don’t know how expensive he’d be, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Jaguars try again and go all in on running the ball, especially if they pick a rookie QB in round 1.

Kareem Hunt: It’s the elephant in the room, but it has to be mentioned. There are already reports multiple teams are interested in signing Hunt and he will play in the NFL again, likely for very cheap.

Ameer Abdullah: If the Jaguars are looking to replace the style of back TJ Yeldon was, Abdullah would seem like a great fit.

Alfred Blue: Similar to Murray, he fits the Jaguars style.

Ty Montgomery: Similar to Abdullah, a Yeldon-like replacement.