Jaguars first unofficial depth chart has a few surprises

The Jacksonville Jaguars released their first unofficial depth chart of the 2019 season the week leading up to their first preseason game on Thursday, against the Baltimore Ravens. The team traveled to Baltimore for a series of joint practices, starting Monday afternoon, prior to Thursday’s game.

I went over the unofficial depth chart this morning, and here are a few of my thoughts. You can view the full depth chart here.

Depth Chart Observations

• It’s weird to see Marqise Lee still listed as a starter at receiver and I sincerely hope that they don’t just push him right into the lineup as a starter. They did that two years ago when Allen Hurns came back from injury and I felt like it really cut the legs out from guys like Keelan Cole and Dede Westbrook who were just finding their groove. Lee isn’t cleared yet and I don’t expect him to be full go for a few weeks, but I’m hopeful they will ease him in instead of just outright installing him as the starter.
• While Cedric Ogbuehi is listed as the starting right tackle, it’s only a matter of time before it’s second round pick Jawaan Taylor starting. By all accounts Taylor has been fantastic in training camp and Doug Marrone likes to make guys earn their spot. It’s the same thing he did with Cam Robinson as a rookie.
• The more interesting things on the offensive line are the fact that Will Richardson has seemingly been moved to right guard and Leonard Wester is pushing Josh Wells as the backup left tackle. Wester will be someone to watch on Thursday in game action.
• To no one’s surprise Yannick Ngakoue is a starter at right end over rookie Josh Allen. Even if Josh Allen was tearing it up all camp, and by all accounts he’s been as advertised, Ngakoue was always going to walk into the lineup as a starter and he should. He’s the proven vet and Allen will be better served not having to start as a rookie, putting him in spots to succeed as a pass rusher.
• Seventh round draft pick Dontavius Russell is listed as the co-backup at the nose tackle position and from the sounds of it he could push long time backup Eli Ankou off the roster. It’s likely going to be a battle between him and Russell for the backup job.
• It’s going to look tough for former third round pick Dawuane Smoot to make the roster it seems, as he’s third on the depth chart at left end and Datone Jones seems to have found a role as the backup at the left end position.
• Despite his injury third round pick Quincy Williams is listed as the starter at weakside linebacker and I am told be people who’ve been watching that the competition wasn’t even really ever close. He was far and away the best guy at the spot and had been impressive in camp as a rookie.
• Former San Diego Chargers and San Francisco linebacker Jame Onwualu is listed as the co-starter at strongside linebacker with second year man Leon Jacobs with Jack Ryan listed as the backup. I still wonder if Ryan would not have been the starter if he’d not had a setback with his ACL injury. The linebacker spots as a whole are going to be real interesting to watch.
• No real surprises in the secondary, but the name to watch in Thursday’s game will be Breon Borders, who has made plays all training camp.