Jaguars assistant GM Ethan Waugh discusses roster, edge position ahead of OTA's

After the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Brian Thomas Jr. in the 2024 NFL Draft last month, general manager Trent Baalke revealed assistant general manager Ethan Waugh was impressed with Thomas’ speed and had an up-close look at him during the NFL Combine in early March.

Waugh expounded on those comments last week during a media availability at Jacksonville’s rookie minicamp.

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Waugh said even though each team at the Combine has a suite they can watch from, he felt like he couldn’t see players from the Jaguars'.

So he made his way down to the field and sat near the starting line. When he came back to the suite, his report was positive for the talented LSU receiver.

“When you're that close you can feel them get out of the blocks,” Waugh said. “You see a guy that's 6-foot-3, he's over 200 pounds and really exploding out with not just speed but power, and you can feel that when you're that close, and maybe you can't further away.”

Waugh discussed Thomas in addition to several other topics during his availability. Here are some of the takeaways:

The Jaguars feel good about protecting Trevor Lawrence this year, details renovated offensive line

A major point of emphasis for the front office going into the offseason was stabilizing Jacksonville’s offensive line.

Injuries and subpar play up front hampered the team throughout the season and made it one of the biggest areas in need of improvement.

The team returned starting right tackle Anton Harrison, re-worked right guard Brandon Scherff’s contract and re-signed left guard Ezra Cleveland, who they traded for during the season.

They also return left tackle Cam Robinson and swing tackle Walker Little as a depth player while re-signing Tyler Shatley this offseason.

The Jaguars added veteran center Mitch Morse via free agency and drafted Missouri’s Javon Foster as swing tackle.

The moves give them confidence that they'll be able to better protect Trevor Lawrence this year, after he suffered a string of injuries late last season.

“We feel like we have a great quarterback in Trevor,” Waugh said. “Obviously, protecting him is key in keeping him upright and giving him the time to make his plays with his arm, make the receivers, allow them to make plays.”

Waugh evaluates state of roster after draft, free agency

Aside from the offensive line, the Jaguars entered the offseason with question marks in several positions. They cut cornerback Darious Williams, safety Rayshawn Jenkins and defensive lineman Foley Fatukasi, creating even more question marks in those positions.

But through free agency and the draft, the Jaguars have bolstered the team’s roster and added pieces that should improve them.

They signed Arik Armstead in free agency while also adding Darnell Savage, Gabe Davis, Ronald Darby and Devin Duvernay.

The team drafted nine players, going heavy on defense by drafting two corners and three defensive linemen, and re-signed several core players to their roster.

“We were fortunate enough in free agency that we didn't pigeonhole ourselves in the draft in terms of having to take a specific position,” Waugh said. “We were able to take the best player or the player that we thought could help our team the most.”

Now the Jaguars will try to mesh all the new additions into the team over the next several months. Through minicamps and organized team activities, and training camp later, players will compete for starting roles.

Those are good problems to have, according to Waugh.

“We feel that there is, that there will be, competition at almost every spot,” he said. “Glaring holes, that's probably in the eye of the beholder, but I think we have pretty good depth at most spots.”

Team still working through edge rusher position, need to find depth on the roster

Josh Allen was franchise tagged by the team this offseason, but they’ve already worked out a deal with the talented pass rusher to tie him down long-term.

Former No. 1 overall draft pick Travon Walker took a leap last season, recording double-digit sacks and showing his growth.

The team has made other defensive line moves but one of the biggest question marks still remaining can be found in the depth behind Walker and Allen.

The team didn’t give K’Lavon Chaisson a new contract this offseason and second-year player Yasir Abdullah is changing to a SAM linebacker under defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen’s scheme.

The team didn’t use an early pick to draft an edge and didn’t make any splash signing in free agency, so over the next few months the depth edge positions are up in the air.

“We added Trevis Gipson, we had some guys there. We have some guys that were on the practice squad previously, DJ Coleman types. Yasir Abdullah is playing the SAM spot, which is really kind of an edge rusher too at times,” Waugh said. “What we want to do is see those guys fight it out and develop.

“I think you do really need to come up with four edge rushers if you want to play at a Super Bowl level, and finding guys that can affect the quarterback in waves is really key to what we're trying to do.”

Juston Lewis is a Jacksonville Jaguars beat reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on the website formerly known as Twitter at @JustonLewis_.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars assistant GM Ethan Waugh talks offseason moves