NFL teams experience turnover on a yearly basis because of salary cap rules. However, the Jacksonville Jaguars underwent more changes than usual in 2025 because they cleaned house, and the new regime made an effort in the offseason to raise the team's ceiling and floor.
Following the roster overhaul, nearly all position groups are in much better shape. But with the infusion of depth and talent, a few players the past regime brought in may no longer be around next season. In fact, Hays Carlyon of 1010 believes two members of the Jags' 2022 draft class won't make the cut.
Carlyon projected how the 53-man roster could look come Week 1 and doesn't expect center Luke Fortner and linebacker Chad Muma to crack the team. Regarding the former, he thinks there won't be room for him and sophomore offensive tackle Javon Foster.
"Fortner and Foster are still on rookie contracts as recent draft picks, but I expect both will be released," Carlyon wrote. "It's amazing how much turnover there has been in this offense and especially the offensive line. Only four of the 10 here were on last year's team. Of the 25 offensive players I have making the 53, 14 are in their first year with the Jaguars."
On the other hand, Carlyon opines that the addition of veteran Dennis Gardeck and rookie Jalen McLeod makes Muma expendable.
"Gardeck and McLeod can also help at defensive end in passing situations. Muma will need a strong camp to have a chance and my bet is he doesn't make it," Carlyon said.
Both Muma and Fortner were taken in the third round of the 2022 draft. The Jags made seven picks that year, and two (running back Snoop Conner and Gregory Junior) have already been cut. Looking back, this might've been former general manager Trent Baalke's worst class during his four-year stint in Jacksonville.
Travon Walker has been fine, but Jacksonville surely expects him to take the next step in 2025. Linebacker Devin Lloyd has been up and down throughout his career and is entering a contract year. There's also cornerback Montaric Brown, who's seen ample playing time and has had a strong offseason. But outside those three, the Jags don't have much to show for their 2022 class.
Why Luke Fortner and Chad Muma may not be with the Jaguars in 2025
All things considered, it's easy to see why Luke Fortner may be on the bubble. He showed promise as a rookie but failed to improve in his sophomore campaign. In fact, the former Kentucky Wildcat struggled so badly that the team's brass brought in Mitch Morse to start at center.
Morse retired earlier this year, and if Jacksonville were confident in Fortner, it wouldn't have signed Robert Hainsey in free agency. Couple that with the addition of Jonah Monheim, and Fortner could be on his way out. On a related note, Javon Foster, a fourth-round pick in last year's draft, was underwhelming in 2024. He was a healthy scratch throughout most of his rookie campaign, and the arrival of Fred Johnson, along with the return of Cole Van Lanen, might've sealed his fate.
Like Foster and Fortner, Chad Muma also faces an uphill battle. He replaced fellow linebacker Devin Lloyd as a rookie, but a knee injury forced him to miss time. The former Iowa Hawkeye also got playing time in 2023 but failed to make the most out of his playing time. From there, it was downhill for him, as Ventrell Miller passed him on the depth chart last season.
Things will only get tougher for Muma with the arrival of Jack Kiser, Jalen McLeod, and Dennis Gardeck.
Ultimately, Fortner and Muma haven't done enough to make you think that they'll be able to help the Jaguars next season. For that reason, nobody will bat an eye if either (or both) fail to make the cut.
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