(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
The depth at the slot receiver position assures a very lively competition during training camp.
On the outside, one receiver who stood out during early camps was Nate Hughes. A practice squad player who came into the league with Cleveland, Hughes showed nice ball skills making several difficult catches, showing nice athletic ability in the process.
It may not be enough for him to crack the final roster, but the Jaguars like what they have seen from him so far this offseason. Jack Del Rio singled him out late last month when he discussed the outstanding offseason that Hughes has enjoyed so far.
It never hurts to get an endorsement from your boss at this level.
The forgotten man for the Jaguars has to be Troy Williamson. The speedy receiver and former first round pick has been quiet this offseason after struggling last year with hamstring issues that slowed his progress in his first season with the Jaguars. He will have to fight to keep his roster spot with young talent on the roster poised to push him as a receiver and return specialist.
Williamson was widely considered a disappointment in Minnesota. When the Jaguars acquired him last season, they landed a player with tremendous upside if he could jump start his career. That did not happen, but injuries contributed significantly to his difficulty.
When he was healthy early last year, he was showing no signs of the issues that plagued him in Minnesota with dropped passes. Unfortunately, because he was limited, the Jaguars never got to take advantage of his field stretching speed.
He is still a young player by NFL standards, and the Jaguars will certainly give him every opportunity to earn a roster spot. With a lack of depth on the outside, Williamson's 4.34 speed is going to be a major appeal for the Jaguars. If he can stay healthy and prove his pass catching ability consistently, he may remind people of what it was that landed him in the first round of the 2005 draft.
Aside from the two starting positions, the battle for roster spots among wide receivers is going to be one of the more entertaining to keep an eye on during the offseason.
Whether the veterans on the roster can hold off the younger players fighting for a shot at making the active roster represents a major challenge for the players, and a golden opportunity for the team. No matter what happens, the receiving corps can only be better than it was in 2008.
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