Projecting Jacksonville Jaguars' Depth Chart After Peak of Free Agency

It's officially April, and as another sheet is ripped off the calendar, the Jacksonville Jaguars are getting closer and closer to the draft, training and eventually the season. And while there is a lot of time before the season and the final roster, the Jaguars' depth chart is already shaping up.

There is still a lot to come that will change the team: free agency, the draft, roster cuts, injuries and more. However, the core of this team has been building for a year or two, and there are some definite starters.

The Jaguars, despite good work in the opening week of free agency, have been relatively quiet as of late. The initial onslaught of players has simmered down to near silence, save for the claiming of Bernard Pierce off waivers on March 19.

Their is still work to be done, and the quietness of free agency leads many, including myself, to think that the Jaguars are going to get their remaining pieces in the draft.

However, before the draft changes up the team and brings fresh talent to Jacksonville, let's break down the current depth chart for the Jaguars.

Quarterback

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

To no one's surprise, Blake Bortles is the starting quarterback. He will get the start Week 1 and the chance to lead the Jaguars for a full season in 2015. 

Bortles is coming off a rocky rookie year, which was expected. However, he's now had in-game NFL experience and time in the offseason to develop and train. As he gets on page with his receivers and begins to take leadership of the offense, the future could be very bright for Bortles.

Chad Henne will back up Bortles as he did for the majority of last season. Having Henne as an experienced backup is everything the Jaguars could ask for. Henne's experience will continue to help Bortles improve and mature in the NFL.

Stephen Morris is still on the active roster at the time of writing, but if anyone's future is in jeopardy, it's that of the third-string QB Morris. Morris was bumped down to the practice squad and then back up to the active roster last season, but Morris just fills the third-string role at the moment.

The Jaguars' QB situation in 2015 will most likely be exactly the same as this past season, which is good. Bortles needs more starts in the NFL, and having Henne and Morris as backups is a solid place to be for the Jaguars.

Running Back

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This may be the most interesting position on the Jaguars roster. The Jaguars have quite the dilemma with multiple backs all vying for the starting job with very little background to establish a starter.

Going off last season, my starter is Denard Robinson. Robinson was the starter for the majority of the games he appeared in last season, before getting injured.

Robinson improved his 3.3 yards per carry in 2013 to 4.3 yards per carry in 2014, and he showed great instincts and decision-making in his sophomore season. With an improved offensive line, Robinson could do big things in 2015.

Behind Robinson, we have Toby Gerhart and Bernard Pierce. Gerhart was one of the big signings of last offseason but sorely disappointed with 3.2 yards per carry and no real sign of being a team's top back.

Pierce was recently claimed off waivers after being released by the Baltimore Ravens. Pierce is a shaky addition to the team due to his recent off-field issues, and I'm not sure where he'll end up, but at the moment, I have him behind Robinson and in a tie with Gerhart.

The situation at running back isn't anywhere near settled, but at this point, my front-runner is Robinson.

Tight End

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The biggest signing of the Dave Caldwell/Gus Bradley era, Julius Thomas is the definite starter at tight end. Thomas has veteran Jaguar Marcedes Lewis hot on his heels this season.

Thomas was a dominant force for the Denver Broncos in 2013 and 2014, bringing down 24 touchdowns and becoming one of Peyton Manning's favorite targets. Thomas will be a huge addition for Bortles especially and will give him a big, reliable target.

Lewis will back up Thomas, and while Lewis has lost a step or two, he's an incredible backup. Lewis can still use his physical frame to muscle defenders and get open, and if Thomas disappoints or gets injured, Lewis is always available.

In distant third and fourth are Clay Harbor and Nic Jacobs. I like Harbor, and Jacobs isn't awful, but I wouldn't expect either to see much playing time, and one of them will most likely not make it through the summer. 

At TE, the Jaguars couldn't be doing much better. The depth at the position is incredible and will be a definite advantage in 2015.

Wide Receiver

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At the current moment, the best phrase to describe the Jaguars' wide receiver corps is "young and talented." The current front-runners are all entering their second year, and while they may not have the experience, they've certainly shown they're capable in the NFL.

The top option in Duval County right now is Allen Robinson. Besides being sidelined for a good part of last season, Robinson had a fantastic rookie year. Through 10 games, Robinson had 48 receptions for 548 yards and two touchdowns, and he will continue to play a big role in 2015.

Allen Hurns is my pick for the second receiver, albeit at the moment. The Jaguars will most likely pick up a receiver in the draft or in free agency, which could shake up the current situation. However, Hurns is a threat at all times, and his speed and ability to create space will most likely keep him at a starter position.

Finally, the third starting receiver is Marqise Lee. Lee showed signs of what people saw at USC, but nagging injuries and unfamiliarity with Bortles and the offense held him back in 2014. If he can work on getting stronger and more consistent, Lee can solidify a starting spot in 2015.

The Jaguars currently have 10 receivers on the roster, but the most notable ones are Ace Sanders, Tandon Doss and recent signing Bryan Walters. All three offer special teams capabilities as well, and while Sanders might see playing time, a new signing would probably rule out Doss and Walters getting any significant playing time.

Offensive Line

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

It was a tough year for the Jaguars offensive line, but 2015 looks a lot brighter. The youngsters have got a few notches on their belt and a newfound veteran presence. I wouldn't expect a complete turnaround from last season, but there should be definite improvement.

The tackle positions are the two most competitive this offseason. Among free-agent signing Jermey Parnell, Luke Joeckel, Austin Pasztor, Brennan Williams and Sam Young, the Jaguars have multiple guys with solid ability.

However, I see Parnell and Pasztor getting the starts for the Jaguars at this point. The Jaguars may be prepared to give Joeckel another chance, but his performances have been mediocre at best. As for Williams and Young, they play the backup roles but are solid depth players should injury occur.

At guard, the depth isn't quite as strong. Brandon Linder and Zane Beadles are definite starters, albeit for different reasons. Beadles can still prove he's worth his money, and Linder was arguably the best part of the line last season. Tyler Shatley is the only backup, which won't be the case as the Jaguars will sign more depth this offseason.

Finally, Luke Bowanko is holding down at center. Like Linder, Bowanko performed above expectations last season, and I'd say that he's rightfully earned his starting spot this season. There is no backup behind Bowanko at the moment, but Beadles and Linder can shift if needed.

The offensive line is continuing to grow and improve, and solid investments and signings are starting to show their worth. Once again, don't expect top-level blocking, but it should be much improved after last season. 

Defensive Line

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

The strongest part of the Jaguars in 2014, the defensive line will have some slight changes in the coming offseason. We've already seen the release of Red Bryant and the signing of Jared Odrick, and there may be changes to come should the Jaguars draft a "Leo" defensive end in the first round.

At the strong-side defensive end, the new addition Odrick is the current starter. Backed by recently re-signed Tyson Alualu, Odrick will be looking to continue the success he found with the Miami Dolphins in Duval County. 

Alualu is a solid backup, and should Odrick slip up, Alualu has shown he can make plays. Competition at another position is more evidence that this team is truly making strides.

On the inside, Roy Miller and Sen'Derrick Marks are the current starters. Marks is coming off a serious ACL injury but should be able to continue to work this offseason and hopefully won't miss a beat.

The duo of Marks and Miller was formidable last season, with Marks leading the team in sacks with 8.5 total and Miller proving he's a beast against the run. Ziggy Hood and Abry Jones are the current backups, and while Jones is a bit stronger than Hood, both are reliable backups.

Finally, at the Leo end position, the current starter is Chris Clemons, but that could change come draft day. Clemons is 33, and while his eight sacks last year are solid, there's no guarantee of that number as he continues to age.

Behind Clemons, Andre Branch is the immediate backup, who's shown spurts of greatness but is not at Clemons' level. Behind Branch is Chris Smith, but a selection on draft day could jeopardize his future with the Jaguars.

The defensive line is changing, but it's still strong. Its members will be the leaders of the defense this upcoming season, and I expect to see continued success.

Linebacker

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The Jaguars linebacker corps has a lot to work for in 2015. There is less competition at the linebacker spots compared to the defensive line, but the starters are all proven and should be able to help the Jaguars considerably in 2015.

At the first outside linebacker spot, Telvin Smith is the current starter. Smith showed in 2014 that his "undersized" stature doesn't affect his ability to make plays, and he was all over the field last season to do so.

The second outside linebacker spot is filled by recent signing Dan Skuta. Skuta had a career-high five sacks in 2014, and after being an important role player for the 49ers, he's ready to come to Jacksonville and take on a new challenge.

The backups, at the moment, are LaRoy Reynolds and Jeremiah George. Reynolds is the more likely of the two to see playing time and was even a Week 1 starter last season. Dependable depth shows itself again for the Jaguars at OLB.

At middle linebacker, the tried-and-true Paul Posluszny will take on his fifth season as a Jaguar. Poz is a leader, first and foremost, and having him back after an injury-plagued 2014 will restore some leadership to this linebacker group.

There still may be some changes and additions, but they'll most likely be for depth more than anything else. Smith, Poz and Skuta make a formidable three, and it'll be fun to watch them in 2015.

Cornerback

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

The corner position has been one of the youngest spots on the Jaguars roster and may continue to be should Davon House struggle to break into the team. The Jaguars have a lot of decisions to make regarding the corner spots, but here are the initial front-runners.

There are a lot of things that will eventually decide the spots, but the initial starters are Aaron Colvin and Demetrius McCray. Colvin really started to take strides toward the end of last season, and McCray was one of the Jaguars' most reliable players.

Behind Colvin and McCray—and not very far behind at that—are Davon House and Dwayne Gratz. Both are good, dependable corners, but going off last season's performance, Colvin and McCray have earned their spots. Jeremy Harris is in the third-string spot and will be an experienced option.

There is a lot of time before the final roster is decided, but no matter who the starters end up being, the Jaguars can be happy to say they have options at corner.

Safety

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Another extremely young group has been given the gift of an experienced member. 2014 was a rough year for all of the safeties, but with a couple of changes, there could be some big strides toward improvement.

The current starters are Johnathan Cyprien and Josh Evans. Evans and Cyprien had a rough time in 2014, but with the veteran presence of Sergio Brown, they can still look to learn a few things.

Brown and Craig Loston will be the primary backups, with Brown taking a more significant role. Brown will be the veteran leader of the safeties and an example for the entire secondary. 

The Jaguars' safety group, while not too different from last season, looks like it'll be much improved in 2015. We'll have to wait and see.

Punter

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At punter, the Jaguars have their starter and their backup in Bryan Anger and Kasey Redfern respectively.

Anger is entering his fourth season in the NFL and with the Jaguars, and he has been the top option since being selected in the third round in the 2012 NFL draft. Anger's punts have been solid, but coverage was weak in 2014.

Redfern is the backup and a talented young punter, but I don't see him getting anywhere near the field unless Anger gets an unlikely injury.

Kicker

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The one, the only Josh Scobee.

Scobee is one of the oldest members on the current roster and is the all-time leading scorer. This upcoming season may be his "swan song," but as long as he continues to make 50-yard field goals, he'll always have a place on the Jaguars.

However, there are two young backups who are ready to pounce. Jason Myers and Derek Dimke are entering their sophomore year, and if Scobee shows any sign of slowing down, they'll be waiting to break into the starting lineup.

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The Jaguars have a long way to go before the final roster is decided, but the questions and debate over who starts where and over whom are a good thing.

There is legit, real competition on the Jaguars' depth chart right now, and that's something the Jaguars haven't had in a couple of years. The rebuilding isn't over, but the progress is apparent in the depth chart.

As the team continues to grow and change for the better, this competition is going to grow as well. The atmosphere in Duval County is a hopeful one, and after a look at the depth chart, you can see why. 

There's no telling if the results will come this year, but there's definitely progress being made in Jacksonville, and it's making the wait to the regular season that much harder. 

All stats were provided by ESPN.com, unless otherwise stated.

Evan Reier is a member of Bleacher Report's APSM program. Follow Evan on Twitter at @evanreier.