Jacksonville Jaguars: Ranking Remaining Offseason Priorities

With the major events of the offseason behind the Jacksonville Jaguars, the goal now is to become as ready as possible for the regular season. There are things to prioritize before it begins, and the better the Jaguars are prepared for the season, the better they will do.

It takes both individual effort and team cohesion to reach that goal, and luckily for the Jaguars, head coach Gus Bradley and general manager Dave Caldwell are handling the team cohesion part of that equation.

As the team begins to zero in on what will be a great opportunity for it to prove itself and make the progress it needs to, it's important to realize what it has to do to get to that point.

To determine which priority was most important, it was first crucial to add up the needs and responsibilities. Each individual item was ranked not only according to its importance to the team this season, but also to how important it might be for the future.

The ranking is just an opinion about what the Jaguars have to focus on before the season begins. But it's important to realize that each thing listed is vital and that the order of the ranking is a personal preference.

For the Jaguars, reaching that point involves following a process on the practice field and in the locker room. Maintaining the mentality that has flourished the past couple of seasons is crucial, but so is making sure the team understands the direction it is headed on the field.

We may see a new style of play from the Jaguars and not just offensively with new offensive coordinator Greg Olsen. The defense is evolving as well, and the team is changing as a whole.

The season is still a summer and some change away, and while it's hard for us to wait, the team itself has plenty of time to find its ever-changing identity. Hopefully that can translate into results on the field.

With the intro out of the way, let's look at the Jaguars' remaining offseason priorities.

7. Selecting the Last CB (or 2)

Gary McCullough/Associated Press

The top four corners are all but set, but there are one or two crucial depth positions the Jags need to determine this offseason. It's a competitive position, and performance in practice can typically determine the pecking order.

Demetrius McCray, Aaron Colvin, Davon House and Dwayne Gratz are the top four corners, and it seems their spots are locked in. However, there is still a starting spot, possibly two, for the remaining corners to work their way into.

Here are the remaining corners battling for a spot:

• Tommie Campbell
• Jeremy Harris
• Nick Marshall
• Rashaad Reynolds
• Peyton Thompson

Out of the remaining five, my front-runners are Jeremy Harris and Nick Marshall. Harris is a great depth option, and his experience on the field and with the Jaguars may be what gives him a roster spot in 2015.

As for Marshall, the story is much different. He was a popular QB at Auburn, but he is now trying his hand at corner to try to earn his way in the NFL. He doesn't have the most experience, but that may not matter.

He played corner in the 2015 Senior Bowl for the Jaguars, and he impressed. His athleticism allowed him to keep up with most receivers, and the Jaguars must've been impressed with him enough to bring him in as an undrafted free agent.

There's no guarantee for either Marshall or Harris, but they seem to be the front-runners. At the end of the day, though, performance will determine who grabs the final roster spots.

6. Plan to Use Jared Odrick on the Inside and Outside

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

Jared Odrick seemed to be a bittersweet signing for some fans, mostly because of how much the Jaguars were paying him. While they are paying him handsomely, they can make sure they get their money's worth by using him in all of his versatile ways. 

Odrick has proved over his five seasons with the Miami Dolphins that he can make a difference almost anywhere on the line. While the Jaguars are deep at the defensive line, Odrick can really become a weapon that teams will struggle to prepare for.

Bradley has shown before that he mixes up the lineup and packages often, and this will allow Odrick to excel. Moving him around allows the Jaguars to mix up packages and get the best performing players on the field at any given time.

Odrick didn't have his strongest season last year, but that was mostly due to a lot of different names trying to make an impact for the Dolphins. For the Jaguars, Odrick is one of the top talents in a pretty talented defensive line, and this team will embrace his ability to fit in a lot of places more than his past one.

Compared to his career thus far, this is Odrick's chance to prove exactly how good he is. He's in a system that he can thrive in, working with a team and a coach who embrace his versatility, and he seems to have the tenacity to make a difference for the Jaguars.

There won't be a verdict on Odrick's ability and whether he's worth the pay until this season gets underway or perhaps even after. Until then, though, the Jaguars will prepare him for an active and interesting season in Jacksonville.

5. Cutting Down the Receiver Core

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

Like the corner position, there is a distinct gap in talent between the top of the receiving core and the bottom, but there are a few players who walk the line. Finding whether they belong with the team will be an important part of the Jaguars' offensive identity. 

The release of Tommy Streeter somewhat addresses that, but UDFA Kasey Closs' hopping in the mix just readds another variable. With a probably maximum of seven, maybe eight receivers on roster, the Jaguars have a lot to determine for the 12 receivers they have. 

Names like Marqise Lee, Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson don't have much to worry about, but guys like Arrelious Benn, Damian Copeland and Ace Sanders will have to work to prove their worth this offseason.

Also, like the corner position, the narrowing of the receivers sort of comes as a natural process, considering the position is typically a very competitive one. However, debating whether the veteran or the youngster is worth more will be an important part of this as well.

It's a crucial part of developing a team, but this holds less priority than some of the other situations. The gap is big enough that it really is just a decision between a few players, and the top of the depth chart is pretty entrenched at this point.

It's not the most important part of finalizing a team, but it's still a decision the Jaguars need to make for the sake of the offense.

4. Finding James Sample's Place at Safety

Gary McCullough/Associated Press

Fourth-round selection James Sample has a bright but uncertain future for the Jaguars. He definitely has a place on the final roster, but his overall purpose and role for the team this next season still has a ways to go before his definitive place is determined.

If the Jaguars decide to go through with the speculated plan to primarily use Sample as a free safety, it will be on his shoulders to determine his role. If he can make the strides, Sample could be the starting FS come Week 1.

It won't be an easy battle, especially with free-agent signing Sergio Brown competing for what is basically an open position. A lot of people like Sample, but Brown's experience and ability will be hard to go against.

Sample was mostly a box safety in his year as a starter at Louisville, and his coverage ability is widely debated. However, Sample's base level of performance in coverage may be satisfactory to earn himself the starting job.

What's interesting too is the fact that he can still play strong safety if needed. Should Johnathan Cyprien get injured or make too many mistakes, the Jaguars may not hesitate to give Sample a shot at SS.

Sample will earn his place in the team through this summer, and his versatility and the competition he brings to both safety positions are his greatest values coming into the season. That makes this a priority but not quite as vital as other places.

3. Determine the Situation at Guard

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Offensive guard may be the position on the roster with the least depth, but the three potential starters all have quality at the very least. Brandon Linder, Zane Beadles and third-round draft pick A.J. Cann all are solid options, and the Jaguars have to figure out what they want to do with them and the backup situation.

The only other true guard listed on the roster is Tyler Shatley, an undrafted free agent from 2014 with no experience in the NFL. Both of the Jaguars' centers, Luke Bowanko and Stefan Wisniewski, can move to guard, but it'd be preferable if they could solely focus at center.

The Jaguars may not feel the need to get a cheap free agent as a true backup to Linder, but it's worth considering. Injury and dips in play happen every season, and the Jaguars have to be prepared.

However, Linder has done more than enough to make the Jaguars feel at ease with at least one guard position. He put in a performance beyond his years last season, and he'll need to continue his high quality of play in 2015.

At the other guard position, Beadles and Cann will soon duke it out for the starting spot. Cann seems ready and would be the better overall option to Beadles, but Beadles' pay and the skimpy depth of legitimate guards make him a legitimate option.

Either way, the battle at guard is a good thing. Having options and promoting competition are what the best teams do, and the Jaguars need to make sure they make the right decisions handling a delicate situation at guard.

2. Narrowing Down the Running Back Position

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

There is a stable of running backs for the Jaguars at the moment, and narrowing down the six on the current roster will be a painful but important part of the offseason. But the process won't be easy.

Here is the current lineup of RBs on the Jaguars' roster:

• T.J. Yeldon
• Denard Robinson
• Toby Gerhart
• Bernard Pierce
• Storm Johnson
• Corey Grant

The backs are listed in what I consider to be the current ranking, but a lot can change in the span of a summer. The Jaguars have a situation to deal with on their hands, and they may see one or two names departing Jacksonville by the start of the season.

A big factor will depend on what the Jaguars want to do with Robinson, whose versatility and skills may see him less at RB like he was last season. His play was encouraging, however, and that decision alone will be difficult.

The two players other than Robinson with what should be guaranteed spots are Yeldon and Gerhart. Gerhart is a solid backup despite performing below expectations last season—and he should be ready to go—but this offseason will mostly determine how much field he sees.

Between Pierce, Johnson and Grant, there are two—maybe just one—spots available. Pierce is a proven veteran, but with off-field issues, there's no guarantee he'll continue to be available.

Johnson impressed with how little he saw the field last season, but there's probably no room for him. Grant has the most to gain, and the Auburn UDFA will do all in his power to earn his spot in Jacksonville.

There are a lot of variables to determine at RB, and the sooner the Jags handle them, the more the players can adapt to their new roles. This may be the most complex situation on the team this offseason, and it'll be interesting to see how the Jaguars handle it.

1. Prepare the Offense for a Change of Pace

Scott Halleran/Getty Images

It's hard to say exactly where the Jaguars are headed offensively, but it might be a future with a lot less Blake Bortles. This is not to say he'll be on the bench instead, but the offense won't depend on him as much as the average NFL quarterback.

A lot of people say "it's a quarterback's league," but the Jaguars may be rebelling against that statement. The continued improvement of the offensive line and the addition of a distinct No. 1 running back in T.J. Yeldon are the signs that the running game isn't completely dead in the NFL.

Offensive coordinator Greg Olsen received a lot of praise for how he handled fellow young QB Derek Carr with the Oakland Raiders, and he can do the same with Bortles, albeit through a different plan from this point of view.

He's working to create the easiest possible job for Bortles so that he can do more with what he's good at. That will allow him to develop the mental aspects of an NFL QB. It's not an easy process, but Bortles' second year will be a bit more comfortable than in 2014.

This process will help cut down on his interceptions and hopefully create an offense that takes its time and gives the Jaguars defense more breathers than last season. Essentially, Olsen is taking out multiple birds with one stone.

Whether the Jaguars will be able to run the ball efficiently and create a better environment for Bortles is yet to be seen, but it's good that the plan is apparent. All that's left is continued preparation and eventually execution.

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

Evan Reier is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report covering the Jacksonville Jaguars. Follow Evan on Twitter at @evanreier.