NFL Training Camp: 10 most intriguing battles in 2023

#6, Jacksonville Jaguars – Nickelback

Candidates: Tre Herndon, Antonio Johnson & Christian Braswell

NFL Training Camp: 10 most intriguing battles in 2023

Looking at the defensive numbers for Jacksonville, they went from 18th NFL-wide in terms of EPA per play through the first eleven weeks to sixth from that point on, while climbing 10 spots in dropback EPA as well.

While there are always multiple factors relevant, the one big personnel move they made was moving Darious Williams from the slot to outside corner, while Tre Herndon filled that spot on the inside and they used more 3-safety sets to put a bigger there at times. However, while they didn’t make the nickel spot a priority this offseason, I believe Herndon has some competition there, which could once again be key in how high this young Jaguars team can climb in a loaded AFC.

So Herndon is certainly the favorite, considering the Jags were very successful with him fulfilling that role. Across 12 games as a starter or quasi-starter at least in nickel packages, he was responsible for more than 52 receiving yards twice, with 60 in one of those. Pro Football Focus only gave him the 119th-best grade among all cornerbacks last season, but that largely had to do with his run defense with a grade just below 40.

However, he did only miss two of 38 attempted tackles – which was a massive improvement compared to years prior – and in the grand scheme of Darious Williams being able to move outside, it allowed that unit to be at its best.

With that being said, I was a pretty big fan of Antonio Johnson, who they stole at the 160th pick in this year’s draft. While I was surprised how far he did fall, the reason I thought he’d go later than what I valued him as is that he’s more so an average athlete, who almost exclusively lined up in the slot over the last two years and had minimal ball-production to speak of.

However, considering that’s exactly the spot the Jags are least certain about, I think he has a chance to pay off in a major way. His length, instincts and football IQ make him a tremendous coverage player in the slot, capable of matching up with move tight-ends and shows good spatial awareness as this overhang or hook defender.

He also does a great job of playing with extension and funneling the ball inside against the run. If you don’t ask him to work up from depth, he was been a very reliable tackler at Texas A&M.

The third name I just wanted to throw out there is Christian Braswell. He was one of multiple undersized Rutgers defensive backs this year, who also tested okay. Especially if you look at the coverage numbers, 24-of-41 going his way for 218 yards and just one touchdown compared to three interceptions and eight more passes broken up.

He was primarily used outside because the Scarlet Knights had a small pack of dynamite in the slot in Christian Izien, who I believe also has a chance to play significant snaps inside for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, Braswell doesn’t mind sticking his face in the fan as a run-defender or tackler.

This is another one of those situations where a team has a veteran with a certain track record and they’ve seen the success with him in that role. So Herndon will probably start as the season rolls around, but I believe Antonio Johnson at worst should be a matchup piece against bigger slot targets as a rookie.

I could easily see him start by the mid-way point of the season, if they look at the tape and Herndon isolated hasn’t lived up to what they’d like to see. Particularly, in the run game I believe he could be a definite upgrade and give them some more versatility, if they want to use that position more regularly as part of their pressure packages.

Meanwhile, Braswell is a guy who could see some snaps inside and out, but he’ll probably have to prove himself on special teams first.