Jaguars rookie projections: OL Javon Foster
Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Javon Foster (62) goes up against offensive lineman Steven Jones during drills at Friday's rookie minicamp. The Jacksonville Jaguars held their first day of rookie minicamp inside the covered field at the Jaguars performance facility in Jacksonville, Florida Friday, May 10, 2024. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]
The Jaguars exited the 2024 NFL draft with nine new contributors, bolstering their roster with potential after signing eight free agents between March and April in their offseason-long effort to reclaim postseason status this year.
How impactful might Jacksonville’s rookie class be as the team chases a playoff spot?
Jaguars Wire is projecting roles and rookie production for each of Jacksonville’s 2024 draft picks, continuing the series by focusing on the Jaguars’ fourth-round, No. 114 overall selection, offensive lineman Javon Foster.
Javon Foster's projected role with the Jaguars
99.993% of Foster's 2,939 career offensive snaps with Missouri were logged at offensive tackle, where he made 41 starts over 50 appearances, with 39 at left tackle and two at right tackle.
Barring an event where injuries force the Jaguars to play him elsewhere, Foster will continue to play offensive tackle in Jacksonville.
"We view him as a swing tackle, a guy that can play left and right," Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke said about Foster in April. "He played primarily on the left side in college obviously but went to the Senior Bowl and proved he could line up on the right side. You start him out in a swing position. That's for the coaches to settle in on what his role is going to be.
"But really like the size, the length, two-time captain, [a] leader in the SEC, [41]-game starter, a lot of things that played into the pick.”
The Jaguars have an experienced swing tackle in the fold already in rising fourth-year pro Walker Little, one of Jacksonville's two second-round draft picks from 2021. Little and starting left tackle Cam Robinson are both entering contract years in 2024.
Foster's offensive opportunities are likely to be limited during his rookie season as a result, unless an injury sidelines one or more of Robinson, Little and Jaguars' starting right tackle Anton Harrison, which would bump Foster up the depth chart.
Foster could certainly factor into Jacksonville's special teams, however, such as the offensive line units on field goal attempts and punts.
But with Robinson and Little's futures with Jacksonville being uncertain, the Jaguars intend to develop Foster into a starting-caliber offensive lineman behind the scenes with the hope that he'll be able to contribute significantly in the years to come.
Projected stats for offensive linemen are not available
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars rookie projections: OL Javon Foster