The Jacksonville Jaguars wrapped up their preseason Friday with a 31-0 shutout victory against the Atlanta Falcons. As a result, they finished the 2024 preseason undefeated, but there is still work to be done.
During their undefeated preseason, fans got a good look at the Jaguars’ depth. One group that left something to be desired was the interior offensive line, and while the starting positions are settled, there is room for upgrades behind them. That said, we decided to research some bubble players around the league who could be available soon on the waiver wire (or via trade).
Corey Bullock, OG, Baltimore Ravens
When looking for good bubble candidates, starting with a playoff roster is always a good place to look for a general manager. Also, in the Jags’ case, looking at a roster with great depth at guard or center would be smart. The Baltimore Ravens check both of those boxes, and they may have to cut a player in undrafted rookie Corey Bullock, who has had a good preseason.
In the Ravens' first preseason game against Philadelphia, he had the second-highest Pro Football Focus grade on their offense (87.9). He thrived both in the run game and pass game that week, earning an 81.6 and an 82.7, respectively, in both categories. He followed that up by earning a 78.9 pass-blocking grade against Atlanta the following week and a 72.0 this week against Green Bay. Bullock has "developmental guard" written all over him as he's played like a player who should've been drafted.
With veterans Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu and Ben Cleveland as options for their backup guard roles, it will be hard for Baltimore to keep Bullock. It wouldn't be surprising to see them waive him and attempt to stash him on their practice squad in the coming days.
Marquis Hayes, OG, Arizona Cardinals
Marquis Hayes is a player who played alongside Jags starting tackle, Anton Harrison, at the University of Oklahoma. In his first meeting with the Jacksonville media, Harrison told us he leaned on Hayes to help prepare himself for the league.
Hayes, a former seventh-round pick in 2022, hasn't been able to land on the Cardinals' main roster yet. As a rookie, he was placed on injured reserve during final cuts after impressing in the offseason. In 2023, he was a standout again but was put on Arizona's practice squad for the whole season. Hayes has also shown some flashes this offseason, earning a PFF grade of 78.0 in the Cardinals' preseason opener against New Orleans (with an 82.5 run-blocking grade).
At 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, Hayes has displayed the ability to be physical during the last two offseasons (as seen above). That's what the Jags need on their line, plus he has the physical traits that would catch the attention of Jags GM Trent Baalke.
Jovaughn Gwyn, OG/C, Atlanta Falcons
Jovaughn Gwyn's preseason has been a bit low-key, but he accumulated a positive grade in two of his three preseason games. Still, many 53-man roster predictions don't show him making the team, as Kyle Hinton has looked slightly better. In Friday's game against the Jags, he accumulated a PFF grade of 70.2 and was solid in pass protection. Prior, he accumulated an 83.1 against the Ravens, a preseason high.
Gwyn is a player with both guard and center versatility. That's what teams look for when upgrading the back end of their roster when looking at the waiver wire at this time of the year. While Gwyn (6-foot-2, 301 pounds) doesn't have the measurables that Baalke looks for, he was worth mentioning because the Jags likely got a good look at him against their defensive line Friday.
Kohl Levao, OL, New York Jets
The New York Jets are another team with good depth along their offensive line. That has put them in a situation where they could waive a player in Kohl Levao who has shown great potential.
Levao took a unique path to the NFL and joined the Jets this offseason after previously playing for the San Antonio Brahmas of the UFL. As a collegiate player, he played at the University of Hawaii from 2018-21. In his final season with the Warriors, he only allowed one sack, accumulated a pass protection success rate of 97%, and earned an honorable mention to the All-Mountain West team.
While with the Jets, Levao solely played guard, but has experience at center and tackle, too. He's caught the attention of a few Jets reporters this offseason (mine as well), displaying physicality both in practice and in the preseason games. His skills as a pass protector especially have translated from his previous stops and his power and motor in the run game are also hard to miss. His PFF grades have improved in each preseason game, earning grades of 58.6, 76.8, and 82.0, respectively, in preseason Weeks 1-3. His film and time with the UFL, plus his gradual improvement in the preseason makes him the most appealing name on this list.
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