Can Grant Morgan secure a roster spot on the Jaguars?

LB Grant Morgan was a mainstay of Arkansas’ defense for the past two seasons. Across 2020 and 2021, Morgan accumulated 211 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss. Morgan possesses is excellent at reading defenses and getting past defenders to swarm to the ball.

While Morgan was productive at the college level, many people doubt whether his skills can translate to the NFL. Standing at only 5’11, some scouts wonder if Morgan has the size and frame to shed run blocks. Some also believe Morgan lacks the athleticism to chase NFL ball-carriers outside the tackles. He’s also shown limited pass coverage ability, as he hasn’t shown he can stay with RBs out of the backfield.

These doubts ultimately prevented teams from drafting Morgan in the 2022 NFL Draft.

However, Morgan signed a UDFA with the Jacksonville Jaguars in May, and he made his NFL debut in the Hall of Fame preseason game against the Raiders on August 4.

Grant Morgan NFL Debut

Grant Morgan first appeared in the second half of the ball game against the Raiders. On his second play from scrimmage, Morgan missed a tackle against Raiders RB Zamir White after shedding a block from an offensive lineman.

But soon, Morgan showed off some of his strengths. At the end of the third quarter, the Raiders threw an RB screen at their 43-yard line. He reacted quickly and swarmed to the ball to make an assisted tackle. On a run play, Morgan displayed excellent anticipation to which hole the running back would run through. He once again assisted with the tackle, and the run went for no gain. However, several plays subsequent to that, Morgan got swallowed up by several offensive lineman on a Raiders run TD. At the end of the game, Morgan recorded a sack on Raiders QB Chase Garbers on a delayed blitz. This helped make up for his previous blunders.