4. Cornerback battle rages on
The cornerback roster battle starts at the number three spot, and it works its way down the rest of the list. Veteran Quinten Rollins is further at risk of being cut as he continues to struggle. Josh Jackson has quickly developed after struggling through the early part of training camp. Jaire Alexander has quietly looked every part the first-round pick that he was. Davon House has continued to push these young players to be even better than they are.
Tramon Williams and Kevin King are locked in as the top two corners on the depth chart. Alexander and House have been battling for the slot corner position, but neither of them appears to have a firm grasp on the spot. Jackson likely won’t be starting at the start of the season, but, if his play continues at this level, he could push for a starting spot during the season. This week will be big with several talented receivers on the opposite side of the ball from them.
Further down the depth chart, we find Rollins, Lenzy Pipkins, Josh Hawkins and several others locked in a battle for the final few roster spots. Rollins has been played at three different positions this preseason, and he’s struggled at all three. Pipkins has failed to capitalize on the offseason hype that he generated. It will be interesting to see who ends up being the final few corners on this roster. While they may not contribute to defense, they could be big pieces on special teams.