Todd McShay Goes Dante Fowler Jr. For Jaguars at 3
By Daniel Lago
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We still have about two months to go until the 2015 NFL Draft, but we’ve already run the gamut on who the Jacksonville Jaguars might take with the third overall pick.
Originally, the consensus pick appeared to be Leonard Williams out of USC, a guy who is almost universally considered the best prospect at any position. Then, presumably out of boredom, analysts started slotting in Randy Gregory out of Nebraska to be a LEO in head coach Gus Bradley’s defense. Now, a new name has started to appear in more and more mock drafts for the Jaguars.
In his latest mock draft, Todd McShay over at ESPN slotted defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. out of Florida to the Jaguars.
"3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Florida DE Dante FowlerAnalysis: If there was a tackle worth drafting here, I’d probably have the Jags take one, since they are looking for competition along the entire offensive line. But they also need a young pass-rusher, and Fowler would be a good fit as a 4-3 defensive end next to D-tackles Roy Miller and Sen’Derrick Marks. Fowler isn’t as athletic as Nebraska’s Randy Gregory — the guy I had Jacksonville taking previously — but he’s a more complete player who can not only rush the passer but also set the edge against the run. That’s the difference between him and Gregory, who is long and explosive but just 236 pounds. He isn’t a fit for Jacksonville as a 4-3 end."
McShay has Williams going to the Titans at number 2 overall, so he’s basically saying Fowler is the best 4-3 end in the draft. While I don’t completely agree that Gregory isn’t a great fit in Jacksonville’s scheme, I understand McShay’s logic. Still, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him give the Jaguars Gregory or Vic Beasley or Shane Ray in any of his consequent mock drafts.