Jacksonville Jaguars 2016 Draft: Dante Fowler is the key

For the Jacksonville Jaguars, the 2016 NFL Draft hinges on a player that is already on the team rather than a player that may be acquired in the actual draft process.

For the 2016 season, the Jacksonville Jaguars will have two first round picks taking the field for the first time. Whoever is selected in the 2016 NFL Draft will join 2015’s third overall pick, Dante Fowler Jr., in getting his first career game action.

Dante Fowler, who the Jaguars selected to fill the void at their “leo” pass rushing role, missed all of the 2016 season after tearing his ACL in rookie minicamp. 2015 was supposed to be the year he learned the position and, maybe, put together a productive season.

Instead, the start first rounder was rehabbing. As a result, the Jaguars do not currently know what they have in Fowler. All of the signs that led him to be the third overall selection in 2015 are still there and he could fulfill that potential.

But for now, he’s an unknown. There is no certainty with how Fowler will actually perform in his first game action.

Right now, Fowler is the top edge rusher on the Jags roster. Chris Clemons and Andre Branch, who primarily filled the role in 2015, are no longer with the team. The Jags are pinning their future on Fowler.

Or so it seems.

While nobody but general manager Dave Caldwell knows what the Jags will do over the three-day draft, it seems he either has to trust in Fowler or pick another player to help fill the role. With deficiencies all over the Jags defense, that pick could be best used at another position.

There is a certain level of trust in the process that is required in the Jags’ selection in the coming draft. The Jags have to trust that the homework put into drafting Fowler pays off and he really is the beast edge rusher they picked him to be. If Caldwell banks on that, the Jags have more flexibility.

If he doesn’t, the draft could have a very different look for the Jaguars, with the team using key picks on getting other edge rushers to complement and help Fowler. The Jags will probably add some defensive line players in the draft, but what role and when are key.

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2016 free agency could have solved this Jacksonville Jaguars conundrum, but Caldwell whiffed at bringing in a proven player to help fill the leo role.

Instead, the Jags are left with uncertainty at the position. The position that is required to disrupt the passing game for the secondary to make plays. How much Caldwell trusts Fowler and trusts his process will likely dictate just what happens in late April for the Jags.

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