Jacksonville Jaguars need to look at edge rushers beyond the first round
By Daniel Lago
The Jacksonville Jaguars have made huge strides this offseason to improve a defense that finished 2nd-to-last in the NFL last year. After signing Malik Jackson to a monster contract, the team shored up the free safety position with Tashaun Gipson and added some depth to the secondary with the addition of Prince Amukamara.
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One area the team failed to address in spectacular fashion was pass rusher. The front office went all in on edge rusher
Olivier Vernon, but the former Miami Dolphin opted for the lights of New York over Jacksonville.
Even with Dante Fowler Jr. coming back from injury, the Jaguars are in desperate need of pass rushers. The team could address this problem in the first round if Joey Bosa is available, but they can’t stop there. The Jaguars need to add pass rushers throughout the draft.
So who should the Jaguars be targeting after the first round? One guy who could be available in the second round is a speedy edge rusher out of Oklahoma State.
"Emmanuel Ogbah, ED, Oklahoma StateOgbah continues the edge theme in Jacksonville; in college, he rushed both as a defensive end and from a two-point stance, and also brings significant potential when rushing from the interior. He displays an excellent combination of first-step quickness and power when rushing on the edge, but could still be available at this point in Round 2 (despite being 19th on Jacksonville’s board) due to his inconsistent run play."
Ogbah has all the measurables Gus Bradley is looking for in a LEO, but his production and effort was in question at times in college. He’d be a solid get in the second round however as a pure pass rusher.
Someone who might be a reach in the second round but would present terrific value in the third is Carl Nassib.
"Carl Nassib, DE, Penn StateNassib would not be a sexy pick at this stage, as he is not the premier athlete generally associated with being an edge player. That being said, he was a highly-skilled pass-rusher in college capable of winning battles with superior hand usage and technique, and offers late-first-round value to the Jaguars."
Unlike Ogbah, Nassib isn’t an athletic specimen but one thing not in question is his effort. Known to be relentless on every down, Nassib has the attitude Bradley covets for each player on his team and would be a solid addition to the pass rushing rotation.