2017 NFL Draft: Dawuane Smoot gives Jacksonville Jaguars athletic edge threat
By Luke Sims
Dawuane Smoot gives the Jacksonville Jaguars an athletic edge threat from the 2017 NFL Draft.
In the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars added a perfect all-around athlete. Dawuane Smoot from Illinois is far from a household name, but he gives the Jaguars some supreme athleticism.
How athletic? Smoot was a junior olympian in the hurdles. That may not say much, but the young player is more than capable of transforming that athleticism into production for the Jaguars on the edge.
The edge rushing defensive end position currently had Dante Fowler Jr. and Yannick Ngakoue leading the way for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but they could both use motivation. Ngakoue in particular was impressive but even his franchise record in sacks could use some competition.
Having the benefit of learning under former Super Bowl head coach Lovie Smith should help Smoot transition to the NFL better than others. He has a lot to learn still, but he could have the potential to quickly become a winner, though. Maybe as a rookie but also as a developmental player.
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This is a gamble by the Jaguars. There were better overall players on most boards, but the Jags went with a player who has high upside. It will be intriguing to see if he develops into the kind of player they anticipate or if he flames out.
On a talented defensive line, he will have to compete for reps and then compete to be a true starter for the team. At a minimum, it makes the defensive line even more competitive, which is valuable. The Jags are banking on his athleticism turning into production and that is a gamble worth making.