Dede Westbrook could be the Jacksonville Jaguars secret weapon
By Daniel Lago
Despite being drafted in the fourth round, wide receiver Dede Westbrook could end up with a big role as a rookie for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Jacksonville Jaguars head into the 2017 with plenty of big names on the roster. Defensively, the team is stacked with high-profile talent acquired both via the draft and free agency.
Offensively, things are a bit more muddled. There are plenty of names, but most of starters on offense are either unproven or on a redemption tour after poor seasons in 2016.
While most eyes will be on one rookie on offense (Leonard Fournette), another first-year player on offense could make a huge impact.
Sean Tomlinson over at Bleacher Report looked through every team to find their “secret weapon.” For the Jaguars, he chose an intriguing guy – Dede Westbrook.
"The Jacksonville Jaguars have a deep wide receiver depth chart led by Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns. Together they’ve combined for two 1,000-plus-receiving-yard seasons over the first three years of their careers, even with quarterback Blake Bortles’ wayward crosshairs.But Dede Westbrook is lurking further down and ready to climb up fast if Hurns continues to stumble after averaging only 43.4 yards per game in 2016.Westbrook was a draft steal in the fourth round after finishing fourth in the 2016 Heisman voting following a standout season. His blazing 4.34-second speed in the 40-yard dash showed up on the field when Westbrook erupted for 1,524 yards on 80 receptions in 2016 (19.1 yards per catch). He also finished tied for third in receiving touchdowns with 17.The Jaguars hope Westbrook shines on the field while shedding character concerns away from it. If he does that, the 23-year-old could earn a meaningful role sooner than expected."
By drafting Westbrook, the Jaguars sent a message to both Hurns and Robinson – recover from a disappointing 2016 season or lose playing time. The message also applies to Marqise Lee, who had a decent year after struggling with injuries over his first 2 seasons.
Westbrook is truly a wild card – he was an outstanding deep threat in college and he brings a speed element that the offense badly needs. If he can learn the offense quickly and flash in training camp, there’s a chance Westbrook will be integrated into multiple offensive packages right away.