Jacksonville Jaguars: Team must still address both sides of the line

The Jacksonville Jaguars front office must stick to a script of adding more players on both the offensive and defensive lines in the NFL Draft.

I’m still of the belief that if the Jacksonville Jaguars are going to make any improvement this coming season the front office and coaching staff are going to need to improve both the offensive and defensive lines before anything else.

We have seen several mock drafts where the Jaguars have addressed their need for a left tackle, and have spent other draft picks on a wide receiver, defensive back, and linebacker and the interior defensive line.

Very few analysts see this organization spending a high pick on improving the left side of the offensive line.

More from Jaguars Draft

• Jacksonville Jaguars fortify secondary in 4-round 2023 Post-Combine NFL Mock Draft
• The Jaguars may look for edge rushers with pick 24
• The Jacksonville Jaguars got so lucky with the 2021 NFL Draft
• Jaguars fortify OL with Jaelyn Duncan in CBS Sports’ 2023 NFL Mock Draft
• Jacksonville Jaguars don’t need to trade up in the 2023 NFL Draft to land a cornerback

In order for a quarterback Gardner Minshew to be able to improve and take the next step forward in his second season under center not only must he have weapons at his disposal, but he must be protected better than he was last year. While Minshew was at his best moving out of the pocket and improvising on the run, the longevity of his career in a Jacksonville Jaguars uniform lessens each time he puts himself at risk.

The offense of line wasn’t the worst in the NFL last season, but it certainly wasn’t the best. And the growing sentiment is the front office, namely general manager David Caldwell and head coach Doug Marrone, won’t seek to address the issue in the first round of the season. That’s not to say they won’t try to add depth on the second night of the draft.

In terms of the defensive line, there is plenty of speculation. Despite the team already adding two more puzzle pieces to help the run defense through free agency, it appears the plan is to continue to build the unit back to where it was just three seasons ago.

It won’t be the same, but it should be able to get the job done. Anyone who watched the Jaguars last year trying to stop multiple opponents run the football knows you can’t win football games if you’re always playing from behind.

Many analysts, both locally and nationally, have made a strong case for Jacksonville looking to add playmakers to score points. The Jaguars average 18.8 points last season. New offensive coordinator Jay Gruden must find a way to improve the team’s performance in the red zone.

But by the same token the defense was just as offensive – see what I did there?

No one in the front office is showing their hand about what the team plans to do in a little over two weeks. Taking the “best player available” may work with every one of their 12 selections. If these players are able to come in and make an impact, it shouldn’t matter what position is addressed first.

Caldwell and Marrone must realize this is a draft of quality over quantity. These holes and needs must be addressed immediately. If not, then the game plan that has been revised for the 2020 season won’t have any merit. The idea of building for the future, as it appears to be Caldwell’s mantra during free agency, means nothing.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are on the clock. They must use all of their resources to address both sides of the ball. If not the season will be longer than anticipated. And any hope of success will fade quickly.