Jacksonville Jaguars: Three positions of need following the NFL Draft
By David Levin
The Jacksonville Jaguars have added a few more players to their roster after the NFL Draft, but there are still positions that need help.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have received high marks for what they’ve done in the most recent NFL draft. In terms of how that helps the team this coming season, NFL analysts still believe this is a bottom feeder of a franchise.
That’s what happens when a football team that perennially loses double-digit games catches lightning in a bottle for one season and then falls back into the doldrums of failure.
The Jaguars have made moves following the NFL draft to bolster the roster. Bringing in one back Chris Thompson will help lessen the load carried by Leonard Fournette last season. Adding defensive and/linebacker Aaron Lynch is another telling sign the Jacksonville Jaguars are going to play more of a 3-4 defense in 2020.
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This is a team that did a good job of trying to fill holes at every position. But as you know, depth is still a concern. Here are three positions the Jaguars still need to pay attention to before the start of training camp.
Offensive Line
I was really surprised the front office only drafted one offensive lineman two weeks ago. Both David Caldwell and Doug Marrone spoke highly of the players they have on the roster and the confidence they have in growth from year one to your two under offensive line coach George Warhop.
But this is a line that had trouble protecting quarterback Gardner Minshew, forcing him to run for his life at times during games last season.
The same five starters return this year. Depth is still a concern. The team did re-sign Tyler Shatley in free agency. Fourth-round draft pick Ben Bartch is a mammoth lineman who can play both guard and tackle. I’m concerned that the transition from Division III to the NFL is going to be a slower one than anticipated. Are there veterans on the open market who could still come in and help a questionable unit in 2020.
Tight End
The coaching staff is putting a lot of faith in the signing of Tyler Eifert and the selection of Tyler Davis from Georgia Tech in the draft.
Two Tylers may not be able to save this position if the same problems exist from last season.
The fact is, the Jaguars had a decent start to the season with this position in 2019. Injuries decimated them. First, it was Josh Oliver and then James O’Shaughnessy. Jeff Swaim was almost decapitated in the game against New Orleans and has since been released. Other players have come and gone.
Eifert gives this team a real pass-catching threat. Davis is going to be a project. If O’Shaughnessy comes back from his knee injury and is able to perform, he probably can pick up where he left off last season.
Oliver is the wildcard. The second-year player from San Jose State was brought in to be a class catching threat that has not been able to materialize yet.
I'm a bit surprised the preseason games haven't been announced yet or maybe that will come today. NFL usually likes to spread this stuff out.
— Brent Martineau (@BrentASJax) May 6, 2020
Quarterback
I’m going to say the topic of quarterback in Jacksonville is subjective. There are two ways to look at it, as fans love what second-year starter Gardner Minshew did in 2019. But we don’t know if that’s going to be the same type of play we see this season.
Minshew has been giving the seal of approval from Marrone as a starter here coming into 2020. There are those fans who would still like to see a veteran come in and complete for the job, with the name Cam Newton being volleyed around like a tennis ball.
Newton has openly stated he will not sign with any team to be a backup and is looking to be a starter. That means starter money, and it’s not something that Jaguars should actively explore.
I believe Andy Dalton should have been the choice, but he signed with Dallas. This leaves several questions about which player would fit in the system newly created by the new offensive coordinator Jay Gruden. I don’t believe the Jacksonville Jaguars do anything to the quarterback room.
From here on out it’s going to be Minshew, back up Joshua Dobbs and rookie Jake Luton. If there is an injury that arises, then the team will rethink its steps.
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