Rookie DT DaVon Hamilton signs with the Jacksonville Jaguars

The addition of defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton should help the Jacksonville Jaguars interior defensive line this coming season.

After the announcement of the Jacksonville Jaguars coming to terms with rookie defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton, the organization now has four of their 12 draft picks under contract for the 2020 NFL season.

Hamilton will be counted on to be part of a rotation that needs to do a better job of stopping the run in 2020. The team’s run defense in 2019 was a major reason for the collapse of the entire unit under defensive coordinator Todd Wash.

"Per Jaguars.com, “Hamilton (6-feet-4, 320 pounds), who played collegiately at Ohio State University, started as a redshirt senior in 2019 and earned third-team All-Big 10 honors. He had 28 tackles, 10.5 for loss, and also had six sacks as a senior.”"

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Wash and his coaching staff will count on Hamilton to come in and become a part of the interior line rotation. The defensive line lost Marcell Dareus, who was cut by the team prior to free agency because of salary cap issues. Also, the Jacksonville Jaguars trade veteran leader Calais Campbell to the Baltimore Ravens this offseason for a fifth-round draft pick.

The defensive cupboard isn’t bare as the team did add Al Woods from Seattle to help specifically with run defense. Jacksonville also brought in Rodney Gunter from Arizona, who can play inside and on the right side as a pass rusher.

Wash told the media in June the plan is to remain a 4-3 defense – the same one he has implemented since taking over as defensive coordinator in 2016. Because of the additions in free agency and the NFL Draft, the Jaguars could use a 3-4 sub-package at times, which would mean the athleticism and speed added this offseason should help with the pass rush and run defense on the second level.

Hamilton figures to compete for time with former first-round draft pick Taven Bryan, who the Jaguars coaching staff hopes can improve in his third year on the team. Abry Jones, who did not play as well last season as in 2018 or 2017.

There could also be a few plays where defensive end Dawaune Smoot moves inside to help with the pass rush as well. Smoot had a career-high six sacks last season. Dontavious Russell, the Jacksonville Jaguars seventh-round draft pick last season, should also figure in the team’s plans this season. The former Auburn player was used sparingly last season.