For a while, Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal was a favorite to go No. 1 to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2022 NFL Draft. However, Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson became the most likely candidate to be the pick after the Jags applied the franchise tag on Cam Robinson.
Having said that, the Jaguars shouldn’t dismiss the idea of taking Neal with the first overall selection even though they have Robinson and sophomore Walker Little in the fold. After all, Neal dominated Alabama’s Pro Day, showing the kind of athletic prowess that helped him become one of the top offensive tackles at the collegiate level in 2021 and a strong candidate to go first overall.
Here are three reasons why Jaguars shouldn’t dismiss taking Evan Neal with the top selection in this year’s draft.
1. The Jaguars will have leeway to negotiate with Cam Robinson.
Cam Robinson is set to play under the franchise tag in 2022 unless he and the Jaguars’ brass agree to a long-term deal. General manager Trent Baalke has expressed his desire to work out a multi-year extension and the tag will give the team some breathing room to negotiate.
Having Evan Neal on the roster would give the Jaguars some flexibility in case negotiations with Robinson go awry. They could have the former Alabama standout line up at guard and move him to tackle if they can’t strike a deal with Robinson.
Also, Neal would give the Jaguars insurance in case Robinson has to miss time with injuries, as they could easily plug him in at left tackle, having played there last season.
2. Evan Neal can line up anywhere in the Jaguars’ O-Line.
The Jaguars brought back Cam Robinson to play left tackle in 2022. They signed right guard Brandon Scherff in free agency and Jawaan Taylor could compete with Walker Little for the chance to start at right tackle. With Tyler Shatley lining up at center, left guard could be the only spot left to sort out. Ben Bartch could get the nod if the team’s brass doesn’t make any moves in free agency but the Jaguars could plug Evan Neal there.
Sure, no guard has been drafted first overall but Evan Neal may be too good to pass up. Think about it this way, if Cam Robinson weren’t on the roster, would it make sense for the Jags to take Neal? They shouldn’t just rule out taking Aidan Hutchinson or Travon Walker first overall but they shouldn’t dismiss choosing the former Crimson Tide offensive lineman.
Keep in mind that Neal could play guard in his rookie campaign and then move to either left tackle or right tackle in 2023. After all, Jawaan Taylor is set to become a free agent and there’s no certainty Robinson will be on the team next year. That’s where Neal’s ability to line up at the three positions could come in handy.
Plus, there’s a precedent for clubs selecting an offensive tackle with a top 5 pick and having them play guard in their rookie campaign. The Arizona Cardinals did it with Leonard Davis (second overall in 2001) and the Baltimore Ravens did it with Jonathan Ogden (fourth overall in 1996), so plugging Neal at left guard in his first NFL season wouldn’t be unheard of.
3. The Jaguars can still draft a pass rusher in the second round of the draft.
There are two reasons, Aidan Hutchinson is the favorite to go first overall. As mentioned before, the Jaguars tagged Cam Robinson and the other one was that they didn’t add a pass rusher in free agency until they signed Arden Key.
Key could become a key cog in the Jaguars’ defensive line rotation but he is by no means an elite pass rusher. That’s why Jacksonville could still take Hutchinson first overall. However, there are going to be plenty of quality edge defenders available in this year’s draft, and as many as seven could get their names called in the first round. On the other hand, there’s a good chance a few of them will fall down to the second round, where the Jags hold the 33rd overall pick.
General manager Trent Baalke could easily take Evan Neal with the top pick and select a pass rusher in the second round. Minnesota’s Boye Mafe and Penn State’s Arnold Ebiketie could be available at No. 33. Heck, if there’s an edge defender late in the first round that the Jaguars like, they could easily move up.
After all, the Jaguars have two third-round picks and a handful of late-round selections that they may not use, so why not use all that ammo to land an edge rusher if there’s one they like? Sure, none of them are as polished as Hutchinson and may not have Walker’s upside but they could still develop into solid starters opposite outside linebacker Josh Allen.