After re-signing cornerback Montaric Brown and locking up running back Chris Rodriguez, defensive tackle and the pass rusher are the biggest remaining needs for the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason.
While the Jags could pursue a pass rusher in free agency, they don't have many appealing options to add reinforcements at defensive tackle after John Franklin-Myers signed with the Tennessee Titans. Their best bet could be to trade for Jalen Carter, but if they want to wait until the draft to bolster their interior defensive line, they'd better hope a Clemson standout falls to the second round.
The Jaguars won't get to see Peter Woods run the 40-yard dash at the Clemson Pro Day
John Blau of Clemson athletics at The Post and Courier reports that Peter Woods will do the 10-yard sprint but won't run the 40-yard dash, adding that the former Tiger didn't do drills at the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this year.
His decision not to do the 40-yard dash may stem from the fact that he's dealing with a minor hamstring injury and doesn't want to run the risk of aggravating it. If that's the case, it shouldn't be a reason for concern, as the Jaguars and other teams don't solely rely on the results at Pro Days or the combine.
It's also worth noting that Woods may not be available when the Jags are on the clock at No. 56. Heck, he may not make it past the first round. But on the off chance he's still on the board, he could give Jacksonville an intriguing option to bolster their interior defensive line.
At 6'3" and 315 pounds, Woods has the speed, explosiveness, and power to wreak havoc in the NFL. While he lacks ideal arm length, he has an impressive get-off and possesses the versatility to line up at several spots across the line of scrimmage. That kind of flexibility would be huge in defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile's scheme.
The Jaguars would love to see Peter Woods fall to the second round
This isn't a particularly great year to draft a defensive tackle, but there should still be a handful of entincing prospects available at No. 56. Landing Peter Woods would be huge, but if he's gone by then, Texas Tech's Lee Hunter would be a fine fallback. In fact, the former Red Raider has been a popular mock pick for Jacksonville this cycle.
But if the Jaguars chose to address other positions in the second round, Darrell Jackson Jr. should still be on the board in the third round. Either way, the front office needs to make upgrades at defensive tackle. While Jacksonville excelled against the run last year, the interior defensive line had trouble applying pressure inside, which, in turn, allowed opposing teams to devote double teams to contain Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker.
The Jaguars still have time to make a few additions to the interior defensive line in free agency. But they fail to add reinforcements for whatever reason, they will surely be thrilled if Peter Woods is available in Round 2.