During his introductory press conference, new head coach Liam Coen acknowledged that the Jacksonville Jaguars have plenty of talent but also a handful of needs to address in the offseason. He isn't wrong. While cornerback and wide receiver probably rank among the team's biggest holes, the Jags must also take care of the right guard spot.
Whoever becomes the Jacksonville general manager will have no shortage of options if they want to take the draft route, but they should set their sights on Grey Zabel after an impressive Senior Bowl performance.
Zabel was a standout on Day 1 of Senior Bowl practices. The North Dakota State product routinely got the spotlight regardless of where he lined up. Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus points out that the offensive lineman prospect had reps at all interior spots and thrived, adding that he could potentially be a top 50.
Couldn’t have been more impressed with @NDSUfootball OL Grey Zabel in the @seniorbowl 1-on-1s. Here are three good reps from him at three different positions (C, LG, RG)
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) January 28, 2025
Strong case for IOL1 in this draft, and a top 50 pick pic.twitter.com/qX2is4UXn6
Unranked coming out of high school, Zabel went on to become a staple of the North Dakota State offensive line, playing at all five spots. He's got outstanding techniques for the most part but his arm length is less than ideal and might hurt his draft stock.
Similarly, Brandon Thorn of the Bleacher Report scouting department points out that Zabel often gets stacked if he doesn't get initial leverage. Nevertheless, he believes the former Bison has the tools to develop into a dependable starter early in his NFL career.
"Overall, Zabel shows starter-level physical tools with refined run blocking skills and understanding of leverage that signal he can become an immediate role player and potential starter within his first year or two with center likely being his best fit."
It's also worth noting that Thorn gives Zabel a third-round grade. He isn't alone. That's where Lance Zierlein of NFL Media also sees him getting drafted.
The Jaguars could target Grey Zabel as a replacement for Brandon Scherff
Right guard Brandon Scherff joined the Jacksonville Jaguars. Although he was no longer the Pro Bowler he was during his Washington Commander years, he was dependable the last three seasons. However, he's 33 and slated to become a free agent. He could be brought back while the team's brass finds his heir apparent, but nobody would bat an eye if they want to start over and get younger at the position.
Jacksonville could pursue Trey Smith in free agency, but it won't come cheap. On the other hand, there will be no shortage of interior offensive line talent in the draft. The Jags hold the fifth overall selection, but they could wait until the second round to address the right position. Heck Tate Ratledge and Ar'maj Reed-Adams will probably be available early in Round 3. Both of them line up mostly on the right side, so both of them would be intriguing options.
On the other hand, the Jaguars could most definitely use Grey Zabel's versatility. In fact, that could be the tiebreaker in the evaluation. Think about it, why choose a prospect who can line up at just one spot when another can play all five spots up front?
Now, it's too early to know how the Jacksonville Jaguars plan to attack the draft and how they plan to address their offseason needs. Having said that, there's no doubt that they must keep an eye on Grey Zabel.