Even though the pass rush was a pressing need for the Jacksonville Jaguars, they waited until Day 3 to bolster the rotation behind Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen. First, they took Wesley Williams in Round 4 and later Zach Durfee in Round 7.
Durfee has generated plenty of hype after the draft because he's Project X, the most overlooked prospect in the whole process. And if Jags fans didn't have enough reasons to be excited about the former Huskey, his former head coach just gave them another one.
Jedd Fisch is confident the Jaguars got a good one in Zach Durfee
Following the draft, Washington posted a clip on social media in which head coach Jedd Fisch says that Zach Durfee would've been a higher draft pick if he had stayed healthy.
T.O. [Tyler Owens] and Coach Mo [Morris Henry Jr.] and the entire strength staff has done an incredible job getting these players ready to go for the NFL Draft. Specifically, they work with Durfee day in, day out. Durfee didn't go train anywhere else, and Terry O, he did such a good job with Cadillac and the defensive line, and, you know, getting stronger and getting developed in a manner that he was prepared to play at the next level."
Fisch continued, "I believe both those guys will have NFL careers. Durfee, as an outside linebacker edge rusher. If he was healthy throughout his career, I think we'd be talking about him as a Day 1, Day 2 pick, and then Anterio, coming here in his final year, has also brought a ton of experience, power, strength, and he was a very difficult guy for offenses to stop."
Durfee transferred to Washington in 2023 but had to sit out the season because of transfer rules. When he was finally able to take the field the following year, he got off to a strong start, registering 2.5 sacks in six games. However, he suffered an elbow injury that sidelined him for the rest of the campaign.
Since taking over in 2024, Fisch saw firsthand just how dominant Durfee was. Of course, you could make the case that he's being biased, but the Huskies head coach wouldn't probably endorse a player if he wasn't confident in him, as he's putting his reputation at stake.
Zach Durfee needs to stay healthy to make an impact for the Jaguars
Now with the Jags, Zach Durfee will have a prime opportunity to prove that he deserved to get way more attention during the draft cycle. Then again, he'll need to stay healthy, something he's failed to do, and the main reason he didn't get an invite to the Scouting Combine.
And that's the thing, Durfee has the tools to develop into a productive pass rusher, but his inability to stay healthy has prevented him from hitting his stride. Moreover, there's no guarantee he'll make the team. The Dawson, Minnesota native will need to compete with the likes of Danny Striggow and B.J. Green II.
Then again, Zach Durfee has dealt with adversity throughout his football career, and there's a reason he's gotten where he is. So nobody will bat an eye if he ends up making an impact for the Jaguars as a rookie.
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