Even though the Jacskonville Jaguars entered the 2023 NFL Draft needing to take care of their needs at cornerback and pass rush, they chose to bolster their offensive line, picking Anton Harrison with the 27th overall pick.
Most of the early reactions to the Jags' decision to go with Harrison are positive and rightfully so. On the days preceding the draft, John Shipley reported that left tackle Cam Robinson will be serving a suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy.
You could argue that if Robinson wasn't set to miss time, the Jags could have bolstered other position groups in Round 1. But the truth is that there will still be many talented prospects in Round 2 of the draft, so the team's brass can easily focus on other position groups without having to worry about the potential impact Robinson's absence will have.
It's important to point out that the Jaguars will first need to assess Harrinson's performance in training camp. He'll probably need to beat Josh Well, who was signed in free agency, in training camp before he is thrusted into the starting lineup.
Working in Harrison's favor is the fact that most of his weaknesses (hand usage and stand) can be corrected, and that's where offensive line coach Phil Rauscher's influence should be noticeable.
Speaking of Rauscher, the 2022 First-Team All-Big 12 told the local media after being drafted that he's spoken with him via Zoom.
"I talked to Jacksonville a good amount." -- #Jaguars OT Anton Harrison. Said he met with them at the combine and zoomed with Phil Rauscher.
— John Shipley (@_John_Shipley) April 28, 2023
If Harrison lives up to his potential, he should have no trouble finding his way into the starting lineup in Week 1, ready to protect Trevor Lawrence. So why really benefited from the Harrison pick and who will see himself affected? Here's a look at the winners and losers.
Jacksonville Jaguars draft Anton Harrison with pick No. 27 in Round 1: 3 Winners
3. Anton Harrison
For starters, Anton Harrison deserves lots of praise for making it this far. Thousands of children grow up dreaming of playing in the NFL but just a minuscule number actually achieve the feat. All things considered, it's not hyperbole to call this Harrison's most important day of his life, at least from a professional standpoint.
Harrison told the media after being drafted that he expected to be drafted late in Round 1. However, prospects can always slide and he surely felt relief when he heard his name called. After the conclusion of the first round, he told the media that he was glad he landed in Jacksonville.
Anton Harrison says he felt he’d go in the No. 24-30 range. Didn’t know if it would for sure be the #Jaguars, “but I’m happy it’s Jacksonville” #DUUUVAL | #NFLDraft
— Mia O'Brien (@MiaOBrienTV) April 28, 2023
Moving forward, the Washington D.C. native will have the chance to show everyone why the Jags drafted him 27th overall.
2. O-Line coach Phil Rauscher
Offensive line coach Phil Rauscher will have the chance to leave his mark in Jacksonville. Rauscher was part of the staff head coach Doug Pederson put together when he was hired as the Jaguars' head coach.
Rauscher did a good job in his first season in Jacksonville: The Jaguars' offensive line gave up a reasonable 35 sacks but he inherited most of the players he worked with: Cam Robinson, Ben Bartch, and Jawaan Taylor. Center Luke Fortner was the first player he developed in Jacksonville and before you bring up Brandon Scherff, he had to learn the scheme but he's a Pro Bowl guard, so he didn't need the kind of guidance Fortner receiver.
Harrison gives Rauscher another enticing player that he can mold. It wouldn't be shocking to see Harrison have an immediate impact with Rauscher helping him untap his potential.
1. Trevor Lawrence
As noted before, the Jaguars gave up 35 sacks last year but they often gave Trevor Lawrence ample time to throw. Regardless of the number of games Cam Robinson misses due to his suspension, drafting Harrison will ensure that the Jaguars' signal-caller receives optimal protection.
Lawrence showed significant growth last year and has a chance to be a top 5 quarterback in 2023, so it makes sense that the Jaguars' brass builds the team around him.
Jacksonville Jaguars draft Anton Harrison with pick No. 27 in Round 1: 3 losers
It's hard to pick "losers" from the Anton Harrison pick when you consider the positive impact it will have. On the other hand, you could make the case that there are some players and coaches that won't benefit from the pick.
3. The Jaguars tight end room
The Jags managed to keep Evan Engram from leaving in free agency when they used the franchise tag on him. However, he's set to become a free agent in 2024 barring a long-term deal. On top of that, the only other tight ends on the Jaguars' rosters are Luke Farrell, who's better suited for a reserve role, and Gerrit Prince, who is a 2022 undrafted free agent, has potential but hasn't played a single snap in the regular season.
Even though the Buffalo Bills took Dalton Kincaid with the pick they got from the Jaguars, many of the top tight ends (Michael Mayer, Darnell Washington, and Luke Musgrave) remained on the board when they were on the clock. While the team's brass addressed a need with Harrison it was a bit puzzling to see them pass on the chance to add reinforcements to their tight end room.
2. Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell
The Jaguars have needs at cornerback, defensive end, and outside linebacker. Yet, they chose to focus on the offensive line, leaving defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell without new players. Sure, the front office brought back DaVon Hamilton on a three-year deal worth $34.5 million but "Ham" can't line up in the slot or rush the passer from a standup position.
Caldwell needs more players to make his defense work. The good thing is that there's still many top cornerback prospects available in Round 2 and if the Jags can trade up and draft a cornerback and a pass rusher on Day 2, they'll make Caldwell a happy man.
1. Jaguars LT Cam Robinson
General manager Trent Baalke told the media that the decision to draft Harrison was made based on talent, "our board was set strictly on ability". However, it's hard not to imagine that the suspension Cam Robinson will serve played a role. Despite the fact that Robinson will be eligible for practices and the preseason, he won't be able to play in the regular season.
With Robinson unable to suit up, the Jaguars willl probably make a strong push for Harrison to start in Week 1 and if he fares well, Robinson might have a hard time getting his job back. It's possible that if both Harrison and Little thrive during Robinson's absence, the team's brass will move on from him.