2024 NFL Draft scenarios: How the Jaguars can rework their defensive tackle room
The Jacksonville Jaguars need to use the 2024 NFL Draft to get bigger and younger on the interior of the defensive line.
Signing Arik Armstead (who’s 30 years old) in free agency certainly is a boost. But with new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen’s background in running four-man fronts, which will need depth inside, the Jaguars' current defensive line room includes Roy Robertson-Harris (31 years old), Jeremiah Leadbetter (30), Adam Gotsis (31) and Angelo Blackson (32).
Dawuane Smoot, who has been a reliable player since 2017 (23.5 sacks) is a free agent and may or may not be re-signed.
Jags Mock Draft 3.0 Who will the Jaguars take in the 2024 NFL Draft? Latest 7-round mock draft for Jacksonville
There also is a question mark about nose tackle Davon Hamilton, who played only eight games last season because of a non-football-related back injury; and 2023 draftee Tyler Lacy remains a work in progress.
The Jaguars were in the middle of the NFL pack in most run defense metrics last year but they also could use more of a pass rush from the inside. The Jags had only 5.5 sacks from the tackle or big end position, and Robertson-Harris had 3.5 of them.
The good news: At least one of the two of the top defensive-line prospects in the draft are likely to be available when the Jaguars pick at No. 17 and the class has enough depth for a team to help itself on the inside on the second and third days.
2024 NFL Draft Scenario No. 1: Jaguars confound the experts in first round
Despite all signs pointing to the Jags taking a wide receiver or cornerback in the first round, general manager Trent Baalke never thinks his teams have enough big guys in the trenches, especially on defense. If the WRs or CBS the Jaguars covet are gone and Johnny Newton of Illinois (6 feet 1, 304 pounds) or Byron Murphy of Texas (6-4, 287) are available it would not be the biggest shock of draft day for the Jaguars to go big.
2024 NFL Draft Scenario No. 2: Jaguars wait for possible second-day DT
The defensive tackle class in this year’s draft only has two locks for the first round, Newton and Murphy. But there’s always the chance for one of them to fall to the second round, or for the Jaguars to trade down in the first or up in the second to snare one of them. Kris Jenkins of Michigan (6-2, 299) is one player that might be there in round two.
2024 NFL Draft Scenario No. 3: Jaguars likely to find a decent third-day prospect
The DT class, while thin for first-round prospects, has a ton of talent available in the middle rounds, from a list of players who not only are from Power 5 conference schools but from national championship contenders. The Jaguars may have multiple options in the third, fourth or fifth rounds from among players such as Ruke Orhorhoro of Clemson (6-4, 294), Mike Hill of Ohio State (6-2, 299), Braden Fiske of FSU (6-3, 292), Bradon Darlus of Oregon (6-3, 283) or two LSU prospects, Maason Smith (6-5, 306) and Mehki Wingo (6-2, 284).
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars 2024 NFL Draft: 3 scenarios to fix interior defensive line room
