2024 NFL Draft scenarios: How can the Jaguars address interior offensive line depth?

The Jacksonville Jaguars had several questions along their offensive line when the 2023 season ended.

They traded for left guard Ezra Cleveland in the middle of the season, but he was set to become a free agent. Luke Fortner struggled throughout the season and the team didn’t have an in-house solution to replace him.

And Brandon Scherff’s contract was massive, making him a target for a potential cap-saving cut.

But the Jaguars’ front office has been very active in the months leading into the draft and have plugged the previous holes.

2024 NFL Draft Scenarios: 3 ways the Jaguars can stabilize their offensive tackle position

The team extended Cleveland, restructured Scherff’s contract and brought in veteran center Mitch Morse to start ahead of Fortner.

It seems that they are likely content with the status of the current projected starting offensive line, especially on the interior.

In addition to the previously mentioned players, Jacksonville’s IOL players include Tyler Shatley, Chandler Brewer, Blake Hance, Walker Little, Keaton Sutherland, Cole Van Lanen and Darryl Williams.

They also have 2023 seventh-rounder Cooper Hodges who should be back from his season-ending patella injury, according to head coach Doug Pederson.

Let’s take a look at possible draft scenarios for the Jaguars in the draft.

2024 NFL Draft Scenario No. 1: Jaguars use Day 3 pick to draft guard for depth, future replacement

The Jaguars have far too many other positions of need for them to use one of their early round picks to address the lack of depth on the offensive line.

But in the spirit of thinking ahead, it would be smart to bring in a guard who could step up and start if need be. Even smarter if the player would eventually replace the veteran right guard when it’s time.

While Scherff has been a leader and model example for the Jaguas’ offensive linemen, time waits for no one.

Though he’s never missed a game during his time in Jacksonville, he played through injuries for a majority of last season.

With the injury turnover at other positions, he was a constant, but as he nears his 10^th season in the NFL it’s time to start thinking about replacing him.

Enter, Boston College's Christian Mahogany.

Mahogany had more than 1,500 snaps at right guard during his career according to Pro Football Focus. But he started his career at left guard, giving him flexibility to play both spots if needed.

He was in a run-heavy system in college and will need time to get adjusted to NFL pass rushers, but that’s why you make a move now. He’ll have time to grow and learn before he gets his opportunity to shine.

2024 NFL Draft Scenario No. 2: Jaguars draft center, signal end of Luke Fortner’s Jaguars’ tenure

If the Jaguars draft a center, it’ll signal the end of Luke Fortner’s tenure with the team. Fortner has already likely been relegated to the bench with the Jaguars bringing in Morse this offseason.

If they take a center with a late round pick it’ll likely signal a complete loss of confidence in the 2022 third rounder.

Fortner struggled last season and was often blown backwards by defenders. But the belief is that he will be able to bounce back after learning from a veteran player like Morse.

But if the team is dissatisfied with his performance to the point of drafting another center, it’d likely signal the end of his tenure with the Jaguars.

A local player to watch would be Kingsley Eguakun, a Sandalwood graduate who played at the University of Florida.

2024 NFL Draft Scenario No. 3: Jaguars don’t address IOL at all through the draft, stick with talent on the team

With the announcement that the Jaguars have re-signed Tyler Shatley, this is a likely scenario. It is certainly a gamble, but most of the draft is anyways.

The Jaguars have established their starters for the 2024 season. They have depth beyond them, but it’s asking a lot of their reserve players.

The 2023 season gave a snapshot of how quickly offensive line depth is could come into play. The left guard spot was a revolving door last season, occupied by different players in what felt like a week-by-week basis.

But if Jacksonville’s brass is confident in their pre-draft moves along the offensive line, they’ll invest capital in other areas.

Juston Lewis is a Jacksonville Jaguars beat reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on the website formerly known as Twitter at @JustonLewis_.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars 2024 NFL Draft: 3 scenarios to address inside OL depth