2019 NFL Draft: Jacksonville Jaguars 7-round mock
By Joe Romano
Round 4 – Pick 109
Ryan Bates, G, Penn State
A team that prides itself on being a run-first team should have a strong offensive line. Right now Jacksonville’s unit is trending in that direction. Center Brandon Linder is a stud. They have a pair of tackles in Cam Robinson and Jeremy Parnell that they like. They signed Andrew Norwell to a massive deal last year to sure up one interior spot. At the other guard they are set to lose AJ Cann and that will leave a hole.
Ryan Bates of Penn State could fill that gap. Bates is a former tackle turned guard who can play both in a pinch. His best spot is on the inside where his lack of length and athleticism are not as exposed. He excels on the inside at moving laterally and getting in the way. In pass protection he’s got strong hands that can keep defenders off of him, despite his lack of length. Bates would be a strong addition to an offensive line that could push Jacksonville to another level.
Round 5 – No Pick
Round 6 – Pick 180
Bruce Anderson, RB, North Dakota State
Despite having Leonard Fournette and Carlos Hyde on the roster, the running back depth chart in Jacksonville takes a big hit when T.J. Yeldon leaves. Yeldon has a defined role as a pass catching back capable of playing on the outside if need be. The first two are clearly the lead backs, but grabbing a running back capable of replacing Yeldon should be an area the Jaguars focus on.
In the sixth round, North Dakota State’s Bruce Anderson would make a ton of sense. Coming from one of the most successful programs in the country, Anderson was uber productive in college. He looks to be the natural pass catcher that could slide in that Yeldon role. With the injury history of both Fournette and Hyde, a back-up could be needed to do even more. Anderson is a great value this late in the draft.
Next: Best NFL player from each state
Round 7 – Pick 238
Drue Tranquill, LB, Notre Dame
Jacksonville has a pair of dynamic, hyper athletes at the linebacker position in Myles Jack and Telvin Smith. Those two will not come off the field at all. What they could use is a bigger linebacker who can come in on obvious run downs to supplement them with physicality.
Last year the team grabbed Wisconsin linebacker Leon Jacobs in the seventh round. They stick to the same position here and go with Notre Dame’s Drue Tranquill to compete with Jacobs. Tranquill is a high IQ linebacker who is not an elite athlete. He’s a very productive player who excels attacking the line of scrimmage and reading his keys. Tranquill could also help on special teams and excel in a limited role. This is a depth pick and competition for that third linebacker spot.