2019 NFL Draft: 5 players Jaguars could take in Round 1

1. Ed Oliver

There are a few instances in this year’s draft where players really seem to line up on the board with teams who really fit their personalities. Ed Oliver to the Jaguars at No. 7 is one of those spots. He isn’t the most consistent player in this draft class, but he might be one of the most talented.

The Jaguars roster is full of guys who entered the NFL with questions surrounding their focus on the game. Some of those gambles have worked, and some have failed. Don’t look for Jacksonville to stop taking big swings on big-time talent.

It’s easy to forget that Oliver was a player who most draft experts thought had a chance to go No. 1 overall throughout much of the regular season. Inconsistent play and clashes with his coaches at Houston have pushed him down most boards. None of that is a commentary on his lack of talent.

On the field, he’s someone who could solve the Jaguars’ issues at defensive tackle. He’s got excellent size and athleticism for the position. He’ll need to put on weight to hold up against the run in a 3-4, but his frame can easily hold additional pounds.

Oliver will have to go through extensive pre-draft interviews with teams to convince them of his character, but if he can pass those, he might go a lot higher in this draft than most experts are projecting. He’d be a gamble here for the Jaguars, but the potential payoff is massive.