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Dante Fowler Jr., OLB, Florida
Another losing season has earned the Jaguars yet another high pick in the NFL Draft. This year, they have the 3rd pick and plenty of ways to use it. With Mariota still on the board, they could look to trade this pick. They could also use it to fix that 32nd ranked offense, but I think that they already have a lot of young talent on the offensive side of the ball that will look to breakout this upcoming season. Instead, Gus Bradley will look to add depth and youth to his defense by adding a pass rusher instead. This will allow the Jags to pick from some of the best players available while addressing any concerns they have with their current DE's (Cris Clemons being on the wrong side of 30, Andre Branch being on the last year of his contract).
With that in mind, the Jaguars two best options are going the be Dante Fowler Jr. and Vic Beasley. While I do not think you can go wrong with either player, I'm picking Fowler here because I would rather take a kicker straight out of high school than a player from trash Clemson he's a better fit for the Jags scheme.
As a LEO in the Jagaurs scheme, he will be asked to do what he does best: win one on one matchups and explode through the holes to create problems in the backfield for the opposing offense. Fowler's versatility will allow him to operate from a standing or a hands down position and create pressure from any area of the field.
So how do you know Dante Fowler Jr. isn't just going to turn into Derrick Harvey II: Pine Rider Express? I believe that Fowler has the speed, size and versatility to contribute to the Jags already-impressive front seven. He has the hands and athleticism to shred blocks and get to the ball carrier or rush the passer. Unlike Harvey who didn't have the motor or the mentality to be anything in the NFL, Fowler has the tenacity to be a threat on every down.
He's explosive enough to hit quarterback before they can get the ball off or chase down running backs before they can accelerate.
He already has the skills to be a great overall defensive lineman. He has something that he needs to work on, but he has a lot of upside and will be given the opportunity to sit behind and learn from the veterans the Jags already have on the their line. Under Gus Bradley's coaching, he will evolve into a premier player who will terrorize offense for years.
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3) Jacksonville Jaguars ("Snax") - Dante Fowler Jr., OLB, UF - [Explanation]
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