<
        >

          NFL Nation

          Jaguars should focus on guard, tight end at combine

          • Michael DiRocco, ESPN Staff WriterFeb 27, 2018, 01:00 PM
            Close
              Michael DiRocco is an NFL reporter at ESPN. DiRocco covers the Jacksonville Jaguars. He previously covered the University of Florida for over a decade for ESPN.com and Florida Times-Union. DiRocco graduated from Jacksonville University and is a multiple APSE award winner. You can follow DiRocco on Twitter at @ESPNdirocco.
            Follow on X

          JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A closer look at the positions the Jacksonville Jaguars could target at the NFL combine in Indianapolis:

          Positions of need: Interior offensive line and tight end should be the Jaguars' top two priorities at the combine. The Jaguars finished the regular season as the NFL's top rushing team (141.4 yards per game), but their production dropped off significantly over the final six games. They averaged 51.3 fewer rushing yards in Weeks 12-17 than they did during the first 11 weeks. The running backs share the blame for that, but the interior of the offensive line struggled to create space. Guards A.J. Cann and Patrick Omameh were up and down all season; there needs to be more consistency there. Jaguars tight ends had the fewest receptions in the NFL last season (43), and only two other teams threw fewer passes to tight ends than the Jaguars (79). Marcedes Lewis is entering his 12th season, and he's more of a blocker at this point in his career. The Jaguars need a tight end to make plays in the middle of the field and down the seams and to create matchup issues outside.

          Three players the Jaguars could focus on at the combine:

          Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame: The 6-foot-5, 325-pound Nelson was a dominant player for the Irish in 2017 and is regarded by some analysts as the most polished offensive lineman and safest prospect in the draft. A national scout reportedly told WalterFootball.com that Nelson is a future Pro Bowler similar to Logan Mankins. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. believes Nelson could be a top-15 pick, so the Jaguars, who pick 29th, would have to make a move to get him if they're really interested.

          Mark Andrews, TE, Oklahoma: Andrews is exactly what the Jaguars need: a pass-catching tight end who can line up at multiple spots and make plays down the field. Andrews caught 112 passes for 1,765 yards and 22 touchdowns and averaged 15.8 yards per catch in three seasons with the Sooners. He can be a red zone threat because of his size (6-5, 250) and athletic ability. Andrews, who ranks as the No. 2 tight end in Kiper's latest position rankings, is a realistic option at No. 29.

          Will Hernandez, G, UTEP: What first stands out about Hernandez is his size (6-3, 340 pounds). Then there's his tenacity, power and attitude. That combination should outweigh any reservations about the level of competition he faced while playing at a smaller school. So should his performance during Senior Bowl practices, where he was one of the more impressive offensive linemen. He's a player the Jaguars could target in the second or third round.