JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- No one should have been surprised that the Jacksonville Jaguars pursued and signed guard Andrew Norwell in free agency. He solved one of the biggest needs and is another piece to help complete the offense's smash-mouth, ball-control identity.

So don't be surprised if the Jaguars do something similar with their first-round draft pick later this month.

While numerous mock drafts have the Jaguars using the 29th pick on a quarterback, tight end, or receiver, it wouldn't be a stretch to see the team selecting another offensive lineman -- especially if someone unexpectedly falls.

"We know how we want to play, how we want to control the game," executive vice president of football operations Tom Coughlin said. "We'll take our shots down the field and do those types of things, but if we can maintain the ball, keep the other guy's offense off the field, again, it helps us."

The left side of the Jaguars' offensive line is set with second-year tackle Cam Robinson and Norwell alongside center Brandon Linder. Right guard A.J. Cann enters the final season of his rookie deal still needing to prove he can play consistently, and right tackle Jermey Parnell turns 32 in July having battled groin and knee injuries the past two seasons.

Selecting a tackle or guard 29th overall would upgrade the offensive line and the run game, which coach Doug Marrone said was a huge factor in the fourth quarter of the Jaguars' loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. Marrone said the Jaguars' failure to run the ball efficiently in the fourth quarter was a big reason the Jaguars couldn't hold a 10-point lead.

Leonard Fournette had an especially tough time running on first down in the second half of the 24-20 loss to the Patriots. He gained only 15 yards on 10 carries, and five of those attempts gained either 1, 0, or negative yards.

That mimics the team's late-season run-game troubles. The Jaguars led the NFL in rushing attempts (527), yards (2,262), and average per game (141.4), but their production dropped off significantly over the final six games. The Jaguars averaged 51.3 fewer rushing yards per game from Weeks 12 through 17 than they did in the first 11 games. They managed to surpass 100 yards rushing just twice in their final six contests.

Maintaining the ball and keeping the opposing offense off the field -- Coughlin's words -- depends on the run game, and adding Norwell is not enough. Another running back is not the answer, so it has to be an offensive lineman to step in on the right side. The Jaguars almost certainly will draft one at some point, but it may be their No. 1 priority and their choice at No. 29.

Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson is regarded as the best lineman in the draft, and both Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay have him going in the top 10 in their latest mock drafts. Notre Dame tackle Mike McGlinchey, Iowa center/guard James Daniels, UCLA tackle Kolton Miller, UTEP guard Will Hernandez, Oklahoma tackle Orlando Brown, Louisville tackle Gerron Christian, Texas guard/tackle Connor Williams, and Ohio State guard/center Billy Price are regarded as the top offensive linemen in the draft.

The dream scenario would be McGlinchey falling to 29 but that would be unlikely, but if he were to somehow fall into the late teens it could spur the Jaguars to do something they haven't done in general Dave Caldwell's previous five drafts: trade up.

Tight end is still a big need despite the signing of Niles Paul and Austin Seferian-Jenkins and it's easy to argue that receiver is as well, but taking a quarterback after re-signing Blake Bortles doesn't fit with a win-now approach (the Jaguars are one of the favorites in the AFC and taking a quarterback to sit in 2018 is a waste).

An offensive lineman does, however. It wouldn't be a flashy pick but it just might be the best one for the 2018 season.