Yes, even with Geoff Swaim and James O'Shaughnessy (JO for short) now in the fold, the Jaguars must address the tight end position in the draft. Swaim and JO make for two solid depth pieces. Both have versatility at the position. Both have shown off the ability to catch passes at a relatively high level, and both are good enough when it comes to blocking. But for Nick Foles to reach the highest peaks of his game, a difference-making tight end will be a necessity. In Philly, Foles had at least two difference makers at the position in each of the last two seasons. In 2017 Trey Burton and Zach Ertz carried the load, and in 2018 they Eagles added Dallas Goedert to the mix, after losing Burton in free agency. During his best season in the league, back in 2013, Foles had Brent Celek to toss the ball to. Swaim and JO are many things, but real difference makers they are not.
Luckily for the Jaguars, there are a number of tight ends in the upcoming draft class that project to be just that. In the first round, the Jaguars could target either of the two Iowa standouts at the position, TJ Hockenson or Noah Fant. In round two Fant may still be available, and there's a good chance that Irv Smith, the balanced tight end from Bama, could be there at pick 38. Beyond that, there are players like Dawson Knox, Jace Sternberger, Josh Oliver, and Foster Moreau that could be the difference maker the Jaguars should covet. If I were the Jags, I would make sure that either Fant, Hockenson, or Smith ended up on my roster. But without question, the Jaguars need to find a tight end they believe can be a playmaker and safety net for Nick Foles. |
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