Jacksonville Jaguars: Investing in offensive line a prudent strategy
The Jacksonville Jaguars made Brandon Linder the highest-paid center in NFL history, which highlights a sound strategy for the franchise moving forward.
Because of their track record, it’s hard to know what to make of the Jacksonville Jaguars as they enter training camp and the 2017 NFL season. On paper, they have breakout potential given the talent already in-tow and their additions this offseason. Most notably, the Jaguars defense has the potential to be a top-10 unit in the league.
After flirting with that distinction with a young group last season, Jacksonville continued to spend on the open market and hit big. Now they’ll pair A.J. Bouye at cornerback with stud second-year player Jalen Ramsey. What’s more, Calais Campbell will join Malik Jackson up front to form a fearsome tandem. Throw in the addition of Barry Church and young players like Dante Fowler and Myles Jack, things are looking up.
However promising the defense looks, though, there is still apprehension about the Jaguars. Undoubtedly that stems from concerns about the offense as a whole. Yes, quarterback Blake Bortles is at the heart of that. But this is a group as a whole that has been lackluster and/or disappointing for some time now.
On Tuesday, the Jags made a move to lock up one of the surest parts of their offense. They inked center Brandon Linder to a five-year, $51.7 million extension (per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport). This deal will make him the highest-paid center in NFL history. Considering the struggles of the Jaguars offensive line, that might seem like a curious choice. However, Linder has fully earned it entering the final year of his rookie contract.
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A former third-round pick out of Miami (2014), Linder started his career at guard for the Jaguars. He stood out immediately, earning a grade of 83.8 from Pro Football Focus Edge. Though 2015 was largely lost with various injuries and ailments, Linder returned in 2016 and excelled — this time moving further inside and playing center. The former Hurricane graded out, again via PFF Edge, as the fifth-best center in the NFL last season.
Jacksonville’s struggles on the offensive line in past years have been widely noted. In their yearly rankings of offensive line units, PFF ranked the Jaguars as only the 22nd best O-line in the league for 2016, even with Linder’s stellar year.
What may shock some is that the Jags haven’t invested a ton of draft capital into the offensive line in recent years. Prior to the 2017 draft, Jacksonville hadn’t used more than a third-round pick on any offensive lineman since 2010 with the exception of selecting Luke Joeckel second-overall in 2013 — a decision that’s proved to be unwise.
On some level, there’s merit to that strategy. In doing so, the Jaguars aren’t setting themselves up for big risks and potential misses like with Joeckel, while also potentially hitting on a player like Linder. At the same time, however, the performance of their line has necessitated an upgrade for their offense to succeed.
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However, the Linder contract is the second sign this offseason that the Jaguars are taking a new course of action up front on offense. The first sign was using their second-round pick in the 2017 draft on Alabama offensive tackle Cam Robinson. Not only was that pick great value, but it fits well with their first-round selection, running back Leonard Fournette.
By most accounts, the Jaguars offense is going to be limited for as long as Blake Bortles is the quarterback. Granted, that could only be for this year before they head into a new direction. Regardless of that, though, the offense could at least be serviceable and capitalize on the likely success of the defense if they can establish a running game. The two key elements there are a talented ball-carrier and putting quality pieces on the offensive line. Jacksonville is obviously investing in both coming into 2017.
Whether Bortles improves or realizes any of his potential in 2017 is almost irrelevant to the overall point. The Jags have put the pieces on defense to win, but the offense has to at least not be a hindrance to that. Putting resources into the offensive line is pivotal to that. As stated, it helps establish the running game. Furthermore, it will also help either Bortles or whoever is next up under center in their development moving forward if their well protected.
The offensive line in Jacksonville is by no means a finished product. There are questions at tackle behind Robinson with Jeremy Parnell and 2017 trade acquisition Branden Albert, in addition to the rookie still having to prove himself. What’s more, there are also uncertainties at guard, though Patrick Omameh has shown some promise and with hope for A.J. Cann still.
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However, by locking up Linder for the foreseeable future and using a premium pick on Robinson, it’s clear that the Tom Coughlin return to the Jaguars will feature an emphasis on the offensive line. For what this team is and how they’re currently constructed, that’s a prudent course of action. Even if Bortles is done after the 2017 season, having a strong core on the O-line will be more critical than anything else on that side of the ball moving forward.