The Jacksonville Jaguars need to improve their offensive line this offseason and they have plenty of options to do so. With almost $55 million set to be available in cap space, they could do that in free agency in under two weeks, through the NFL Draft (where they lead the draft order), or through a mixture of both.
Many draft experts seem to believe they will add help by selecting Evan Neal first overall, who is a popular name at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine after he came to the event with an impressive physique and is now down to 336 pounds. And while he won’t participate in workouts while in Indianapolis, he will be interviewing with teams to help them get a feel for him in person.
When speaking with the media Thursday, he revealed that the Jags were one of the teams he spoke with so far and said the meeting went great. He added that he thought the team’s staff was also great as Doug Pederson is now running the show after being hired in early February.
Evan Neal says he just had a meeting with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and he really liked them, it went really well. #NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/ehe6AAghDU
— Luke Slabaugh (@LukeSlabaugh) March 3, 2022
After participating in 40 collegiate games, Neal’s body of work with the Alabama Crimson Tide speaks for itself as he was a Consensus All-American and earned First-Team All-Southeastern Conference honors last season. He also was a key part of the Tide’s 2020 national championship team and was their starting right tackle at that moment.
When looking at how Pederson likes to build in the trenches with big athletic players, Neal makes a lot of sense for the Jags. Then from Neal’s perspective, joining the Jags not only gives you a chance to be selected first overall, but it gives him the chance to work with a brilliant offensive mind who has won a Super Bowl.
Pederson’s track record with offensive lineman is pretty notable, too, as he’s coached Pro Bowlers at each position within the unit. That includes offensive tackles Jason Peters and Lane Johnson, center Jason Kelce, and guard Brandon Brooks. Many are also high on the Jags’ new offensive line coach, Phil Rauscher, who learned from a well-respected coach in Bill Callahan while in Washington.
If Neal was drafted by the Jags, it appears he’d be in good hands. Unfortunately, they won’t get to see him workout until his Pro Day, though, but fans can bet the Jags will jump on that opportunity and a personal workout soon.
