What the Jacksonville Jaguars do in the 2017 NFL draft will go a long way in determining whether or not they view former third overall pick Blake Bortles as a franchise quarterback or not. His fifth-year team option hasn’t been exercised yet and he’s coming off a bad 2016 season.
2017 NFL mock draft: Taylor Moton to the Jacksonville Jaguars
The big blocker will provide protection for Blake Bortles.
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
But is that enough to give up on a top five totally? If it isn’t, the Jaguars need to continue adding players around him in the hope that he plays more like he did in 2015 than he did last season.
Alfie Crow of Big Cat Country is back up in the SB Nation NFL writers’ mock draft to make his pick for the Jaguars.
35. Taylor Moton, OT/G, Western Michigan
Crow: After adding another piece to their defensive line in the first round with Solomon Thomas, the Jacksonville Jaguars stay in the trenches in round two picking up offensive lineman Taylor Moton. The Jaguars needed to beef up both lines of scrimmage and Moton gives the Jaguars someone who can compete/start right away at the right guard position and potentially in the future kick out to right tackle if need be.
Moton was a four-year starter at Western Michigan playing both right guard and right tackle, but as a rookie he can plug in at right guard for the Jaguars, allowing A.J. Cann to flip back to left guard where he played in college. Moton will need to work on his pass pro at the NFL level, especially if the team has visions of moving him to right tackle, but he should be at worst a good power-run blocker as a rookie, which is an area the Jaguars desperately need to improve.
Analysis: It can be easy to criticize this pick because Moton played on the right side in the Mid-American Conference. However, having good blockers on the right side has become just as important as the left side. Moton is an experienced player, starting 52 games at Western. Even coming out of the MAC, that type of experience should have Moton’s technique and strength ready for the NFL. Taking an offensive lineman is the smart move for the Jaguars. For me this is a reach on Moton, but when you have a quarterback like Bortles in place, and you still like him, you have to build around him.
Dan’s top five players remaining
- 26. Tim Williams, LB, Alabama
- 30. Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU
- 31. Charles Harris, DE/OLB, Missouri
- 34. Sidney Jones, CB, Washington
- 35. Obi Melifonwu, S, Connecticut
Jaguars picks
- 1-4: Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford
- 2-35: Taylor Moton, OT/G, Western Michigan
The last pick of the day will land at 3 p.m. ET with Windy City Gridiron making the pick for the Chicago Bears at No. 36.
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