Jaguars sign offensive lineman, opening up possibility of Aidan Hutchinson NFL Draft selection
Entering the offseason, the Jacksonville Jaguars had a plethora of needs throughout the entirety of the roster. One of the most glaring needs was on the offensive line. Jacksonville needs to protect star quarterback Trevor Lawrence. That’s why most NFL mock drafts had the Jaguars taking Evan Neal or Ikem Ekwonu with the first overall pick. But with the Jaguars recent moves in free agency, Michigan edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson could be a realistic option with the first pick.
First, the Jaguars franchise tagged left tackle Cam Robinson, who Jacksonville selected in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Robinson has started 61 games over the past five years, and he was set to hit free agency before being tagged. On Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Jaguars are expected to sign offensive lineman Brandon Scherff.
Scherff was selected by Washington with the fifth overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. The five-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro has been with Washington ever since. While Scherff has dealt with injuries throughout his career, he will provide an immediate and massive upgrade on the Jaguars offensive line.
The addition of Scherff, paired with the retention of Robinson, open up the very real possibility that Hutchinson is the first overall pick when the NFL Draft gets underway in late April.
Hutchinson has a real case to go first overall to the Jaguars
The Jaguars have needs all around the team, and defensive end and pass rush is towards the top of the list. Hutchinson checks all of the boxes. He had a dominant season for Michigan this past year, and would be a welcome addition to the defensive front in Jacksonville.
When the Jaguars tagged Robinson, ESPN NFL Draft expert Todd McShay opened up the possibility of Hutchinson going first overall.
“I had Ickey Ekwonu, the offensive tackle from North Carolina State — then the Jaguars tagged Cam Robinson for another year,” said McShay. “So my thinking is if they do that, it doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t take an offensive tackle, but all things are pointing towards Hutchinson with the number one pick.
“So Aidan Hutchinson has checked off all the boxes. You know you’re getting a relentless player who’s committed, who’s going to make your entire organization better with the way he approaches the game. I think this will be a great choice for the Jaguars, especially knowing they’ve got that left tackle locked down for at least one more year.”