With the 2020 NFL Draft now just two weeks away, it’s time to take a look at the best players at each position of need for the Jacksonville Jaguars. For our first set of rankings, we’ll start at the core of any good team, their offensive tackle play.
Unlike many recent classes, this offensive tackle class is deep and it’s talented. The top is littered with impressive prospects, but opinions vary on the rankings. Here are my top-5 offensive tackles in the 2020 NFL Draft:
5. Josh Jones – Houston
Josh Jones isn’t as polished a player as some of his fellow prospects in the class but that doesn’t mean he’s not worth selecting in the early part of the draft. He certainly has the upside to develop into one of the better tackles in the league. He’s got excellent athleticism for the position but his feet need some work. If Marrone and company dedicate the time to fixing his technique, watch out. This guy could be good.
4. Mekhi Becton – Louisville
A mountain of a man, Mekhi Becton improved greatly in 2019 for the Louisville Cardinals. For a man of his size (6-foot-7, 364-pounds), Becton has quite the agile feet. He’s a bit unrefined and used his size and power to overwhelm opponents at the collegiate level. That said, his ceiling is about as tall as he is, certainly a promising talent and one who could end up being the best in the class if a team can fine-tune his technique.
3. Andrew Thomas – Georgia
Thomas is as polished as they come regarding draft prospects. He was Jake Fromm’s trusty bodyguard and rarely lost a rep. He’s got the most experience playing left tackle and would be a safe but talented pick at No. 9. Thomas would be an instant starter and has the goods to produce at a high-level Day 1. Additionally, he is a heck of a run-blocker, something Leonard Fournette should be thrilled to see.
2. Tristan Wirfs – Iowa
Wirfs is as versatile as they come. Many in the league feel he is best suited to play guard. I think he could play either guard spot as well as be a dominant force at tackle. At the University of Iowa, Wirfs mainly played right tackle but did see some time on the left-side as well, performing admirably. He’d give Jacksonville both a versatile and dominant piece for Jay Gruden’s offense.
1. Jedrick Wills – Alabama
For my money, Alabama’s right tackle, Jedrick Wills, is the best offensive lineman in this class. While he played right tackle in Tuscaloosa, he remained the blind-side protector for the lefty phenom, Tua Tagovailoa. It might be a bit of a projection swapping over to the left side, which the Jags may ask him to do, but clearly, he’s got the goods to become a high impact starter and the team’s long-term answer at left tackle.
