The Jacksonville Jaguars signed fourth-round selection and offensive lineman Ben Bartch to his rookie deal Friday, giving them six members from April’s draft who are under contract. It also marks the halfway mark for the class as the Jags made a total of 12 selections.
Bartch, 21, was selected with the No. 116th overall selection of the 2020 draft out of St. Johns University (Minnesota). In the earliest stages of his career there, he played tight end before moving to left tackle after adding some bulk. During his junior season, he became a second-teamer for the All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Association and followed that up by becoming a a first-teamer as a senior.
Bartch became well known before the draft process because of the unusual routine he used to add weight, which was drinking a shake that consisted of seven scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, grits, peanut butter, a banana, and gatorade. During the combine, he walked NFL Network’s Colleen Wolfe through how he concocted it, which went viral on social media.
When the team drafted him, the front office referred to Bartch as a developmental player who they thought was flexible enough to play multiple positions on the offensive line. Ultimately, it feels as though he’ll settle in at right guard and maybe push A.J. Cann for a starting role in 2021.
Bartch’s deal is projected to be a four-year one worth just over $4 million, per Over the Cap. His signing bonus will be just over $763K which will be evenly distributed throughout each year on his deal.
