The Jacksonville Jaguars’ offensive line simply wasn’t good enough in 2023. Not only did it struggle to protect Trevor Lawrence, who dealt with injury after injury late in the year, it also failed to clear room in the run game.
So how will the Jaguars fix it?
Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke told reporters last week that he expects Cam Robinson to stay on the roster, he’s in negotiations to bring Ezra Cleveland back. So where will the upgrades come?
One potential solution is Washington offensive lineman Troy Fautanu, an experienced player who spent most of his Huskies career at left tackle, but may begin his NFL career at guard.
Here’s what Jaguars fans should know about Fautanu:
Strengths
Troy Fautanu using the snatch trap pic.twitter.com/lx7iFohS7s
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) February 28, 2024
Fautanu is an easy mover who can slide his feet into position quickly and smoothly. As a consequence, he’s rarely in a bad spot and he’s able to mix up his sets to keep pass rushers guessing. His athleticism and quick feet also make him a valuable offensive lineman pulling into space. Washington loved to throw quick screens and send Fautanu out to hunt and destroy a linebacker or defensive back out in open space.
Weaknesses
Here's Troy Fautanu against Jordan Burch. Burch gains control upon contact. pic.twitter.com/mzUqplnmTo
— Iggles Nest (@IgglesNest) March 3, 2024
Size and length are the main question marks for Fautanu, who may be better off kicking inside to guard. He has the squat build and lower body push to feasibly make that transition, although he may need to develop the strength element of his game before he’s ready to take on NFL defensive tackles. It doesn’t help either that he’s susceptible to countermoves as he has a tendency to lunge with his punches in an effort to be a mauler.
Game to watch: Washington vs. Michigan (Jan. 8, 2024)
Troy Fautanu is a DAWG 🤧 pic.twitter.com/l6LpTg3VSW
— Brad (@Graham_SFN) March 3, 2024
The Huskies struggled to handle the overwhelming defense of Michigan in the College Football Playoff National Championship earlier this year. While UW only managed 13 points in the loss, it wasn’t the fault of Fautanu who stepped up and put together one of his best performances in the biggest game. No Huskies player earned a higher grade from PFF than Fautanu, who was credited with allowing Michael Penix Jr. to be hit on just one of his 56 pass blocking snaps.
Stats to know
A 317-pound man moving like this is CRAZY. (h/t @TampaBayTre)@tFautanu | @UW_Football pic.twitter.com/J57YGktMpU
— NFL (@NFL) March 4, 2024
Instead of game statistics (as there aren’t many for offensive linemen beyond PFF grades), we’ll look to his combine numbers. Fautanu recorded a 32.5-inch vertical jump, 113-inch broad jump, and 5.01 40-yard dash. His relative athletic score (RAS) from those numbers ranked 80th out of more than 1,300 qualifying offensive tackles since 1987.
Why he could be the pick
The Jaguars offensive line is in a weird spot. At left tackle they have Cam Robinson, who appears likely to return in 2024, but is on the last year of an overpriced contract. There’s also Walker Little, a former second-round pick who has started only 17 of a possible 51 career games.
If Jacksonville picked Fautanu, there’s a strong chance he could start right away at guard for the Jaguars and eventually kick outside to tackle. The team values versatility and Fautanu would provide it flexible solutions to the puzzle up front.
Other potential targets
