2024 NFL Draft: OL Prospects For the Jaguars to Watch

Which offensive line prospects could the Jaguars look at in the draft?

Mar 3, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas State offensive lineman Cooper Beebe (OL07) during the / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Jaguars offensive line was the team's most apparent weak spot throughout 2024. The front office addressed some needs by re-signing Ezra Cleveland and adding veteran center Mitch Morse. 

Cleveland has proven to be a reliable starter in this league, he started 45 consecutive games for the Vikings from 2020-2023. Morse was a Pro Bowler in 2022, he would likely serve as a better option than last year's starter, Luke Fortner. 

Although the offensive line appears to have five clear starters, they would benefit from adding depth and beginning to develop young talent (Cam Robinson and Brandon Scherff’s contracts expire in 2025, Morse expires in 2026). 

Olu Fashanu (Penn State)

Fashanu’s most glaring attribute (besides his 6-foot-6 315 pound frame is his motor). While some left-tackles take a more patient, stoic approach, Fashanu prefers to carry himself like a bully. 

Fashanu uses his height to his advantage, but he also understands the importance of establishing low leverage when exploding through defenders. When pass-blocking, Fashanu maintains solid flexibility and a strong, balanced base. This allows him to neutralize the rusher, by anchoring himself into the ground at the point of contact.

Generally, the consensus All American does a decent job at recovering if he doesn't establish strong initial positioning/hand placement. At times, he struggled moving laterally when defenders crossed his face. While he is nimble for an offensive lineman, Fashanu occasionaly had a tough time keeping up with quicker linebackers/safeties once he approached the by second level. 

Veteran left tackle Cam Robinson’s contract expires in 2025. If Fashanu impresses the Jaguars staff this season, he might serve as a better (and more affordable) option for the team's long-term future.

Cooper Beebe (Kansas State)

Desping being the second-highest rated guard in the FBS according to PFF, Beebe is not among the higher ranked offensive lineman in this class. When a player's draft ranking doesn’t match their on-field performance, it can often be attributed to a poor showing at the Combine. This wasn’t the case for Beebe. The Kansas State alum received the highest grade among all guards at the NFL Combine, according to the NFL Next Gen Stats Model.

At Kansas State, Beebe was a 2-time Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the year and a 2-time First-Team All American. His most impressive work comes in open space, particularly as a pulling guard. For a 6-foot-4 335 pound offensive lineman, Beebe is very light on his feet (5.03 40 yard dash, 4.61 shuttle). 

At his size, chasing down linebackers and safeties is no easy task. Beebe has made a name for himself by annihilating smaller blockers when pulling. The 2-time All-American generates enough torque with his lower body that he rarely needs to slow down his feet to gather himself in the open field.

Although Beebe can be a bowling ball once he generates some momentum, he isn't overwhelmingly powerful when coming directly out of his stance. While his height and weight fit that of a prototypical guard, his shorter arms make it a challenge for Beebe to gain good hand placement on defenders.

Graham Barton (Duke)

Barton started his college career off as a center, where he was named a Second Team All-American by The Athletic. After his freshman season, Barton was moved to left tackle, where he was a 2-time First-Team All ACC selection through the rest of his college career. Upon entering the NFL, Barton is projected to move back to center. 

The Duke product's unique proportions may serve as one of the reasons he is being moved to the interior offensive line. Despite being 6-foot-5 and 313 pounds, Barton’s shorter arm length can allow taller, explosive rushers to generate forceful contact before Barton is able to establish solid hand placement. 

His tendency to lose the initial battle at the line of scrimmage was often balanced out by his powerful lower body. The Duke product develops a great deal of power after digging his feet into the ground for just a few steps, which was particularly evident in run-blocking situations. His mobility was showcased on trap pull plays, where he was asked to shoot to the right side the line from the left tackle position and block an edge rusher.

Barton seems to be aware and accountable of his mistakes. You rarely see him fall for the same pass-rush rush move twice. His in-game adjustments are calculated, and will benefit him at the next level.

Kiran Amegadjie (Yale) 

Amegadjie considers himself to be the “most interesting prospect” in the 2024 Draft, and he has a solid point. 

The Ivy-League scholar didn’t play football until he was a junior in high school, but he racked up 22 offers by National Signing Day. Rather than thrusting himself into the spotlight at an FBS program, Amegadjie prioritized his education and committed to Yale. During his time as a Bulldog, Amegadjie was a First-Team FCS All-American and a First-Team All Ivy-League selection. 

Amegadjie’s size and raw athleticism make him hard to ignore, but he is still viewed as an under-developed project despite his glaring potential. His footwork can be choppy and inconsistent, especially in pass protection. In the rare instances that he loses the immediate battle at the line of scrimmage, he lacks the technique to recover and gain secondary hand placement.

Thanks to his long arms and his lateral quickness, you rarely see a pass-rusher successfully turn the corner on Amegadjie.  Although his footwork could be improved upon from a technical standpoint, his natural agility allows him to mirror quicker, savvy defenders. His exceptional flexibility puts him in a position to quickly adjust his leverage based on the defender that he is matched up against. For somebody who has not played football their entire life, Amegadjie is drawn to the physical aspect of the game. He seeks contact and consistently plays through the whistle. 

Although he isn't expected to be an NFL starter immediately, his upside is strong enough to consider taking the chance.