2023 NFL Draft: Why the Jaguars Drafted Cooper Hodges

The Jacksonville Jaguars made sure to emphasize the offensive line during the 2023 NFL Draft, opening with a first-round tackle and ending it with a guard as one of their final selections.

The Jaguars picked Appalachian State guard Cooper Hodges at No. 226 overall in the seventh round, adding the hulking college right tackle after also drafting offensive tackle Anton Harrison in the first-round.

While Hodges spent his entire career at tackle, he reminded the Jaguars and general manager Trent Baalke of former San Francisco 49ers fifth-round pick Daniel Killgore, a college tackle at Appalachian State who converted to interior offensive line in the NFL.

Kilgore went on to play for 10 years, appearing in 106 games as a pro. 81 of those games came with the 49ers, with Kilgore starting 39 games in his seven years with the franchise -- a massive hit for a fifth-round pick.

"Years ago I was watching App State and we drafted a guy Daniel Kilgore out of App State that was playing left tackle. And similar to this year, a bunch of us were watching App State and we were watching another player. And he just kept showing up," Baalke said about Hodges.

"He started 50 or 51 games at the collegiate level. He's always been a right tackle for them. We feel he can move inside and play the guard position. We had him in here for one of the 30 visits. Really enjoyed the visit. And saw him play guard at the all-star game and felt really good about that film. So just a guy that comes in and competes."

Hodges, who was announced on stage as a guard, was a two-time team captain at Appalachian State, starting 51 games at right tackle over the last four years. During that time, he was named a two-time Second-Team All-SBC and a two-time First-Team All-SBC member.

In Jacksonville, Hodges will compete with the likes of Ben Bartch, Tyler Shatley, Blake Hance, Cole Van Lanen, and Chandler Brewer for a spot on the interior offensive line, whether as a starter at left guard or as a backup behind the left guard and starting right guard Brandon Scherff.

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