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Even though their 5-11 record doesn’t reflect it, 2015 was an overall positive season for the Jacksonville Jaguars. They may have gotten smacked around defensively, but their Blake Bortles-led offense finally looked potent and ready to do some damage. So it’s pretty clear what the Jaguars have to do this offseason: catch their defense up with young talent.
They had the misfortune of losing Dante Fowler Jr. before things even started, so getting him back would be a huge boost. But what they really need to do is add defensive end Joey Bosa with the No. 5 overall pick in this year’s draft.
Eternal draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. seems to be of the opinion that since they’re getting Fowler back, the team should focus on taking defensive back Jalen Ramsey instead. The problem I have with that is a dominant pass rush changes everything. It can win you games, playoff and regular season alike, and they can even win you Super Bowls (just ask anyone from New York). Strong pass rushes cover up for everything else going on behind them. Great secondaries certainly have their place and all, but not like getting to the quarterback does.
So if the Jaguars have a legitimate shot at fielding a monstrous pass rush, I think that does more for them than banking on Fowler’s return and landing one cornerback. Both Ramsey and Bosa have been lauded as the best defensive prospect in the draft, so I suppose the Jaguars really couldn’t go wrong either way. But if sacks and quarterback pressures are key to winning football games, why pass up perhaps the best pass rusher in the draft if you can avoid it?
Ramsey may very well wind up being a great corner or safety, but I think Bosa makes the Jaguars immediately better this season and next year when Jacksonville can really go over the top to fix the secondary. In two years time the Jaguars could be a serious playoff team, and I think Bosa sets them up very well for when that time arrives.
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