Impact Analysis: How Josh Allen fits with the Jaguars
Perry Knotts (NFL)
Justin Rowland • CatsIllustrated.com
@RowlandRIVALS
The NFL Draft's three days in Nashville, Tenn., are over, but for Kentucky's five drafted players and the other Wildcats signing undrafted free agent contracts, the work is just beginning.
Here's a series looking at how Kentucky's new and potential professionals could fit in with the teams they have landed with.
Josh Allen (Jacksonville Jaguars)
When front office officials with the Jaguars say they had Josh Allen pegged as one of their top five best available prospects in the draft its easy to believe them. Most mocks had Allen going to the New York Giants with the No. 6 pick, and it was a shocker when the NFC East team reached for Duke quarterback Daniel Jones. But Jacksonville was the chief beneficiary and scooped Allen up without much hand-wringing.
“When he fell to us, he was a superior football player – and too good a player to possibly pass up,” said Tom Coughlin, the Jaguars Executive Vice President of Football Operations.
Allen, like most top 10 picks, wasn't drafted as a down the road fit. He was picked as someone who is expected to make a big contribution right away, not only as a pass rusher but in run support and dropping into coverage. NFL analysts have said the only question about Allen is how, exactly, the Jaguars might plan to use him because of his versatility.
The Jaguars gave some thought to Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver, Coughlin said, “But if we were going to go defense it was going to be more on the edge.”
Roster Resource already lists Allen as the likely SLB in Jacksonville's defense. Allen will be a part of an established defense. The Jaguars ranked fifth in the NFL in total yards allowed per game in 2018.
But the Jaguars were tied for 22nd in the league in sacks (37) so Allen appears to fill a significant need. The Jaguars' decision to part ways with Dante Fowler before last season was one reason for the pass rushing regression on the edge and Allen could be an instant upgrade there.
Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell said after the Allen pick that the initial plan is to rotate Allen and defensive end Yannick Ngakoue on first and second downs and then play the two opposite one another in third down passing situations. The 24-year old Ngakoue (6'2, 246 pounds) had 9.5 sacks last season and has 29.5 quarterback takedowns in 48 career NFL games.
Pro Football Focus liked the Jaguars' pick, with its team of analysts writing, "Allen is a freakishly athletic specimen that can win on outside moves, with pure speed, and with his hands. He’ll need to develop a better inside counter at the next level to maximize potential, but he’s already so talented and should be an impact player early for the Jags as a result."
By bolstering the pass rush and adding quarterback Nick Foles to the equation on the other side of the ball, as well as drafting to some offensive needs, Jaguar executives have said they plan to be contenders in 2019 after a 5-11 season.
Perry Knotts (NFL)
Justin Rowland • CatsIllustrated.com
@RowlandRIVALS
The NFL Draft's three days in Nashville, Tenn., are over, but for Kentucky's five drafted players and the other Wildcats signing undrafted free agent contracts, the work is just beginning.
Here's a series looking at how Kentucky's new and potential professionals could fit in with the teams they have landed with.
Josh Allen (Jacksonville Jaguars)
When front office officials with the Jaguars say they had Josh Allen pegged as one of their top five best available prospects in the draft its easy to believe them. Most mocks had Allen going to the New York Giants with the No. 6 pick, and it was a shocker when the NFC East team reached for Duke quarterback Daniel Jones. But Jacksonville was the chief beneficiary and scooped Allen up without much hand-wringing.
“When he fell to us, he was a superior football player – and too good a player to possibly pass up,” said Tom Coughlin, the Jaguars Executive Vice President of Football Operations.
Allen, like most top 10 picks, wasn't drafted as a down the road fit. He was picked as someone who is expected to make a big contribution right away, not only as a pass rusher but in run support and dropping into coverage. NFL analysts have said the only question about Allen is how, exactly, the Jaguars might plan to use him because of his versatility.
The Jaguars gave some thought to Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver, Coughlin said, “But if we were going to go defense it was going to be more on the edge.”
Roster Resource already lists Allen as the likely SLB in Jacksonville's defense. Allen will be a part of an established defense. The Jaguars ranked fifth in the NFL in total yards allowed per game in 2018.
But the Jaguars were tied for 22nd in the league in sacks (37) so Allen appears to fill a significant need. The Jaguars' decision to part ways with Dante Fowler before last season was one reason for the pass rushing regression on the edge and Allen could be an instant upgrade there.
Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell said after the Allen pick that the initial plan is to rotate Allen and defensive end Yannick Ngakoue on first and second downs and then play the two opposite one another in third down passing situations. The 24-year old Ngakoue (6'2, 246 pounds) had 9.5 sacks last season and has 29.5 quarterback takedowns in 48 career NFL games.
Pro Football Focus liked the Jaguars' pick, with its team of analysts writing, "Allen is a freakishly athletic specimen that can win on outside moves, with pure speed, and with his hands. He’ll need to develop a better inside counter at the next level to maximize potential, but he’s already so talented and should be an impact player early for the Jags as a result."
By bolstering the pass rush and adding quarterback Nick Foles to the equation on the other side of the ball, as well as drafting to some offensive needs, Jaguar executives have said they plan to be contenders in 2019 after a 5-11 season.
