Jaguars draft Anton Harrison in first round of NFL Draft
The 2023 offseason has seen the Jacksonville Jaguars lose several guys this offseason, and not make really any big moves in free agency because of their cap situation. But, they made a big move on draft night during the 2023 NFL Draft.The Jaguars traded back out of the 24th spot to the 25th spot with […]
The 2023 offseason has seen the Jacksonville Jaguars lose several guys this offseason, and not make really any big moves in free agency because of their cap situation. But, they made a big move on draft night during the 2023 NFL Draft.
The Jaguars traded back out of the 24th spot to the 25th spot with the New York Giants. The Jaguars also got pick 160 and 240 from the Giants. Then they trade the 25th pick to the Buffalo Bills for the 27th pick and the 130th pick. They must have liked the way the board was turning out and decided they could afford to move back.
With that pick they ended up taking left tackle Anton Harrison from Oklahoma.
With the loss of Jawaan Taylor to the Kansas City Chiefs and Cam Robinson on suspension, the Jaguars desperately needed a tackle to help protect Trevor Lawrence, and they ended up getting one of the best ones in the draft. Harrison is a guy that can play either side, and he can do it at a high level.
The Jaguars are getting a guy who allowed jus four sacks in his college career and only eight hurries last season. This guy is a stiff anchor when it comes to defenders trying to bull rush past and through him, and his footwork is nice. This is by far the right pick.
A to Z Sports' Tyler Browning evaluated Anton Harrison and wrote the following:
Does a good job of staying square with rushers and has moments of latching onto them well. Struggles when they get to their counters and can often get disengaged from them when they do so. Has occasional lapses of lurching forward. Stays square in his pass sets and does a good job with the initial rush. When they get to counters or secondary moves, is when he starts to struggle. Generally has good initial hand placement, and latches on with a firm grip. Able to torque his body to gain the advantage and gain leverage. Has the arm length to lock out locker armed defenders.
Below is The Athletic's Dane Brugler's scouting report, as well:
A two-year starter at Oklahoma, Harrison lined up at left tackle in offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby’s up-tempo, RPO-based scheme. He became a starter as a sophomore and developed into one of the better left tackles at the college level. Harrison not only displays the slide quickness to mirror speed, but he also times his body movements appropriately based on the pass rusher he is facing. While he has the active hands to divert pass rushers, his technique and strength must improve to consistently control his target. Overall, Harrison isn’t a simple evaluation because of the Sooners’ scheme, but he has the movement patterns of a much smaller player and generally recovers well thanks to his athleticism and length. Although there will be a learning curve, he has the tools to become a long-term NFL starter.
