Jaguars Draft: Insider points to first-round prospect as 'missing' piece
The Jacksonville Jaguars sent a loud message to the NFL last season: With Trevor Lawrence at quarterback, they're here to compete. But they're still a team that's not quite as close as some of the other elite AFC squads. In order to reach that level, they're still one or two pieces away. And their best […]
The Jacksonville Jaguars sent a loud message to the NFL last season: With Trevor Lawrence at quarterback, they're here to compete.
But they're still a team that's not quite as close as some of the other elite AFC squads. In order to reach that level, they're still one or two pieces away. And their best shot to find one of those is the 24th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft.
According to ESPN's insider Jordan Reid, that could come in the shape of a defensive pick. Particularly, he mentioned one player that could be what the Jaguars are "currently missing on the backend."
Here's what Reid wrote in a recent "latest draft buzz" article:
Expect early capital to be used on players who can immediately help quarterback Trevor Lawrence or a defensive back with slot flexibility. Safety Brian Branch (Alabama) has a skill set that the Jags are currently missing on the backend. With Tyson Campbell and Darious Williams at outside corner, moving Branch into the nickel spot makes a lot of sense and gives Jacksonville a versatile defensive back to move around.
Brian Branch makes a ton of sense for the Jaguars. Keep in mind that Branch could be looked at by many teams as a nickel cornerback more than as a traditional safety. In Nick Saban's Cover 3 match defense, Branch played the role of the "star."
That means Branch consistently faced inside receivers and matched vertical routes from them in what essentially becomes man coverage within Saban's scheme. It also means he had to consistently communicate with his teammates pre-snap and post-snap.
A presence like Branch in the Jaguars' secondary could be a legit game-changer. The Alabama product can do a little bit of everything, providing the team with a highly versatile weapon.
Earlier this offseason, NFL Network's reporter Cameron Wolfe mentioned HC Doug Pederson told him that an offensive lineman or a cornerback could help take Jacksonville to the next level.
Although he's listed as a safety, you better believe Branch could be looked at as the team's missing piece on defense. And even better, he's expected to be available at No. 24.
Per Grinding the Mocks, Branch's expected draft position as of this writing is 24th overall.
