Sports Illustrated’s Justin Melo identified the “perfect” mid-round NFL draft prospect for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
With six selections between the third and fifth rounds of this year’s draft, the Jaguars will have plenty of opportunities to bolster their roster with what can still be impactful draft picks.
The defensive tackle position remains a likely priority for the Jaguars in the draft, so Melo’s mid-round selection for Jacksonville was Penn State’s Zane Durant.
“The Jacksonville Jaguars are looking for an athletic interior defensive lineman,” Melo wrote. “Penn State’s Zane Durant landed a 92 athleticism score at the NFL Combine for running a 4.75 and leaping a 33.5-inch vertical at 290 pounds. Durant has short-area quickness that indicates he may succeed at three-technique at the next level.”
Jaguars draft prospect to watch: Penn State DT Zane Durant
Durant has played 1,631 snaps during his four-year playing career at Penn State. Measuring in at 6-1, 287 pounds, Durant is a bit undersized and saw more of his snaps come during pass rush situations.
Over the last two seasons, he’s logged 47 combined quarterback pressures, 28 of which came during the 2024 season. He recorded eight total sacks as well. Durant’s missed tackle rate dipped significantly this past season.
Zane Durant’s NFL draft profile
Here is what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had to say in his pre-draft scouting report:
“Twitchy 3-technique with rare short-area quickness. Durant’s disruptive potential is maximized in slanting/twisting schemes, where he can use his lateral quickness to beat zone blocks, slip into gaps and track down screens. His small frame and short arms make him a sitting duck as a static defender, though. His rush moves need to be sharpened and refined to give him the best chance of becoming a rotational, sub-package 3-technique in a gaming front.”
Zane Durant’s athletic profile
What is the Jaguars’ need at defensive tackle?
The Jaguars need bodies at this position group. Improved depth and competition are a must. There are currently only five defensive tackles on the roster at the moment.
But in addition to that, this is a position where more pass-rush juice is needed. While the Jaguars held up very well against the run last season, the interior defensive line, in particular, struggled to generate a consistent pass rush down the stretch and into the playoffs.
This is a position where Gladstone could very well double-dip, making multiple additions.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: ‘Perfect’ mid-round NFL draft prospect for Jaguars
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Jaguars Wire / Jaguars Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
