<
        >

          NFL Nation

          Free-agency needs: Offensive line

          • Michael DiRocco, ESPN Staff WriterFeb 27, 2015, 11:30 AM ET
            Close
              Michael DiRocco is an NFL reporter at ESPN. DiRocco covers the Jacksonville Jaguars. He previously covered the University of Florida for over a decade for ESPN.com and Florida Times-Union. DiRocco graduated from Jacksonville University and is a multiple APSE award winner. You can follow DiRocco on Twitter at @ESPNdirocco.
            Follow on X

          Here is the fifth of a 10-part series breaking down the Jacksonville Jaguars’ free-agency needs, position by position:

          Offensive line

          Who is on the roster: C Luke Bowanko, G Zane Beadles, G Brandon Linder, G Tyler Shatley, T Cody Booth, T Luke Joeckel, T Josh Wells, T Brennan Williams, and T Sam Young.

          Players scheduled to become free agents on March 10: G/C Jacques McClendon and T Austin Pasztor.

          Analysis: The unit was better in 2014 than it was in 2013 in the run game (78.8 yards per game in ’13; 102.1 yards per game in ’14) but struggled in pass protection. The Jaguars gave up a franchise-record and league-high 71 sacks last season, and while they weren’t all the fault of the offensive line, the majority were. Joeckel looked nothing like the No. 2 overall pick that he was in 2013, but the Jaguars say that’s because he spent the offseason between his first and second seasons rehabbing an ankle injury and wasn’t able to get stronger and fix footwork issues. Beadles was signed to a five-year, $30-million contract and struggled in the new offense before finally becoming more consistent over the final six weeks. Bowanko wasn’t supposed to be on the field until later in the season but was forced into action because McClendon really struggled in the first two games. Bowanko was up and down, but the Jaguars are pleased with his development. Linder was the team’s best and most consistent lineman. The right tackle spot was a mess, which three players having started games at that spot because of injuries. Pasztor was supposed to be the full-time starter there but missed eight games because of hand and hamstring injuries. Shatley, Booth and Wells were undrafted rookies. The Jaguars are committed to zone blocking but will at times use gap schemes.

          NFL free agents of interest: GM David Caldwell said he wants to upgrade at right tackle. If Green Bay doesn’t franchise Bryan Bulaga, he should be atop the Jaguars’ list. Derek Newton and Marshall Newhouse are other names to watch. Caldwell also wants to add some veteran competition at other spots, too, so guard Mike Iupati, guard James Carpenter, guard Orlando Franklin and center Rodney Hudson are other names to watch.