With training camp coming up late this month, fans will finally get to monitor their favorite Jacksonville Jaguars before what will be a crucial season for the team. Of course, that includes notables like Leonard Fournette, Gardner Minshew, and Josh Allen, all of whom will need strong seasons if the Jags are to surpass their 6-10 record from 2019.
However, there also will be some unexpected veteran and rookie sleepers who have strong showings that may not be on the fan’s radar at the moment. In a recent article by Bleacher Report, writer Brad Gagnon singled out defensive lineman Dawuane Smoot to be that person for the Jags, as he’s set for a larger role if Yannick Ngakoue sits out.
The 2017 third-round pick couldn’t break through the stacked upper layer of the depth chart in his first couple of seasons, but he quietly made the most of limited opportunities in 2019 and could be ready for a larger role at the age of 25.
He can be extremely disruptive, he has tremendous closing speed as a rusher, and he’s a lot more intriguing than alternative options Lerentee McCray and Cassius Marsh.
Smoot’s emergence is something we somewhat touched on in the last episode of “Bleav in the Jags.” The reason for that is because he’s playing on a contract year and took a step in 2019. With the motivation for a new contract on his mind, it’s definitely possible he could come into camp with his hair on fire.
Smoot (listed at 264 pounds) added some weight last year and played both on the interior and the exterior of the defensive line. In the process, he was productive and accumulated the most sacks of his career (six). If Ngakoue sits out in hopes for a trade, it definitely would be a big plus for Smoot’s development as the Jags will need the defense to play to its potential if they are to exceed six wins.