Many fans had been hoping the Jacksonville Jaguars would address their offensive line and they did just that to start Day 3. With the No. 116 overall pick, the team took St. Johns offensive tackle Ben Bartch.
Bartch, 6-foot-6, 309-pounds, was a player who really made a name for himself at the Senior Bowl despite his small school label. In fact, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com had him down as a third round pick in his breakdown of Bartch.
Here is what he had to say about Bartch in his overview:
Converted tight end who has added 75 pounds of good weight since stepping on campus but retained his plus movement. Despite a lack of experience and small-school background, his traits and rapid growth in body and play caught the eye of Senior Bowl evaluators. From a skill standpoint, he’s still an undergrad, but on pace for his degree in tackle studies. He’s an enticing left tackle prospect who continues to evolve, but a step up in competition and a need for continued physical development will require patience and could determine whether his final calling is swing tackle or starter.
On film, Bartch plays with a nasty demeanor and finishes well. Obviously, with a little bit of a tight end background, he’s a solid athlete, too. As a former offensive lineman, that’s clearly something Doug Marrone was impressed by as the Jags need depth in the trenches.
Heading into the draft process the Jags’ front office seemed as though they wanted to give the starting offensive line from 2019 another shot as they felt the group was capable of better. However, taking Bartch should prove to be a smart move as Cam Robinson has dealt with injuries and is on the last year on his contract.