Khalil Mack is a pass rusher that not many were familiar with when the season started but as the season went on people took notice. Mack played four seasons for Buffalo, where he steadily became more productive each season. He finished his career with 75 tackles for loss and 28.5 sacks, including 10.5 sacks his final season.
Mack has just about everything you look for in a pass rusher. At 6'3" and around 250 pounds, he's long, quick and strong for his size. Not only is Mack a handful for opposing teams rushing the passer, but he's a willing and capable run defender as well.
Where Khalil Mack Wins
The biggest area Mack wins on the field is just his overall athleticism. He has the ability to not only beat offensive lineman off the edge with his speed and bend around the edge, but he can also over power offensive lineman with his bull rush and walk them backwards. He does a nice job converting speed to power and setting up an inside release move, which has netted him a few of his sacks.
Versatility is another area where Mack shines. He was more of a 3-4 outside linebacker in Buffalo's scheme, but he's shown that he agile and fluid in space, not having many issues playing coverage or the run. Mack has the athleticism to match up with tight ends down the seam if necessary and seems comfortable in zone coverage. He could fit as a LEO for the Jaguars, but due to his versatility he might be an even better fit at the SAM linebacker position, similar to how the Seahawks use Bruce Irvin.
Finally, even when Mack doesn't show up on the stat sheet, if you watch the games you still notice him being disruptive in the backfield. He will often move the quarterback off their spot and disrupt running plays in the backfield. While sacks are the money stat, it's still important to have a player who can consistently disrupt the backfield.
Where Khalil Mack Needs To Improve
The biggest area Mack needs to improve in my opinion is using his hands. While he can overwhelm offensive lineman with his speed and power, sometimes he tends to get swallowed up by offensive lineman because he doesn't use his hands well yet, to rip free of blocks.
Another area of concern is while Mack's first-step off the snap isn't slow, it's not necessarily quick either. This could be a reason why Mack stands up to rush so often, as it can lessen the effect of a slower first step, but for the Jaguars it's likely he would be playing with both his hand on the ground at the 9-technique and rushing from the SAM linebacker position.
Overall Impression
If the Jaguars decide they don't want to spend the No. 3 overall pick on a quarterback, Buffalo's Khalil Mack would be a fantastic choice for the pick. As mentioned he can play the rushing SAM linebacker role and the LEO end position for the Jaguars in their scheme. Not counting Jadeveon Clowney, I'm of the opinion that Mack is the best scheme-fit pass rusher for the Jaguars in the draft.
Grade: 7.75 - Day one pick