The next position group we're going to look at as we get ready for the 2017 NFL Draft is the defensive end position. I was going to just do the defensive line as a whole, but more content.
The Starters: Calais Campbell, Yannick Ngakoue
The Backups: Dante Fowler, Jr., Malliciah Goodman, Marcus Rush, Jonathan Woodard
What they need: The Jaguars need a primary backup at strongside and competition for weakside end.
The Jaguars defensive line overall is one of the more talented ones in the NFL, but at the defensive end position specifically there are some question marks. Campbell should be a big upgrade at strongside end, but other than that the team returns relatively the same unit, with the loss of Tyson Alualu. The team picked up Goodman and bring back Woodard from IR as primary backups to Campbell, but I'm not sure either are a lock for the roster.
At the weakside end position the Jaguars have some youth and upside. Ngakoue was a big surprise, taking over the starting role and ending the season with eight sacks. Fowler had a few flashes with his play, mostly in the run game, but left a lot to be desired as a pass rusher. Fowler needs to make a big jump in year two, else the Jaguars are in a tough spot at the position. Marcus Rush showed a lot of promise as a 3-4 linebacker with the San Francisco 49ers in the preseason last year, but again this is a position with a lot of potential and hope.
The Jaguars need to address the defensive end position early in the 2017 NFL Draft if they can, because it's got a lot of talent in the top end. You can never have enough pass rushers, because they constantly rotate. You also need to think long term and grab a top flight prospect to eventually replace Campbell or in case Fowler ends up never working out.