2023 NFL Draft: Should the Jaguars Target Gators OL O'Cyrus Torrence at No. 24?
The 2023 NFL Draft season is upon us.
Among the 32 teams building their rosters to compete for the next Lombardi Trophy is the Jacksonville Jaguars, who hold nine picks in this season’s draft -- including the No. 24 overall pick.
As we march closer and closer to April’s draft, we will look at individual draft prospects and how they would potentially fit with the Jaguars. Instead of looking at any negatives, we are going to look at what the players do well and if they could match what the Jaguars need at the specific role or position.
Next up: Florida Gators guard O'Cyrus Torrence.
Overview
Ranked a three-star recruit by 247Sports after a standout career at St. Helena College and Career Academy in Greensburg, La., Torrence earned all-state honors as a two-way offensive and defensive lineman. He left high school ranked as the No. 1,697 player in the 2019 class, the No. 145 offensive tackle, and the No. 64 recruit in the state.
Torrence received seven offers out of high school, ultimately picking Louisiana over Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee State, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Prairie View A&M, and Georgia.
Torrence started 13 games at guard as a true freshman before returning in 2020 for 11 more starts, earning Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference honors. He started 11 more games in head coach Billy Napier's offense in 2021, being named First Team All-Sun Belt Conference.
Torrence transferred to Florida in 2022, following Napier and stepping in as a starting right guard from Week 1. After starting 11 games and being named to the AP All-SEC First-Team, he became the first Gators offensive guard to be named a Consensus All-American.
What O'Cyrus Torrence Does Well
It is clear when watching Torrence that he builds his game on physicality and power. He has a wide, hulking frame that lets him stonewall smaller defenders, especially those without length. He is the type of guard who you let get off the board first considering he has the frame, length and overall size to be an intimidating force.
Torrence plays to all of these traits, too. While some bigger guards may not play up to their size and power, Torrence has no issues doing so. He plays with a strong anchor in both the running and passing game, rarely getting moved off his spot. He is able to frequently reset the line of scrimmage on down and base blocks, while also showing the core strength and lower-body flexibility to absorb power rushes.
Torrence is best as a people-mover who can displace defenders out of their gaps, but he is more than just a power guard. He has an excellent understanding of angles and aiming points as a zone blocker, frequently showing the ability to reach defenders despite not being the best athlete on the line. When attacking the second level, he does an excellent job of "shooting birds" and not overshooting his target.
In pass protection, Torrence has the grip-strength to control a defender through their frame, throwing off their momentum and dictating their rush path. He has quick eyes and feet in a phone booth to move from target to target and is rarely fooled by a blitz or a stunt upfront, always finding himself in position to make a second-effort block.
How O'Cyrus Torrrence Would Fit With the Jaguars
The Jaguars know they have to make up some ground along the offensive line. The unit performed well in 2022 considering the fact that they lost two Week 1 starters to season-ending injuries, but the Jaguars were also consistently one of the worst short-yardage offenses in the NFL.
If you are looking for reasons why Doug Pederson so frequently threw on 3rd- and 4th-and-short, it is because he had more trust in the passing game than the offensive line to grind out tough yards, especially with a backup at left guard and a rookie at center.
This is where Torrence would come into play. While he played right guard for the Gators, Torrence has entire seasons worth of starting experience at left guard, giving him the versatility the Jaguars would likely demand out of a starting guard. Torrence doesn't have the natural bend or agility of some of the Jaguars' other interior linemen, but he is a people-mover, and that is what they need next to Fortner.
Considering Torrence has over 40 games of starting experience in his career and will enter the draft as a four-year starter, he seems like the kind of rookie worth betting on next to Luke Fortner as he enters his second season. Torrence plays with great smarts and awareness, has good instincts in pass-pro to assist Fortner, and has the run-blocking floor to help cover up for some of Fortner's flaws.
Add in the fact that Torrence never allowed a sack in over 3,000 snaps in college, and he seems like a solid fit for a Jaguars team that needs to be better up the middle in 2023. Considering the two best defenders in the division play interior defensive line (DeForest Buckner/Jeffery Simmons), it makes sense to invest in a player like Torrence, even if he isn't a great athlete.
Verdict
The Jaguars very well could go with an offensive lineman with their first pick considering the current state of the group. Right tackle Jawaan Taylor is one of only two Week 1 starters who ended the year healthy, and he is a week away from becoming a free agent. Meanwhile, the Jaguars still don't have a long-term answer at left guard and depth questions at right guard.
With the Jaguars facing so many questions, a high-floor pick like Torrence would make sense at No. 24. He has the tape to justify it in a class like this, even if it wouldn't be the sexiest pick possible. He is probably an early second-round pick in a better class, but he has the traits to justify selection here as long as the Jaguars make more of a commitment to the running game.
For all of our 2023 NFL Draft profiles, click below.
