Brandon Linder is Jaguars’ most underappreciated player

When Jacksonville Jaguars center Brandon Linder signed his five-year, $51.7 million contract extension back in 2017, that deal made him the highest-paid player at his position in the NFL. Though his contract has since been eclipsed by a few others, he remains among the most productive interior linemen in the league.

Jags fans are certainly well aware of how good Linder is, but the lack of offensive production in Jacksonville in recent years has masked his strong play at times. The numbers don’t lie, though. And according to NFL Network analytics expert Cynthia Frelund, he’s the Jaguars’ most underappreciated player.

On 341 pass blocking snaps in 2020, Pro Football Focus had Linder allowing zero QB hits, only one sack and just three hurries for a total of four pressures. He also earned the highest pass-blocking grade among centers (87.6), which matches my computer-vision results showing that he prevented defenders from entering a 3-foot halo around his QB at the best rate amongst centers on passing downs. It seems Urban Meyer is giving us some major clues about his desire to run the ball (drafting running back Travis Etienne in the first round) and protect No. 1 overall selection Trevor Lawrence as he adjusts to the NFL game, which makes Linder’s role even more impactful.

His pass-blocking acumen will be key in the development of Lawrence, who will need time in the pocket to acclimate to the speed of professional football. The Jags will also rely on him to create holes up front for backs James Robinson and Travis Etienne.

Linder also graded very highly in 2020, according to Pro Football Focus, earning an 80.0 grade. He continues to play at a very high level, and though his contract is set to expire after the 2022 season, Jacksonville will look to keep the 29-year-old around for a while if his play continues at this level.