Dwayne

Gratz

And he might very well be Jacksonville’s No. 1 corner in arguably the league’s weakest secondary. A 5-foot-11, 201-pound press cornerback, Gratz has drawn internal comparisons to Carlos Rogers, whom new Jags DBs coach DeWayne Walker coached as a Redskin. Gratz could offer sneaky rookie IDP value.

The Jags are desperate for the top part of their draft class to make an instant impact, and Gratz is no different. He’ll step right in as a Week 1 starter and will be expected to deal with some of the game’s No. 1 wideouts. The Jags’ only other options are Alan Ball and Marcus Trufant. It’s going to be a secondary worth attacking in fantasy matchups.

An almost certain Week 1 starter, Gratz has adequate size (5-foot-11, 201) and can play bump-and-run coverage, which is the style Jacksonville will use under Walker and rookie coach Gus Bradley. “He’s just a football player,” said Walker. “He reminds me a little bit of Rogers when I had him as a rookie. He’s tough and just a smooth player. And you can see he has good football instincts.”

Gratz surprisingly comes off the board before his more heralded secondary mate Blidi Wreh-Wilson. He should see heavy snaps as a rookie as the Jags remake their secondary. Gratz (5-11, 201) started 41 games for the Huskies, tallying eight picks. Overshadowed by Wreh-Wilson, Gratz made a name for himself with a standout Combine, running 4.47 with a 38-inch vertical, 10-foot-5 broad jump and 22 reps on the bench. He plays with enough physicality to excel as a press corner.

Gratz went down in the first half after getting hit in the leg by Anthony Fasano. “I don’t think it’s anything serious,” he said. "[The boot] is basically a precaution.” Mike Harris is Gratz’s backup opposite Alan Ball.

Gratz, who started opposite Alan Ball, limped off just before halftime. He’s seen a good amount of Dwayne Bowe and has fared pretty well against the veteran receiver. Mike Harris entered the game in Gratz’s place.

Perhaps he’ll be ready for Week 5 in St. Louis. With both Gratz and Alan Ball banged up, the Jags have been mixing and matching at cornerback, with predictably poor results.

Gratz has a legit high-ankle sprain. The third-round rookie has been forced to sit and watch his teammates get humiliated in four straight games. The Jags secondary should be the antidote for what ails Sam Bradford and the Rams offense. St. Louis has been installed as a 13-point favorite.

Gratz’s injury was initially classified as a shin issue. He’s expected to be sidelined at least three weeks. Gratz never missed a game in college at Connecticut. Mike Harris or Will Blackmon will start in Gratz’s place.

He should be considered out indefinitely. The 64th overall pick in the draft, Gratz earned a starting job out of training camp across from Alan Ball. The Jags are in rough shape at cornerback entering Week 2 against the Raiders.