Why Zane Beadles Is Jacksonville Jaguars' Best Bet at Guard

Zane Beadles is not a fan favorite of the Jacksonville Jaguars' fanbase. His contract was expensive, and his performance in 2014 didn't warrant his wage or arguably a starting chance this season.

Elsewhere in the NFL, Beadles would likely be on the bench come Week 1 of the season. But the Jaguars aren't in a position to let Beadles go, and it's fair to say they aren't in a place to let him sit on the bench either.

In the third round of this year's NFL draft, the Jaguars selected guard A.J. Cann from South Carolina, and many expected Cann to be a solution to the right guard spot. However, despite Cann's experience and promising talent, it's not the time to start Cann.

Beadles is going to get paid $5 million in 2015 (more each season after), and that in itself is just one of the reasons to start him. If you're going to pay a player that much money, it's best to get your money's worth and to not let a financial investment go to waste so easily.

The Jaguars have done an excellent job in the draft and have made sound, but exciting additions in free agency the past few years. Beadles can still be a top addition, and even if he isn't, he's worth getting your money's worth this season.

Year	Base Salary	Roster Bonus	Workout Bonus	Total
2014	$2,975,000	$4,500,000	$25,000	$7,500,000
2015	$2,975,000	$2,000,000	$25,000	$5,000,000
2016	$4,975,000	$500,000	$25,000	$5,500,000
2017	$5,475,000	$500,000	$25,000	$6,000,000
2018	$5,475,000	$500,000	$25,000	$6,000,000

The first two years of his contract are the only guaranteed money Beadles has. In my opinion, that's all the more reason to make the most of the situation and then cut him when ready next year.

Due to his disappointing play and the insane quickness with which media and fans respond and push ideas, many people forget that Beadles made the Pro Bowl in 2012, albeit as an alternate.

However, his play in 2012 was incredible and his performances in 2013 were above-average. Beadles has shown the ability to dominate the interior; it's just a case of getting that form back.

This is not to mention the importance of having a larger veteran presence. Right tackle Jermey Parnell and Beadles would be the only two starters who can be considered veterans should both of them start.

Other than that, there are no starters on the Jaguars offense who can claim to be a legitimate veteran. The oldest player besides Parnell and Beadles, who are both 28, is tight end Julius Thomas at 26.

The offense last year saw six players(five rookies plus Luke Joeckel entering his first full year at left tackle) take starting jobs for the majority of the season. This year, all of those players will enter their second year, plus rookies Rashad Greene and T.J. Yeldon will either have big roles in the offense or become starters themselves.

Despite all this, Beadles has yet another reason to be a starter. He's improving. According to John Oehser of Jaguars.com, Beadles has been nothing but impressive since changing his stance and footwork.

John Raoux/Associated Press

It seems that Beadles also realized how poor his 2014 was, and he knew from the end of last season that competition was coming. So, instead of being a curmudgeon, an "old" dog learned new tricks. (Emphasis on the quotation marks.)

Beadles is proving that he not only deserves a starting spot, but that he also truly wants to be a starter and cares about performing for the Jaguars. Very few players adapt as quickly as Beadles has, and that's both impressive and encouraging for the future.

The point of all of this is this: The Jaguars absolutely need a stronger veteran presence, reliable performance and someone who legitimately cares about this team.

It's not easy to admit, but Beadles is a hardworking veteran with vital experience and exceptional talent, and the offense needs him. 

Where do you stand? Do you think Beadles is as valuable as he appears to be? Or is he just dead weight? Comment below and answer the poll!

All stats were provided by ESPN.com unless otherwise stated.

Evan Reier is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report covering the Jacksonville Jaguars. Follow Evan on Twitter at @evanreier.