Jacksonville Jaguars’ 2014 NFL Draft picks:
Round 1 (3rd Overall)
Round 2 (39th Overall)
Round 3 (70th Overall)
Round 4 (105th Overall)
Round 4 (114th Overall) (from Baltimore)
Round 5 (144th Overall)
Round 5 (150th Overall) (from Detroit)
Round 5 (159th Overall) (from Baltimore)
Round 6 (179th Overall)
Round 6 (205th Overall) (from San Francisco)
Round 7 (222nd Overall)
Led by a strong front office and promising head coach Gus Bradley, the Jacksonville Jaguars appear to be heading in the right direction. That said, these guys inherited a mess, and still have a ways to go before they are ready to be a competitive franchise.
The rebuild has certainly begun, and will continue this week at the 2014 NFL Draft. The Jaguars have 11 picks in the draft, which is tied for the second most of all teams. While many of their extra picks are in the later rounds, the Jaguars have a nice opportunity to continue to build to their core by landing talented prospects throughout the draft.
Top Needs:
Quarterback: With the failed Blaine Gabbert experience finally over, the Jaguars will certainly look to land their QB of the future in this draft. Chad Henne is already on the roster, and he brings a veteran presence that will help any incoming rookie. Henne is far from spectacular, but if needed, he will be able to hold the position down until the player they draft is ready.
It will be interesting to see when the Jaguars draft their quarterback. It appears unlikely that it will be with the 3rd overall pick, but crazier things have definitely happen. Trading into the late first or taking one in the early second seems like the most likely scenario.
Potential Targets (Projected Round): Johnny Manziel (1), Blake Bortles (1), Teddy Bridgewater (1-2), Derek Carr (1-2), Jimmy Garoppolo (2), Tom Savage (2), Zach Mettenberger (2-3), and A.J. McCarron (4-5).
Offensive Line: Aside from last year’s second overall pick Luke Joeckel and recent costless agent signee Zane Beadles, the Jaguars lack talent on the offensive line. Guys like Cameron Bradfield and Mike Brewster are decent, but there is certainly plenty of room for improvement. Taking Joeckel so high last season makes it unlikely that they will address the position with the 3rd pick, but they need to get to it at some point in this draft. They must replace retired center Brad Meester, and could certainly use some upgrades at guard and tackle as well.
Potential Targets (Position and Projected Round): Morgan Moses (T, 1-2), Marcus Martin (C, 2), Joel Bitonio (G/T, 2), Gabe Jackson (G, 2-3), Weston Richburg (C, 2-3), Antonio Richardson (T, 2-3), Cyril Richardson (G, 3-4), Gabe Ikard (C, 4-5), Justin Britt (T, 5), and Anthony Steen (G, 6).
Pass Rusher: The addition of Chris Clemons will certainly help their case, but the Jaguars’ pass rush still has a long ways to go. Jacksonville has been at the bottom of the NFL in sacks for the past two seasons, and that is a big reason why they continue to pick near the top of the draft. Bradley is a defensive minded coach who strongly believes in putting pressure on the quarterback, and will not hesitate to improve with both quality and quantity at the position. Adding a pass rusher is a legitimate possibility with the 3rd pick, and they will continue to look to add at the position throughout the draft.
Potential Targets (Projected Round): Jadeveon Clowney (1), Khalil Mack (1), Dee Ford (1-2), Demarcus Lawrence (2), Scott Crichton (2), Jeremiah Attaochu (2), Aaron Lynch (4-5), Howard Jones (5), and Cassius Marsh (5-6).
Wide Reciever: Cecil Shorts is an intriguing player, and Justin Blackmon could be special if he could stay out of trouble. Also, Ace Sanders and Mike Brown showed some real potential last season. While all four of the guys mentioned above are interesting, each represent a ton of risk as well. Most of their receivers are also on the small side, so landing a prospect with some size would certainly help as well. With so much depth at the position in this class, adding to their receiving core could potential be an easy upgrade in talent for the Jaguars. On top of that, if Clowney and Mack go first and second overall, Clemson WR Sammy Watkins will certainly be under consideration for the Jaguars with the third pick.
Potential Targets (Projected Round): Watkins (1), Mike Evans (1), Cody Latimer (1-2), Kelvin Benjamin (1-2), Jordan Matthews (2), Davante Adams (2), Donte Moncreif (2-3), Kevin Norwood (3-4), Brandon Coleman (4-5), and Jeff Janis (6).
Summary:
Taking the remaining prospect from the Clowney, Mack, and Watkins trio seems to be the most likely scenario for the Jaguars with the 3rd overall pick. All three players would be fantastic additions to the Jaguars' roster, and would be impactful players immediately. After that, expect them to turn their attention to finding their franchise QB. They are reportedly enamored with Garoppolo, and he would make a ton of sense with their early second round pick. Also, with their abundance of picks in this draft, do not rule out Jacksonville trading into the late first round to nab a sliding Bridgewater or Carr.
More than anything the Jaguars need to find athleticism and talent in this draft. They simply do not have the talent necessary to compete at the NFL level. Regardless of position, the Jaguars must uncover prospects with legitimate NFL ability. Easier said than done, but this group seems up for the job.