The NFL Department of Last Word on Sports will be examining the 2016 NFL Draft and the top three draft needs for all 32 NFL teams. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jacksonville was loaded with cap space this year, and they filled their team with free agents that will put this team in the right direction. After starting free agency with almost $80 million in cap space, the Jaguars spent that money freely, adding defensive lineman Malik Jackson, safety Tashaun Gipson, running back Chris Ivory, left tackle Kelvin Beachum and cornerback Prince Amukamara. Those were their biggest signings, but they also brought on punter Brad Nortman, guard Mackenzy Bernadeau, and re-signed tight end Marcedes Lewis. Although the team looks much better than it did before free agency, the Jaguars still have some needs that can be fixed in the NFL Draft.
Jacksonville Jaguars 2016 NFL Draft Top 3 Needs
Linebacker
The Jaguars made a lot of moves to improve their defense in the last couple of years. They’ve upgraded every position on that defense, but their linebacker situation is still an issue. Outside linebacker Telvin Smith was drafted two years ago. Although he isn’t a great run defender, he’s the Jaguars best linebacker in coverage. According to Pro Football Focus, he was the third best pass rushing linebacker in the league. He will continue to improve, and with the Jaguars defense getting better, it will open up more opportunities for him to pile up his sack numbers. Paul Posluszny is a good linebacker, but a liability in coverage and shouldn’t be in the game on third downs. The LEO position is manned by Dan Skuta. The biggest impact the Jaguars can make to improve this situation is drafting UCLA’s Myles Jack with the fifth pick in the draft. Although there are mixed reports on Jack’s knee, he is the most complete linebacker in this draft and would fit the Jaguars perfectly. Another option is to trade down and draft Darron Lee of Ohio State, or Su’a Cravens of USC. That way, they could get a talented linebacker that fits their scheme, and gather more picks to bolster that inside offensive line.
Interior Offensive Line
The Jaguars guard play last year was awful. Both of their starters had negative ratings on Pro Football Focus, and their backups didn’t look better either. The tackle position is fine. Kelvin Beachum was signed, and when he’s healthy, he’s a top ten left tackle. 2013 number two overall pick Luke Joeckel will most likely slide to right tackle, which might fit him better. With Stefen Wisniewski gone, the Jaguars have no starting center. The best center in the draft is Ryan Kelly, and it’s not close. If the Jaguars want him, they could trade the fifth pick and get a late first round pick and another second round pick or two, along with more picks. That way, they would be able to draft Kelly, another guard or two, and still have their original second round pick to draft a linebacker. However, it seems pretty certain that the Jaguars draft Jack, which leaves them two options: trade up from their second round pick so that they can snag Kelly before another center-needy team gets him, or they can just sit tight and draft a guard or center that falls to them at the 38th pick. Cody Whitehair, the most versatile offensive lineman in this draft, Nick Martin, another guard than can play center as well, and Sebastian Tretola are all great options in the second and third rounds, if any of them fall that far.
Strong Safety
The secondary position is very deep in the draft this year and the Jaguars should take advantage of that. The Jaguars have a great combination of stars and depth in their secondary. With the signing of Tashaun Gipson, Johnathan Cyprien can move to his natural position of strong safety. The Jaguars also have second year player James Sample that will provide competition and challenge Cyprien for the starting spot. So why is this a need? The Jaguars are perfectly fine at every position except the two listed above already, and there is a need for more competition at the safety spot. Both have potential and are unproven, so it does not hurt one bit to add another safety with talent to the mix. There are a bunch of safeties with a lot of talent this year in the draft. The better ones most likely won’t be available to the Jaguars. Keanu Neal of Florida and Karl Joseph of West Virginia are the two best safeties that might be available to the Jaguars in the second round, but Jacksonville must use their second and maybe third round picks on their offensive line or a linebacker. That leaves the Jaguars to use a mid-round pick on a strong safety to add to the competition. Hard hitting safeties Deon Bush (Miami) and KJ Dillon (West Virginia) are the best options that would be available between the third and fifth rounds, depending on how the draft goes.
