Six of the seven players that the Jacksonville Jaguars took in the 2016 NFL Draft were defensive players, following a very impressive 2015 season for the Jaguars offense. They continued their aggressive revamp of the defense in Chicago. Here’s who they selected:
1st Round, 5th Overall: DB Jalen Ramsey (FSU)
2nd Round, 36th Overall: OLB Myles Jack (UCLA)
3rd Round, 69th Overall: DE Yannick Ngakoue (Maryland)
4th Round, 103rd Overall: DT Sheldon Day (Notre Dame)
6th Round, 181st Overall: OLB Tyrone Holmes (Montana)
6th Round, 201st Overall: QB Brandon Allen (Arkansas)
7th Round, 226th Overall: DE Jonathan Woodard (Central Arkansas)
Jaguars 2016 Draft Grade: 8.5/10
Jacksonville Jaguars 2016 NFL Draft Review
The Best Player: Although Myles Jack was in the top five of many scouts’ draft boards before injury concerns saw his draft stock plummet, more scouts had Jalen Ramsey as their number one overall player in 2016. Jalen Ramsey has been referred to by just about every NFL analyst as a ‘generational talent’, and it is therefore a huge surprise that the Jags were able to pick him up with the fifth overall pick. Despite general manager Dave Caldwell recently saying “when you count on rookies to come in to make a difference, you’re in trouble,” there seems to be little doubt that Ramsey is expected to have an immediate impact alongside recent additions Prince Amukamara and dynamic safety Tashaun Gipson in 2016.
The Head-Scratcher: Yannick Ngakoue was projected as somebody who would be drafted on day three, which is why I’d label him as the head-scratcher considering he was taken within the top 70. Ngakoue doesn’t have the size or length of a typical NFL defensive end, and therefore his production will be limited against better offensive lines. Thankfully with Jared Odrick and Dante Fowler Jr. expected to be disruptive coming off the edge, Ngakoue won’t be leaned on heavily during the 2016 season.
The Surprise: Although the pick will turn no heads throughout the league, the acquisition of Brandon Allen seems surprising. Especially given that they found Max Wittek (Hawaii) in the undrafted free agency period. Wittek, standing at 6″4″, 236 pounds seems to be the more physically gifted of the two signal callers, and given that they will both be competing for roster spots on a team with four quarterbacks, there’s a chance that Brandon Allen may find himself left to the practice squad in the future.
The Steal: Without a doubt, Jack is the steal of the Jacksonville Jaguars draft class, as he is arguably the steal of the entire weekend. Described as the most athletic player in the class, Jack has elite physical tools for his position and was regarded as a sure-fire top five pick before the season-ending knee problem. Further confusion regarding the potential length of his NFL career saw Jack fall out of the first round. However, if he can play at full capacity throughout his rookie contract, there is no doubt he will become an integral part of this Jags’ defense.
Most Likely to Turn Heads at Training Camp: Both Ramsey and Jack deserve to be selected as the most exciting player going into training camp, which can happen when a team drafts a top five talent in both the first and second round. But so long as Jack’s recovery continues to go well, there is no doubt that he will turn the most heads at camp, as 30 other teams rue their decision to pass on him. Jack posted a video of him slam dunking in a private workout after falling out of round one, showing that he is physically ready to go in 2016.
https://twitter.com/MylesJack/status/726113668602036224
The Rest: Sheldon Day seemed like an ideal pick in the fourth round to put a young player behind elite free agent acquisition Malik Jackson. Although he is unlikely to get many minutes in 2016, he has the perfect opportunity to learn from a former late round pick. None of the five outside linebackers on the Jaguars roster have over five years experience in the league, and Tyrone Holmes adds depth to a young Jacksonville defense. Additionally, defensive end Jonathan Woodard has joined a roster full of young defensive linemen, but he may be able to use his large frame (6’6″, 271 pounds) to push his way into the rotation.
The Bottom Line: The opening two rounds of this draft have put Jacksonville right in the mix in terms of AFC playoff contention. Coupled with a stellar free agency, very little of the Jaguars off-season can be faulted. They have drastically improved the glaring areas of need on the defensive side of the ball, and added potential All-Pro talent in Ramsey and Jack. Head coach Gus Bradley will be very excited about the potential of this young roster and will hopefully repay owner Shahid Khan’s patience with this coaching staff by finally competing in the AFC South.
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