The Jacksonville Jaguars are in a bit of a dilemma this off-season. Releasing players, opening positions, and re-signing players are currently taking place in Jacksonville. The Jaguars have three big needs to address in this year’s off-season/draft, and they have to fill them with the right caliber player to have a shot at winning more than three games in 2017.
The top three positions that the Jags have needs at are safety, running back, and defensive line. These three positions have current holes that have to be filled before the start of next season. Jacksonville can handle all three in the off-season or the draft, whichever way the team feels is best to acquire the right players. With that being said, let’s take a look at each position and who/how the Jaguars can acquire to fill their needs.
Jacksonville Jaguars 2017 Off-Season: Top 3 Needs
Safety
The safety position is ultimately tops on this list because the Jags desparately need a safety to become a ball-hawk and be great at the position. With Johnathan Cyprien being likely being released or traded, there will be a big hole to fill for a safety to play along-side Tashaun Gipson next season. Looking into the draft, there are a few safeties that the Jaguars could take. First, Jamal Adams out of LSU has been their top pick if they decide to go defense with their number four overall pick. Otherwise, Malik Hooker from Ohio State will also be available if they decide to take a ball-hawking safety. Either way, the franchise has to acquire a safety to fill a big void in the defense.
Running Back
Jacksonville has had running back woes for a few seasons now. T.J. Yeldon hasn’t shown to be the back that the Jags drafted him to be. The acquisition of Chris Ivory last season proved to be a good pickup. Ivory’s production was not very solid last season, which leaves a void. In this year’s draft, there are many valuable backs who could get picked up by Jacksonville. Leonard Fournette and Dalvin Cook are the front-runners to be drafted to the Jags if they go that route. Many have said that Cook is better than Fournette, but others will shoot down that debate. For the sake of the team, either back would be a viable get and could fill the void immediately.
Defensive Line
The second biggest hole on the team is a very needed pickup. The defensive line for Jacksonville was somewhat solid last year. It definitely could have been much better. Malik Jackson didn’t produce like we thought, and the defense just couldn’t get to the opposing quarterback as much. With free agency looming, there are plenty of options. Jason Pierre-Paul from the New York Giants is a top prospect, and he would be a viable leader on the defensive side for the Jaguars. The draft has many prospects as well. Jonathan Allen is the second top-rated defensive lineman behind Myles Garrett, who will likely be taken first overall.
Players the Jags Should Go After
Throughout free agency and the draft, speculation will mount as to which players the Jags are targeting. Though there are many options, the ones they should go after are Jamal Adams, Jason Pierre-Paul, while also retain both running backs. Fournette and Cook are stars at their positions, but I don’t see the need to take a running back so high in the draft.
