Mmmmm, the NFL Draft! So Close, yet so far away! Source: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

Speaking of speculation, it’s about time to get to the 2012 mock drafts.  What can the Jaguars do with their 7th overall pick?  It’s been speculated on by B&T writers Zoltan Paksa and Adam McGill, but we’ve yet to post every 32 selections of the first round and how it’s all going to go down.  In light of other sites, such as Walter Football doing their own mock drafts, I’ve put a premature one together for your enjoyment.

I’m not saying I’m right (it’s before free agency after all), but take a peek, some of them may as well be called a lock.

Let’s get to the picks!

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This is not an official stat, just mine: Christian Ponder is the #1 most mocked Quarterback to the Jacksonville Jaguars. I originally noticed that he was frequently mocked to the Jaguars in the 2nd round, when lucky. Then the Bengals and Bills started to claim this man early in the second. After this, the off-season happened and Ponder quickly rose up boards and now it is considered to be a pretty good, maybe great decision for the Jaguars to grab Ponder at 16th overall. How did this happen? He was that good this off-season.

In this study, we’ll go over:

• High School
• Florida State
• The Injuries
• What Scouting Reports Say
• His Magical Off-Season

I’ll hit all these points in no order and not necessarily titled that way, but I’ll make sure there is some quality here for you to read.

Show me the money

Understand, however, that this is a different world than he has ever experienced. Pete Prisco had him on the radio program the Friday after the draft. Pete said “we will see you in the coming weekend for mini-camp”. Tyson said “Can you tell me more about that, when is it and when do i have to be there, i don’t know anything”.  I realized at that point how young they are and how much they need to learn about the business of football. 

Tyson Alualu will have an agent. His agent will take over and speak for him. Tyson will simply trust the guy to handle the contract issues. If the agent says we can’t sign right now, Tyson will say “but I want to be in camp”. His agent will say not until we have a contract. “And when will that be?”, Tyson will ask.  “I’m not sure, we need C.J. Spiller to sign first”.  Tyson will pace back and forth and do what his agent says. 

Here are the 2008 signing figures for positions 8-14 

8. Derrick Harvey DE Jacksonville Signed 5 years, $33.4 million ($17.177M guaranteed) 

9. Keith Rivers LB Cincinnati Signed 6 years, $23 million ($15.6M guaranteed) 

10. Jerod Mayo LB New England Signed 5 years, $18.9 million ($13.8M guaranteed) 

11. Leodis McKelvin CB Buffalo Signed 5 years, $19.4 million ($12.6M guaranteed) 

12. Ryan Clady OT Denver Signed 5 years, $17.5 million ($11.5M guaranteed) 

13. Jonathan Stewart RB Carolina Signed 5 years, $20 million ($10.795M guaranteed) 

14. Chris Williams OT Chicago Signed 5 years, $16 million ($10M guaranteed) 

Here are the 2009 signing figures for position 8 – 14 

8. Eugene Monroe OT Jacksonville Signed 5 years, $35.4 million ($19.2M guaranteed) 

9. B.J. Raji DT Green Bay Signed 5 years, $28.5 million ($18M guaranteed) 

10. Michael Crabtree WR San Francisco Signed 6 years, $40 million ($17M guaranteed) 

11. Aaron Maybin DE Buffalo Signed 5 years, $25 million ($15M guaranteed) 

12. Knowshon Moreno RB Denver Signed 5 years, $23 million ($13M guaranteed) 

13. Brian Orakpo DE Washington Signed 5 years, $20 million ($12.1M guaranteed) 

14. Malcolm Jenkins CB New Orleans Signed 5 years, up to $19 million ($11M guaranteed) 

You can see how the #10 spot tries to creep up in salary. The agents want to the top 10 spots to be closer together. The clubs want the position cost to decrease in salary as soon as possible.  In 2008, the gap between #8 and #10 was larger than the gap between #10 and #12.  In 2009, the gap between #8 and #10 was smaller than the gap between #10 and #12.  That was a hard fought negotiation, but once it was established, the agents will want to hold it. 

Tyson Alualu’s agent will want a salary higher than Michael Crabtree got last year, hey cost of living, you know.  I’m guessing the Jaguars open at $15 mil and the agent opens at $19 mil.  The best news is Buffalo and Cleveland are just ahead of us. If they can hold the line and get a contract, Alualu gets in quicker.  With a rookie salary cap hanging out there, I just think this will be difficult. 

Don’t blame Tyson for this one. He really doesn’t know. I do know this, he wants to be here as much as we want him here. I hope this works out. 

 - Terry O’Brien.