Could Carradine be the guy? Source: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

If the Jaguars stay at 33, there’s not a lot here that could surprise me as the Jags truly have a number of options with this pick.  I’m personally partial to one of the pass-rushers left, Carradine and Moore, despite the concerns about them.  Carradine might not be a perfect scheme fit in the Gus Bradley defense, but I could see him as a LEO-type player.  Carradine is one of the many JUCO transfers in this draft and has only been a full-time starter for one year with the Seminoles in which he tallied 11 sacks in 12 games.  He did, however, dominate the JUCO-league prior to moving to the ACC, with a 16 sack sophomore season.

On the other hand, Moore is a player with more serious concerns (see what I did there?).  A lack of motivation and maturity, along with perhaps average-at-best athleticism make Moore a riskier pick, despite his experience playing the Joker (LEO-ish) position at Texas A&M.  Who better to know him than the Jaguars’ newest member that played across for him for three years?  Luke Joeckel, your contribution to the Jaguars starts now!

Despite both of those defensive players having the ability to immediately upgrade the Jaguars pass-rush, the front runner for this pick has to be Geno Smith (with Matt Barkley as the potential darkhorse).  He’s a very gifted passer of the football, and in the second round, the issues limiting him as a prospect (eg pocket awareness, deep-ball accuracy, reading coverages) are more palatable.   I feel similarly about Matt Barkley and his weaknesses.  While spending the 33rd pick on one of these quarterbacks may seem risky given how poorly non-first round quarterbacks tend to end up, I can’t imagine any other pick having as much franchise-changing potential as Smith or Barkley.  Hope Caldwell and Bradley planned on staying up late tonight – they’ve got some big decisions to make tomorrow!

- Zain Gowani

July 18, 2012; Hoover, AL, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Johnthan Banks talks with reporters at the 2012 SEC media days event at the Wynfrey Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Mel Kiper threw out another mock draft and, like all good Jacksonville Jaguars blogs, we couldn’t resist getting our hands on anything the “head draftnik” puts together.  Let’s take a peek at who Kiper has the Jaguars picking up in this year’s draft:

1. (2)  Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
2. (33)  Matt Barkley, QB, USC
3. (64)  Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State

If the draft is all about filling needs, then these first three rounds brings in at last two starters and a quarterback who could force out the current players on the roster.  I like the Barkley pickup, but I’ve been biased toward getting him in the second round for a while.  I don’t know that he could beat out Blaine Gabbert in year one, but he could definitely give him a run for his money.  Here’s Kiper’s take:

I know this isn’t the biggest need on the board, but given where Jacksonville is from a personnel standpoint, if the best player in the draft is available at the No. 2 pick — and my current left tackle is potentially gone after this year — I’m taking the guy. This is a franchise that has taken the guy it wants and eschewed great value too many times in recent years, but that’s not the case here. Take Joeckel, get better at tackle, do a better job of protecting the QB and whether I stick with Blaine Gabbert or let the next guy take over, I’ve at least given him a reasonable chance to succeed. That next guy might be the second-round pick.

The Kansas City Chiefs trade out of the top spot in Kiper’s draft (hence why Joeckel is still around at number two).  I wouldn’t complain about this going down as it gives the Jaguars quality, first-round talents in the first three rounds.  I’m not certain Banks makes it all the way to round three but he would be a great addition to a team that is desperately thin at cornerback.

- Luke N. Sims

Feel free to leave comments on here or visit us at Facebook or Twitter!

You can also find me on Twitter @LukeNSims

Source: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

With the NFL Draft being less than two weeks away, the Jaguars have many holes to fill. The speculation on who the Jags will draft at No.2 and No.33 is about as well known to the public as what the dark side of the moon looks like. Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell has been playing his cards extremely close to his chest and trying to manipulate a trade (at least I think) the best he can.

Now, we have all seen many mock drafts of the first round, with the Jags taking anyone from Eric Fisher to Geno Smith to Dion Jordan (PLEASE BE JORDAN!!!!). However, the 33^rd pick in the draft could very well be the most important.

There is a very real possibility that come pick no.33 Mark Barkley could still be on the board and I think the Jaguars need to give him serious thought. Now, I have written previously about Matt Scott and EJ Manuel, but as of late I have developed a small man crush on Barkley.

Barkley’s 2012 season at USC was an extreme let down from his 2011 campaign. Had Barkley chosen to enter the draft in 2011 he could very well have been in the conversation as the 1^st or 2^nd QB taken. Now let’s look at a comparison between Matt Barkley and Andrew Luck just for the fun of it.

According to ESPN.com:

Andrew Luck

Matt Barkley

Now, stats are great but it is true that they do not tell the whole story. However, looking at the 2011 numbers of Luck and Barkley, they look pretty close. Barkley had more yards, TDS, and less INTS in his 2011 season compared to Luck. 2012 was clearly a drop off for Barkley, especially with a more than doubling of INTS from 7 in 2011 to 15 in 2012.

Barkley’s production suffered from an injury ridden offensive line and injuries himself. However, as Nolan Nawrocki has outlined in his scouting report that Barkley has a very high football IQ, a good decision maker, will stand in the pocket and take hits, and has good enough arm strength to connect deep.

The media has been harping on the idea that Barkley has a weaker arm, and that they question whether or not that he can make NFL throws. Well, everyone was on board with JaMarcus Russell at no.1 overall, or Mark Sanchez at no.5 or Ryan Leaf at no.2, the list goes on and on. At the end of it all just because a QB is not slated to go in the top 10 does not mean that they are not going to be a great QB. Look at Aaron Rodgers, taken no.24 overall, or Tom Brady taken no.199 overall in the sixth round, or Drew Brees taken with the no.33 overall pick.

Now if I may, I would like to draw a small connection between Brees and Barkley. Brees fell on many draft boards for (can you guess it?) a perceived lack of arm strength. Well, I guess someone forgot to tell Brees that. However, I am not saying that Barkley will be the next Brady or Brees, but I am not saying he wouldn’t be either.

-  Kyle Messina