Draft Talk – Early 2013 Jags Mock Draft(s)
By Jason Love
November 17, 2012; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Utes defensive tackle Star Lotulelei (92) is introduced on senior night prior to a game against the Arizona Wildcats at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
The following is the first article in a series of articles focusing on the Jaguars and the 2013 NFL Draft.
Is the season done yet? Through the struggles of this year, I’ve tried to stay strong, but it just hasn’t happened. I’ve given in to draft fever. While I still watch the games, its mainly for talent evaluation and insight as to what the Jaguars need from next year’s draft. Here are some very, VERY early draft scenarios using the current rankings.
I’ll briefly explain each scenario and then lay out my top 3 or 4 rounds. I’ll be using CBS Sports, Draft Tek and Draftcountdown’s draft boards to slot the players.
Remember, I’m not going to pick a single player. I’m gonna try and pick 2-3 players per round (near their projected draft position) that the Jaguars could pick from.
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Scenario 1 — The Jags keep on losing and GM Gene is gone, along with Mike Mularkey. Now look, I honestly think Mike Mularkey is a decent coach and I’m not sure what the hell is wrong with his team (besides the fact that they are sucking massively), however, I’m not sure he sticks around if we get a new GM and can’t win another game. This scenario would mean that change is a’comin’ on all fronts of the Jaguars organization. I’ll try to approach this as BAP as possible, real BAP, not targeted BAP.
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Scenario 2 — Jags win 3 of the final 7 games and show improvement enough to warrant keeping Mularkey, but GM Gene is still gone. This scenario is the other likely scenario, With Mularkey remaining as coach, continuity would be preserved and the new GM would be tasked with filling the roster with talent to fit the current coaching scheme.
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Here’s a brief breakdown of the positions I think the Jaguars need help at…
If they stay in a 4-3
1. DE
2. CB
3. OLB
4. S
5. CB
If they switch to a 3-4
1. OLB
2. NT
3. CB
4. S
5. ILB
In either scenario, I am dreaming the Mr. Khan has decided to find a GM who wants to implement a 3-4, because I think the Jaguars need more speed on the field… however, I’ll also do a basic 4-3 draft too.
Remember in these scenarios, the Jaguars select 2nd.
No Trade Downs / Jags adopt a 3-4 D
1. Star Lotulelei, NT or *Jarvis Jones, OLB
2. Dion Jordan, OLB *** or *David Amerson, CB or *Xavier Rhodes, CB
3. Brandon Jenkins, OLB or r *Corey Lemonier, OLB or *Matt Elam, S
*** Dion Jordan is probably going to fly off the draft boards once he starts being poked and prodded. Seeing as the Jags are drafting #33 at the point, it is essentially a late round 1 pick.
Trade down (1st for mid 1st and mid 2nd) / Jags adopt a 3-4
1. Manti Te’o, LB or Johnthan Banks, CB or *Sam Montgomery, OLB or *Keenan Allen, WR
2a. Dion Jordan, OLB *** or Xavier Rhodes, CB
2b. Chase Thomas, OLB or Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB or *Zach Ertz, TE
3. Brandon Jenkins, OLB or *Corey Lemonier, OLB or *Matt Elam, S
*** Dion Jordan is probably going to fly off the draft boards once he starts being poked and prodded. Seeing as the Jags are drafting #33 at the point, it is essentially a late round 1 pick.
No Trade Downs / Jags stay 4-3 D
1. Star Lotulelei, NT or Luke Joeckel, OT or *Dee Milliner, CB
2. *DeAndre Hopkins, WR or Ezekiel Ansah, DE or *Zach Ertz, TE
3. Kenny Vaccaro, FS or *Da’Rick Rogers, WR or Desmond Trufant, CB
4. Cornellius Carradine, DE (falls because of injury)
Too early to tell, but I honestly hope that the Jags switch to a 3-4 defense. It just places so much more speed on the field. My next article will be, “who on the Jaguars could play in a 3-4 scheme?”