Mock Draft 2013 with Mock Offseason

Dec 1, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA Florida State Seminoles defensive back Xavier Rhodes (27) lines up during the second half against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the 2012 ACC Championship game at Bank of America Stadium. FSU defeated Georgia Tech 21-15. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

More and more information is coming out as to how the Jaguars will let this offseason play out. They are on the record as saying they will be building the team through the draft, using free agency to grab cheaper gap fillers. They are switching to a zone blocking scheme, necessitating the need for mobile offensive linemen. They are incorporating Seattle defensive concepts, namely the LEO, press corners and big defensive backs in general. All of these ingredients have helped shape this mock offseason. The mock draft will obviously be heavily swayed by the mock free agency, but hey, it’s just a mock. . .

There is something that I want to point out before delving further into the breakdown. Seattle’s starting defensive line is DE Red Bryant (6’4”, 323), DT Alan Branch (6’6”, 325), DT Brandon Mebane (6’1”, 311), and LEO Chris Clemons (6’3”, 254). Backups are DE Greg Scruggs (6’3”, 284), DT Jaye Howard (6’3”, 301), DT Clinton McDonald (6’2”, 297), and LEO Bruce Irvin (6’3”, 248). Here’s a breakdown of the LEO and Seattle’s front-4 via Big Cat Country. The linebacker sizes aren’t any different the a normal 4-3, except that maybe the LB over the LEO might be bigger. Finally, the corners tend to be bigger, which helps with the press coverage that is generally employed. Now on to the mock offseason!

Free Agency

• I’d love to see players signed at these positions, seeing as there are plenty of good players available. I’m just going to list players at these positions. If any position HAD TO BE SIGNED, I’d like a right tackle. Also, these are starting caliber, so only one or two of these listed at most would be signed, if any.
• According to NFL.com, the Jaguars are $23.8 million under the cap.

• RT – Andre Smith, Sebastian Vollmer, Gosder Cherilus, Phil Loadholt – (LT’s that are available, Ryan Clady, Jermon Bushrod, Jake Long) PFF 2013 Rankings
• TE/H-Back – Martellus Bennett, Jared Cook, Delanie Walker (he’s my ideal H-Back, does everything) PFF 2013 Rankings
• DE – Michael Johnson, Michael Bennett PFF 2013 Rankings
• LEO – Cliff Avril, Dwight Freeney     PFF 2013 Rankings

Jaguars Current Roster

• Here’s a Pro Football Focus breakdown of the Jaguars free agents… PFF 2013 Jaguars Free Agent Breakdown

 Re-sign

• CB – William Middleton – Has always been a decent 4^th or 5^th CB. Sign him to compete. He should be cheap.
• RB – Jalen Parmele – Flashed some skill. Zone blocking schemes (ZBS) always make running backs better. Sign him to a cheap deal and have him compete.
• C – John Estes – More athletic center who has been in the league for a while. Could be a ZBS candidate.

Re-sign if Price is Right

• DT – Terrance Knighton – As seen before, the Seattle DL is pretty darn big. Knighton, when playing well, plays very well. I tend to think that the offseason that he had really messed him up and if I were the Jaguars, I’d extend a cheap offer and let him test free agency. My thought is that someone will overpay for him though. Supplemental draft pick anyone?
• CB – Derek Cox – He’s easily the best cover corner the Jaguars have when healthy, but that’s IF he’s healthy! Let him test free agency and extend an offer. If he signs elsewhere, so be it, but if he takes the Jaguars’ lower offer, then great. That would retain a good cover corner for at least six games a season. He should be the #1 re-sign priority honestly. Cox as one starter and Mike Harris as the Nickel will make the defensive makeover easier on the Jaguars.
• LB – Daryl Smith – Injured all year, but is the heart and soul of the defense. If he proves that he can come back healthy, you re-sign him. He can play all three linebacker positions. Age doesn’t hurt linebackers as much as other positions (See London Fletcher).
• RB – Rashad Jennings – Played great in last year’s preseason then got hurt. Blocks well and catches out of the backfield well. If the price is right, re-sign him to a short term deal to see if the injuries derailed him.

Tender

• Tender offers are generally pretty cheap and if another team wants the player, then they have to give up a draft pick.
• WR – Jordan Shipley – Flashed some from the slot.
• RB – Keith Toston – Flashed some, dealt with injuries.
• FB – Brock Bolen – Has H-Back potential, cheap.
• DE – George Selvie – Jags 2^nd best pass rusher at times.
• DE – John Chick – Potential LEO, quick first step, if he returns from his knee injury fully healed…

Let Walk

• QB – Jordan Palmer – Let him walk. Get a rookie to replace him.
• OL – Eben Britton, Steve Vallos, Brad Meester – Bad. Didn’t play. Old. 
• RB – Greg Jones – I love Greg Jones, don’t get me wrong, but the team needs speed. Lots of speed. Jones is only on the field to block. Let him walk. Get someone younger, cheaper and faster (they won’t be as strong though).
• TE – Zach Potter – Offers only blocking. The Jaguars need more athleticism at the TE position. Think healthy Zack Miller.
• LB – Kyle Bosworth – Terrible.
• DB – Rashean Mathis, Antwaun Molden – Old and lost his wheels. Roster body.

Cuts

• I’m not going to address cuts. They’ll play out in camp or soon enough, once film work by the new staff/GM is done.

Draft Needs

1. QB 
2. DE 
3. RT
4. CB
5. LB
6. Interior OL
7. TE
8. S
9. R
10. ST players

•  Draft Notes – I don’t think the Jaguars draft a QB early this year. There are so many holes that any position could be drafted, but most of the QB’s have major question marks. I also tend to think the the Jaguars’ draft will be defense heavy and maybe have an OL or two due to the ZBS change.

Draft

1.2 – Barkevious Mingo, LEO – 6’4″, 240lbs, ~4.55 40″ – A super athlete at the end position. He’s being projected as a rush linebacker for 3-4 teams, but seems to fit the mold of the LEO perfectly, similar to Bruce Irvin last year. High Ceiling.

• Draft Link 1 // Draft Link 2 // Draft Link 3 // Draft Link 4 // Draft Link 5 // Draft Link 6 // Follow on Twitter

2.1 – Xavier Rhodes, CB – 6’1″, 217lbs, ~4.5 40″ – A big, physical corner who can play press coverage well. He has fluid hips and good feet. His draft position will be determined with his 40 time, which is a big unknown. 

• Draft Link 1 // Draft Link 2 // Draft Link 3 // Draft Link 4 // Draft Link 5 // Draft Link 6 // Follow on Twitter

3.2 – Kyle Long, OL – 6’6 1/8″, 304lbs, ~4.9 40″ – An all around athlete, Long could potentially play any position on the line, but reports have him probably best situated inside. High ceiling.

• Draft Link 1 // Draft Link 2 // Draft Link 3 // Draft Link 4 // Follow on Twitter

4.1 – Zaviar Gooden, OLB – 6’1 1/2″, 233lbs, ~4.45 40″ – An extremely fast linebacker who could be utilized in cover the league’s more athletic tight ends. 

• Draft Link 1 // Draft Link 2 // Draft Link 3 // Draft Link 4

5.2 – Terron Armstead, OL – 6’4 3/4″, 306lbs, ~4.85 40″ – Extremely athletic big man who did well at the Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl. Very good size and feet match him up well with the ZBS being implemented. High Ceiling. 

• Draft Link 1 // Draft Link 2 // Draft Link 3 // Draft Link 4 // Follow on Twitter

6.1 – Cooper Taylor, S – 6’4″, 229lbs, ~4.55 40″ – Cooper Taylor is a big, athletic safety with the range and suddenness to explode into the box. He’s got great size and fits the in the box safety mold extremely well. High Ceiling. 

•  Draft Link 1 // Draft Link 2 // Draft Link 3 // Draft Link 4 // Draft Link 5

7.2 – Courtney Gardner, WR – 6’3″, 215lbs, ~4.4 40″ – An unknown, but a  truly intriguing specimen. High Ceiling.

• Draft Link 1 // Draft Link 2 // Follow on Twitter

• These rosters include tendered players, Derek Cox, Daryl Smith and a FA RT (lol, and I don’t care who).

Roster – Defense

• DE – Tyson Alualu, Jeremy Mincey, Austen Lane, Andre Branch
• DT – CJ Mosley, Jerome Long
• DT – D’Anthony Smith, Jeris Pendleton
• LEO – Jason Babin, Barkevious Mingo, John Chick, Ryan Davis
• OLB – Julian Stanford, Zaviar Gooden, Greg Jones
• MLB – Paul Posluszny, Russell Allen
• OLB – Daryl Smith, Brandon Marshall
• CB – Derek Cox, William Middleton, Kevin Rutland
• SS – Dawan Landry, Cooper Taylor
• FS – Dwight Lowery, Chris Prosinski
• CB – Xavier Rhodes, Mike Harris, Brandon King, Aaron Ross, Antwon Blake

 Roster – Offense

• QB – Blaine Gabbert, Chad Henne, John Parker Wilson
• RB – Maurice Jones-Drew, Keith Toston, Jalen Parmele, Richard Murphy, Jordan Todman, Jonathan Grimes
• FB/HB – Montell Owens, Will Ta’ufo’ou, Brock Bolen
• TE – Marcedes Lewis, Matt Veldman, Brett Brackett, Isaiah Stanback, Allen Reisner
• WR 1 – Cecil Shorts, Toney Clemons, Taylor Price, Courtney Gardner
• WR 2 – Justin Blackmon, Laurent Robinson
• WR S – Jordan Shipley, Mike Brown, Jerrell Jackson
• LT – Eugene Monroe, Cameron Bradfield
• OG – Will Rackley, Austen Pasztor
• C – Michael Brewster, Mark Asper
• OG – Uche Nwaneri, Kyle Long, Jason Spitz, Drew Nowak
• RT – Free Agent RT, Terron Armstead, Guy Whimper

Summary

As you can see, the roster would still have many holes and unfortunately, that’s what happens when you don’t draft well. I think this would be a very good draft for the Jags and would help the team win at least 2-3 more game next year. The Jag would also be looking to improve their DL going into the next season as they would need bigger guys most likely. If the Jags are in the top-10 in the draft next year (very likely), they would be in a good position to draft (trade up or not) a franchise QB. Be it Teddy Bridgewater, Tajh Boyd, or any number of underclassmen QB’s coming out (I think 2014/15 drafts will be loaded with QB talent).

– Jason Love