2014 NFL Mock Draft: Jacksonville Jaguars Trade Back Into First Round
By Daniel Lago
Dec 31, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) reacts on the sideline against the Duke Blue Devils during the second quarter in the 2013 Chick-fil-a Bowl at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
We continue our weekly look at mock drafts around the Fansided network with our friends over at NFL Mocks. The top 4 picks or so have contained pretty familiar names, and there probably has been every combination of Khalil Mack, Jadeveon Clowney, or the top 3 quarterbacks mocked for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Erik Lambert didn’t mix it up too much at the top of the draft in his latest mock, but he did have the Jaguars making a somewhat surprising move.
"#3 – Jacksonville Jaguars – Jadeveon Clowney – DE – South CarolinaRumors are that Gus Bradley has no intention of letting Jadeveon Clowney slip away if he slides to #3. This is one of those situations where you can trust the rumors. Bradley needs a young pass rusher to make his defense go. Now he has it."
Nothing too shocking here, the Jaguars are very likely to select Clowney if he is available with the 3rd overall selection. Lambert doesn’t think the Jaguars will be finished on Day 1 after taking Clowney however.
"#25 – Jacksonville Jaguars (f/SD) – Johnny Manziel – QB – Texas A&MTrade: 39th (2nd) and 70th (3rd) picks to Chargers for 25th pickIt was only a matter of time before teams got antsy on the quarterback question. The Jacksonville Jaguars decide to end the charade. They strike a deal with San Diego and go get Johnny Manziel, who should help electrify the fan base."
Lambert has Johnny Football tumbling down the first round, and he thinks a 3rd round pick is enough to entice the Chargers in a trade. I think David Caldwell would probably have to give up another later round pick to move up this far, but I can see it happening. The Jaguars seem pretty set on taking the best player at number 3, but if they feel they can develop Manziel into a franchise quarterback then this move makes a lot of sense. Manziel can sit behind Henne for a year and learn how to progress through his reads and be a true pocket passer when he needs to be. If the Jaguars make it out of the first night of the draft with Clowney and Manziel, I’d be cautiously satisfied.
We only have one draft of data to try and predict what Caldwell will do, so this is as good a guess as any.
-Daniel Lago
Yell at me on Twitter @dlago89