Jaguars 2014 NFL Draft – Covet and Avoid: DB

Jaguars 2014 NFL Draft – Covet and Avoid: DB to covet Kenneth Acker. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports

The 2014 NFL Draft is on day three and the Jaguars have a lot to figure out. They have multiple people they pay tons of money to that evaluate talent for unlimited players from every college, big and small. I sit on my couch and have to lick the cheetos dust from my fingers so I don’t stain my laptop keyboard. Regardless, I have been studying game films, stats, scouting reports, combines, & pro days. Most importantly, I have followed my (ample) gut. Through all of this, I have completed a list of players at every position that I either covet (Katy Perry) or wish for the Jags to avoid (Russell Brand). With time running short, I want to get this out. I pray that I might cause someone in power to rethink a pick to make or run away from. The draft got here too quick so my summaries will be concise. I will only go over players not yet selected.

Please review my other “Covet and Avoid” articles – QB, RB, WR, TE & OL, DL, LB, and DB

Let’s review the DBs.

DBs COVET LIST:  (in no particular order)

1. CB Kenneth Acker – Young. Raw. Physical. Not quick but fast enough. 6ft tall. He’ll work.
2. CB Lavelle Westbrooks – 6ft physical player from Georgia Southern. If you draft him, it’s to convert to a safety where I think he would thrive.
3. FS Kenny Ladler – Nice player. 6ft free safety who seemed to be a ballhawk. Had 5 INTs & 5 forced fumbles in 2013. All of this with an SEC schedule.
4. FS Pierre Warren – Because he is from small Jacksonville State, he is being overlooked. But he is 6ft and a sure tackler. In 2013, he had 12 passes defended, 76 tackles, and 5 INTs along with a pick six. He might be a UFA.
5. SS Daniel Sorensen – 6-1, 205 lbs, and experienced at both SS & FS. Fits the mold and played with an underrated defense at BYU.
6. SS Maurice Alexander – Very interesting kid. Looked like his playing career was over when he was suspended for his junior year for pleading guilty on an assault charge. He worked hard to redeem his rep and was invited back for his senior year where he was a team leader. Has been praised by the coaches for the maturity he now shows. 6-2 & 212 lbs so he has the size we want. Might make a nice redemption story.

DBs AVOID LIST:

1. CB Brandon Dixon – Looks like everything we would want but has one serious red flag. Has a rep for taking a long time, if he does at all, to understand and grasp the playbook and scheme. We went through this with Reggie Nelson and it nearly destroyed our defense. No thank you!
2. CB Victor Hampton – Victor may not be on our board because of his height (5-9), but he at one point was rated as a 3-4 round pick and he may entice because of value late. He is dropping because of character issues and was just arrested again last month over a confrontation witgh his sister that escalated. Sounds like more trouble than he could EVER be worth.
3. FS Dion Bailey – This one is tough because there is a lot to like about Dion. My issues are that he has only played FS consistently for one year, and that he has had shoulder issues. The shoulder is so important with how good safeties tackle and with a brittle one, you’re just asking for missed time.
4. FS Ed Reynolds – I want to like this kid because I tend to love Stanford defensive players. What makes me nervous about him is that he had just been serviceable for his career before blowing up last year. A lot can be contributed to the talent around him. My concern is the history of players who had one successful year before being drafted tend to show extreme growing pains in the NFL because their big year is an indication of that year, not their ability.
5. SS  Craig Loston – I actually really like this kid and what he brings. My issue is that when the 2014 season kicks off, he will be 25 years old. Even if he is fantastic, that’s too limited of a window for his playing career.
6. SS Tahj Jones – He’ll get a look because of his size (6-2, 205 lbs) , and that he will be available late, but don’t be fooled. Tahj has played OLB his entire time at LSU, so he will be learning a new position. He also messed almost the entire 2012 season because of academics. That means he is either lazy (possible), self-important (more possible), or just plain DUMB (most possible). I don’t like ANY of those qualities. Pass please!

OK…that’s it for DBs. Enjoy the rest of the draft!

Michael McDonald

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