3 University of Wisconsin and Duke NFL Draft Prospects for the Jaguars to Look At

The University of Wisconsin is heading to the NCAA Basketball Championship against Duke and they both deserve mighty praise for there accomplishments. When that game is done tonight, though, all of us who are paying attention to the NFL will shift our attention back to the 2015 NFL Draft.

The University of Wisconsin has plenty of quality of players set to hit the 2015 NFL Draft and the Jacksonville Jaguars would be wise to take a look at the following three. The Jags have needs all over the board and Wisconsin players are generally quality pickups with solid potential and give their teams tangible results. You need look no further than the Houston Texans’ J.J. Watt to see what a terror a Wisconsin product can be. The Jaguars know him well.

Duke produces a few less players each year who are NFL ready and can immediately contribute. That said, we found one the Jaguars certainly should take a look at.

Unfortunately for the Jags, there isn’t really a University of Wisconsin or Duke product at defensive end who can help them put together their own version of J.J. Watt. That doesn’t mean that the Jaguars can’t fill other needs and wants.

So, without further ado let’s look at three players the Jaguars should consider coming out of the University of Wisconsin and Duke in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Nov 1, 2014; Piscataway, NJ, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Melvin Gordon (25) runs for first down during the second quarter against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at High Points Solutions Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim O

1) Melvin Gordon, RB, University of Wisconsin

Gordon is a top-flight running back coming into the NFL. He’s challenging Todd Gurley as the best running back available in the 2015 NFL Draft class and he is a first round talent. Between him and Gurley, the NFL will most certainly have a first round running back drafted for the first time since 2012. Gordon is well deserving of that honor.

The Jaguars likely won’t pick Gordon (or Gurley for that matter) with the third overall pick. The value of the running back position simply isn’t that high anymore and the Jaguars can fill other needs with more talented players at other positions. The devalued running back position may end up being the Jaguars’ saving grace, however. While it would be a surprise to see Gordon slip out of the first round, it certainly wouldn’t be farfetched to consider it. If the talented running back is available at the top of the second round the Jaguars – who are looking for a running back – would likely have to pick him. He’s just that talented.

The odds are low, however, so this may simply be a fantasy for us.

Gordon has had two back to back seasons of over 1500 yards rushing, including a ridiculous 2587 in 2014. 2014 saw him continue his over seven yards per carry en route to tacking on 29 rushing touchdowns. That’s production that teams simply can’t pass up. Expect him gone in round one.

Next: The Jaguars Can Address the Offensive Line in Round Three