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2015 Jaguars Draft Could See First Defensive First Rounder in Five Years

By Luke Sims

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The 2015 NFL Draft is coming up quickly and the Jacksonville Jaguars draft options are beginning to narrow down.

Almost all of the Jaguars draft rumors surround defensive players, particularly pass rushing prospects who could fit in well at head coach Gus Bradley’s LEO position. With players like Vic Beasley and Dante Fowler Jr. headlining a talented class of pass rushers, the Jaguars could probably get whomever they want and come away with a great selection. General manager Dave Caldwell is suffering from having too many options, not too few.

While most of us believe the Jaguars are locked into the pass rushing position (or Leonard Williams if he falls to the Jaguars), it is still possible they could go offense. When we look back at past Jaguars drafts, that seems even more possible.

The last time the Jaguars drafted a defensive player in the first round was in 2010 when GM Gene Smith brought in defensive tackle Tyson Alualu. Since then the Jaguars have brought in a pair of first round quarterbacks, a supremely talented (but troubled) wide receiver, and an offensive tackle. Since Smith’s departure, Caldwell has focused on building the team back up at key positions. He landed the franchise quarterback with Blake Bortles in 2014 and he landed a player he believes to be the cornerstone of the offense in Luke Joeckel.

Taking a defensive player in the first round will be a first for Caldwell with the Jaguars, but it won’t be that different from his time working for the Atlanta Falcons under Thomas Dimitroff. The Falcons drafted players in a more balanced fashion than the Jaguars have in the past.

It’s important to note trends for franchises, but regime change is very real and Dave Caldwell is decidedly note Gene Smith.

Next: 3-Round Mock Jaguars Draft

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