Jacksonville Jaguars 2016 NFL Draft: Mel Kiper Jr. sends Jalen Ramsey to Jaguars in first mock draft
By Daniel Lago
The playoffs have just begun, but that hasn’t stopped us from looking ahead and seeing what the Jacksonville Jaguars need to do in order to better their own chances of making the postseason next year.
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We’ve already begun to discuss what the Jaguars need to do in free agency (
and
) but we know what you’re all really interested in – mock drafts.
The season of mock drafts is upon us and the first big “splash” name finally came out with his first iteration for 2016 – Mel Kiper Jr..
The longtime draft guru for ESPN has been pretty spot on for the Jaguars in recent seasons (save for 2014 when general David Caldwell fooled everyone and took Blake Bortles) so there’s at least some reason to not completely dismiss his analysis.
In his first mock, Mel Kiper Jr. has the Jaguars taking a familiar name and one that we’ll see placed at number 5 often leading up to the draft – Jalen Ramsey.
"5. Jacksonville Jaguars*Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida St.The best player available here, Ramsey is a great corner or a great safety, a fit in any secondary given his skill set and incredible athleticism. Those athlete credentials? Well, consider that he’s long-jumping at roughly an Olympic level in, essentially, a second sport that he really can’t commit to full-time. A worthy top-five talent in the secondary."
Obviously what the Jaguars do in the draft is going to change depending on who they acquire in free agency, but I don’t see anyone on the market who could fill the role Ramsey would if taken.
The Jaguars have issues rushing the passer, but they are getting Dante Fowler Jr. back and they are almost certainly going to make a push to sign another pass rusher in free agency. In the free safety department, there aren’t any veterans who can do what Ramsey is projected to do.
The Jaguars have been looking for that single-high safety in the mold of Earl Thomas since Gus Bradley arrived and Ramsey appears to be that guy. Even if the Jaguars sign a veteran like Eric Weddle in free agency, I wouldn’t expect them to let Ramsey slide down if he’s available.