Jacksonville Jaguars Draft 2017: Jamal Adams consensus pick at fourth overall
By Luke Sims
The 2017 NFL Draft is inching closer and the Jacksonville Jaguars will have almost the pick of the entire litter at fourth overall, leading many draft analysts to predict a need-based pick of the talented safety Jamal Adams.
While it’s no secret that the Jacksonville Jaguars will have a need at strong safety – especially if the recent trend of not re-signing free agents on the market continues – the question for the Jags is whether or not they take simply the best available player at fourth overall or pick based on need.
The current consensus, courteously compiled by Scout’s Barry McBride, has the Jaguars filling that strong safety need. Jamal Adams, one of the best safety prospects – if not the best – in the 2017 NFL Draft, is the pick.
With 13 mock draft making Adams the selection, he wins out over running back Leonard Fournette and defensive lineman Jonathan Allen. McBride notes that Adams is going as high as first overall to as low as 25th, which, aside from other picks being made in a majority of mock drafts, suggests this pick is anything but certain.
Still quite a few weeks away from the 2017 NFL Draft, it’s likely that this changes. The Jaguars could walk away with any of the three players mentioned or another player like safety Malik Hooker or defensive end Solomon Thomas and instantly improve the talent on defense.
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Interestingly, the player the Jags draft will likely come down to availability of the best defensive player, just like it did in the 2016 NFL Draft with Jalen Ramsey at fifth overall. If someone of incredibly high caliber falls into the Jaguars’ lap (which if possible if there are some early quarterbacks taken), the Jags would be wise to snap him up. It’s unlikely that player would be consensus top pick Myles Garrett, but it could be Allen or someone else the Jags value.
For now, however, Adams looks like a perfectly fine selection for the Jags. Johnathan Cyprien had a big contract year in 2016 but has looked mostly average through most of his career. Adams would clearly be an upgrade.