The Jacksonville Jaguars have several pressing needs ahead of the draft. Running back isn't one of them, even after letting Travis Etienne walk because they signed Chris Rodriguez in free agency. But once general manager James Gladstone takes care of the Jags' biggest roster voids, he could most definitely take care of the backfield with some of their late-round picks.
In fact, it looks like Jacksonville is looking to add reinforcements at running back based on their draft interviews. Back in March, Justin Melo of Sports Illustrated reported a meeting the Jags had with North Carolina Central's Chris Mosley. They also held an interview with SMU's TJ Harden.
More recently, Justin Melo of Sports Illustrated shed light on a meeting Washington's Jonah Coleman had with the Jaguars brass. As you can see, a trend is beginning to emerge with the NFL Draft inching closer.
The Jaguars met with Jonah Coleman at the NFL Scouting Combine
Jonah Coleman had an exclusive sitdown with Justin Melo and stated that he met with several teams head of the draft, including the Jaguars. Here's the skinny.
"I had formal interviews at the NFL Combine with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, and Houston Texans," Coleman told Melo. "I visited the Seattle Seahawks. I met with GM [John Schneider], and that was great. We saw eye-to-eye on literally everything we were talking about. We ran an identical offense at Washington to many NFL teams."
Based on Coleman's remarks, the Seattle Seahawks seem like a trendy destination for him on Draft Day. Having said that, Jacksonville's interest shouldn't be ruled out. Like the Hawks, the Jags saw their star running back bolt in free agency, and they'll need to find a replacement.
Sure, the Jags have Bhayshul Tuten in the mix, and the team's brass signed Chris Rodriguez to a two-year deal in free agency. However, it wouldn't hurt to bolster their backfield once they have addressed other needs. That's where Coleman comes in.
Coleman possesses the kind of skill set Jacksonville would add to its backfield. He's a physical runner who can keep his balance even after being tackled. Moreover, the former Husky thrives in pass protection and is a viable target out of the backfield.
On the other hand, Coleman lacks elite burst and top speed, which is why he's projected to go in either the third or fourth round. The Jags have three picks in Round 3 and 4. They could use one to select a running back.
The Jaguars are seemingly looking to add a running back in the NFL Draft
The Jaguars need to bolster the interior defensive trenches and the pass rush early in the NFL Draft. They could also add depth at safety and cornerback after the exits of Andrew Wingard and Greg Newsome. But if the team's brass could, it should also give the running back room a boost.
The trouble is that if the Jags take care of their biggest roster voids in the first four rounds, they may not have a shot at Jonah Coleman. That's where meeting with someone like T.J. Herdon makes sense, as he would still be available in Rounds 6 or 7. The same is probably true for Chris Mosley.
Ultimately, the Jaguars have enough ammo to come out of the draft with a pretty good haul, and if Jonah Coleman is available in Round 4, the front office should consider