I am with you on this. I was vehemently against WR at first since we just drafted two that should improve; however, am I really certain either is a number one type receiver? My answer is no.
For me though, this debate comes down to value. I am not totally sold on Fowler or Beasley as a 12 sack a year kind of guy, I am uncertain about how their transition to the NFL will go. I am much more confident in White and Cooper as receivers. So in my opinion, if Williams is gone(just to good to pass on), I would take receiver. We could even trade down slightly and get one.
Now it just comes down to which receiver. My head makes me think we should take Cooper because he seems like such a sure thing; however, my heart tells me White because of the great promise he has, I see him as a Dez Bryant, Julio Jones mix. I also think he may fit in here with Blake more. White is amazing at going up and taking the ball away and Bortles really seems to like to throw the deep ball, so I say go with White depending on Williams availability and trade down options.
I'm more convinced by the case for Cooper at three than I was. But only because he appears to be a safe choice. I don't think we have a desperate need for another receiver.
Quote:I'm more convinced by the case for Cooper at three than I was. But only because he appears to be a safe choice. I don't think we have a desperate need for another receiver.
I think that is what it is; Jaguar fans are so scared of another bust in the first round that they want someone "safe".
I suspect that A. Cooper might be GM Dave Caldwell's 3rd overall draft selection. He has drafted Offensive for the last two seasons, and he publicly admitted that Jacksonville has no real #1 WR. He allowed the Texans to sign Cecil Shorts III in Free Agency, and I would not be shocked if he drafted Cooper 3rd overall in this years draft.
Caldwell went hard after Cobb in free agency, as he felt the slot WR position was needed, and felt good with Robinson and Lee developing in the outside spots. There were several good outside WRs in free agency, and Caldwell was not active for these guys. My thought is you can find a good slot WR without using the 3rd pick in the draft. For instance, a guy like Phillip Dorsett (amongst other viable candidates) can be found after round 1. If he does choose White or Cooper, I would be happy, but his free agency action suggests to me that they are likely not his picks.
I see Caldwell going after a pass rusher, a needed element to a defense that needs to be good for this team to have a chance.
Quote:Caldwell went hard after Cobb in free agency, as he felt the slot WR position was needed, and felt good with Robinson and Lee developing in the outside spots. There were several good outside WRs in free agency, and Caldwell was not active for these guys. My thought is you can find a good slot WR without using the 3rd pick in the draft. For instance, a guy like Phillip Dorsett (amongst other viable candidates) can be found after round 1. If he does choose White or Cooper, I would be happy, but his free agency action suggests to me that they are likely not his picks.
I see Caldwell going after a pass rusher, a needed element to a defense that needs to be good for this team to have a chance.
I feel the same way. I can see Dave's first 3 rounds going pass rusher, running back, and wide receiver in that order.
1 - Beasley/Fowler
2 - Ajayi/Gordon
3 - Lockett/Dorsett
That's how I see the first 3 rounds going.
Jags won't take a WR at 3 and here's why:
- We need a pass rusher more than we need a WR. A LEO is way more important to this team than adding another rookie wr.
-this an incredibly deep WR class and can get better value in the 2-3 rounds. Lockett or Dorsett would fit better anyways.
- Just watch Fowler, Beasley, and Dupree. Shouldn't be a discussion after that.
- Allen Robinson can easily become a number 1. Was better than Watkins last year. Lee has big upside as well.
-the WRs at 3 aren't Calvin, Julio, and AJ. Not really a debate there either. Look where their teams are now. Not one has won a playoff game yet.
- Look at the two super bowl teams last year. Patriots and the Seahawks have worse wr corps than we have right now. Having a true #1 is overrated.
Pass rusher > Wr every day of the week.
Quote:I am with you on this. I was vehemently against WR at first since we just drafted two that should improve; however, am I really certain either is a number one type receiver? My answer is no.
For me though, this debate comes down to value. I am not totally sold on Fowler or Beasley as a 12 sack a year kind of guy, I am uncertain about how their transition to the NFL will go. I am much more confident in White and Cooper as receivers. So in my opinion, if Williams is gone(just to good to pass on), I would take receiver. We could even trade down slightly and get one.
Now it just comes down to which receiver. My head makes me think we should take Cooper because he seems like such a sure thing; however, my heart tells me White because of the great promise he has, I see him as a Dez Bryant, Julio Jones mix. I also think he may fit in here with Blake more. White is amazing at going up and taking the ball away and Bortles really seems to like to throw the deep ball, so I say go with White depending on Williams availability and trade down options.
Jones and Sammy Watkins, yes, but Bryant, no. Does he drag tacklers down field? Is he so physical that defenders just melt off him?
I guess the crux of this conversation is whether you view White and Cooper as just "another receiver". Imo they are both "impact" receivers. I really believe Kevin White will be a Dez Bryant type. Some team will get themselves a beast receiver in drafting White, would like it to be us. Not sure when we will be drafting so early again, if we have some success this year. There is no guarantee what any receiver on this current squad will do this year (not to take anything away from them). I see White making an immediate difference.
Quote:There is no guarantee what any receiver on this current squad will do this year (not to take anything away from them). I see White making an immediate difference.
Interesting. You feel more confident about a
rookie than a second year guy (Robinson) who was on pace for around 880 yards and 3 or 4 TDs in his rookie year in the NFL that's coming back for year two?
I have a little more faith in Robinson to produce at this point. Not that White won't be productive in his rookie campaign. He probably will.
White and Robinson are very similar, BTW.
White has better straight line speed, but their timed cone drills were practically identical. They both have reputations of high pointing the ball and great hands.
Quote:Cooper is an easy call if Williams is gone and no trade available.
Too easy.
It really is, and like I've said multiple times on here, unless we get a farm like trade, staying put and possibly taking Williams or Cooper i think betters the team more than a few extra draft picks. I think the more and more the draft gets closer, the more and more i think we will miss out on the Mariota trade with Tennessee trading out. I think Williams and Cooper will be there. I think it will tough to pass on Cooper though even if Leonard Williams is there. As many have said, we do have Odrick, Alualu, Marks and Miller, makes it kinda crowded. But one would think Ziggy Hood would be gone in this circumstance. I think Cooper is a bigger need, but passing on Williams will be tough.
The problem is you assume that GM Dave Caldwell feels Robinson & Lee are great by looking at Cobb when he could have already determined that he was going to draft Cooper at #3 for example...
Amari Cooper is graded at 7.1 overall (2nd place in NFL prospects 2nd only to DL Williams) at NFL.com draft ticker.
This is my ideal first three picks for our team this year if we can't trade down.
1. Amari Cooper - WR - Need points on the board. Not a pass rusher. Cooper is smooth, polished, snags just about everything that's within his radius and he's been consistent in a stout conference. He reminds me of Jordy Nelson with just a bit more speed down the stretch.
2. Jay Ajayi - RB - Need a running game. Gordon and Gurley will be gone by the time we're on the clock. This kid is respectable though and is a multipurpose and every down back.
3. Hau'Oli Kikaha - OLB - Excellent OLB off the edge for Washington last year. Just a nightmare last year all over the field. Racked up 19 sacks, 66 tackles, forced three fumbles, had over 20 tackle behind the line. Just a natural pass rusher. I think Bradley could move him around a bit and get a lot of out of him early on as a rookie. Every analyst is saying he's undersized at 6'2 253 when they're clamoring for us to take Fowler Jr. in RD1 and he's just an inch taller at 6'3 and about 10 pounds heavier. A few months and Kikaha will have the weight on him.
Quote:Cooper is an easy call if Williams is gone and no trade available.
Too easy.
Sorry but I disagree.
I personally like the bigger more physical receivers like Julio Jones and Dez Bryant...so my choice would be Kevin White
I think the pick is going to be a pass rusher and here's why:
I don't think Caldwell anticipates drafting this high anytime soon. The impact pass rushers are of such value they are always projected very high. If we are picking 15-20 next year we would need to trade up for our pass rusher. We can still find impact receivers later in the draft.
I don't know who cakdwell's guy is but if we stay at 3, I think it'll be our LEO.
Quote:I think the pick is going to be a pass rusher and here's why:
I don't think Caldwell anticipates drafting this high anytime soon. The impact pass rushers are of such value they are always projected very high. If we are picking 15-20 next year we would need to trade up for our pass rusher. We can still find impact receivers later in the draft.
I don't know who cakdwell's guy is but if we stay at 3, I think it'll be our LEO.
I certainly hope it's not a pass rusher for the sake of drafting a pass rusher.
With this crop, there isn't much that separates the one you reach for at #3, and the one likely available at a better value at around 10-15.
Quote:I certainly hope it's not a pass rusher for the sake of drafting a pass rusher.
With this crop, there isn't much that separates the one you reach for at #3, and the one likely available at a better value at around 10-15.
Which is the reason I'd love to see us trade back and get Bud Dupree in that range.
I wouldnt be upset with either of the top WR. I mean last year 3 rookies showed signs but this team still needs a big time playmaker
I want to throw this disclaimer first before all the superfans get tizzied: I LIKE ROBINSON AND LEE.
Robinson and Lee are both average players, Cooper is probably somewhere between Watkins and Green (Although drastically different players). I think adding a WR of that magnitude could put the offense over the top.. We won't be picking in the top 5 forever, it's about time the Jags came away with some elite talent. This is the 1st year since the Jags have been picking in the Top 5, that the talent matches the pick. They should trade back into the 1st round and take Gurley and you'd have a real strong offense
I like Cooper he is a polished WR and very good, but is he really an elite prospect?
Not big not super fast and not super athletic, I feel if he didnt play for Bama and put up the same numbers he would be looked at as a mid 1st round WR.
Picking him at 3 is insane, unless we had nothing at WR, but we have a group of young talented guys already.
Watkins, Evans and Beckem were better prospects last year