03-16-2016, 08:42 PM
We've talked about this team's desperate need for a LEO ad infinitum, and I don't think it will stop anytime soon.
But how far would you go to ensure the Jaguars got another pass rusher or two to team with/insure against Fowler?
Assume for argument's sake, Jack is the pick for us at 5, and the team has decided it would allocate a subsequent pick/picks on that position.
Would you support the team trading back up into the bottom of the first or second round to ensure the Jaguars get the player they wanted?
Would your answer change if the pick at 5 were Bosa, or if we traded down out of 5 and got extra picks?
I think I would be okay if the team traded up to ensure they got the player they wanted under that scenario.
The two times in recent memory the team traded up produced Robinson and Linder. I think Caldwell has proven adept at identifying talent at that part of the draft, and I don't think he overpaid in either instance.
Furthermore, I think the position is lacking severely. Fowler has a lot of potential, but he is coming off an injury and he is essentially a rookie. Branch has just signed with Miami. Clemons filled that role as a stopgap the past couple of years, and his play fell off. The team went after at least three accomplished pass rushers this offseason and missed on all three. Clearly the team thinks it a major priority.
There are a few considerations that would give me pause.
Historically speaking, teams have been able to find outstanding pass rushers in the 3rd and 4th rounds. Jason Taylor, Charles Haley, Justin Houston, Charles Mann, Jared Allen and others have terrorized QBs despite their lineage as mid round picks. I think Caldwell has been able to find talent in that part of the draft and I have faith he could find a contributor or two at LEO there.
I think despite this team's FA class, this is a team that still has holes, including at LB, and C or G. This part of the draft is also a good spot to fill those positions, and trading away picks from these rounds could preclude us from effectively filling those holes. There's also the thought that a guy could inexplicably fall that he never thought would be there. I would hate to think we would miss out on that guy because we have traded away a pick.
There is also the consideration that trading up to get a LEO, even if they HIT on the pick, may not necessarily yield the immediate impact this team needs. As of year two or three, the players acquired may well have been worth the investment and are catalysts for a Super Bowl caliber defense for us, but it may well be they need a year or so to fully adjust to the pro game.
Naturally, if the team traded back and landed Quinn, then LEO becomes far less of a concern. Or if the team landed a bushel of 2nd and 3rd round picks, then I may or may not be inclined to move up.
However, I believe if there is a player you want within reach, you go get that player. I think this team has the chance to make a quantum leap into contention. But it needs a pass rush catalyst to have impact this year to do it. Though a double digit sack guy would be great, I think what's more likely to happen is two or three guys will combine to get 10-15 sacks or so from that LEO position. If we can get to the higher end of that range, we'll still be in decent shape. What we can't have happen is what happened in the second round in 1998. where we had a huge need at CB, the talent was there to be had in the 2nd round, but we picked too far back and didn't deal up to get a stud and wound up with Cordell Taylor. If we don't take a pass rusher at 5, I think it imperative we do what it takes to get the guys we want/need later.
But how far would you go to ensure the Jaguars got another pass rusher or two to team with/insure against Fowler?
Assume for argument's sake, Jack is the pick for us at 5, and the team has decided it would allocate a subsequent pick/picks on that position.
Would you support the team trading back up into the bottom of the first or second round to ensure the Jaguars get the player they wanted?
Would your answer change if the pick at 5 were Bosa, or if we traded down out of 5 and got extra picks?
I think I would be okay if the team traded up to ensure they got the player they wanted under that scenario.
The two times in recent memory the team traded up produced Robinson and Linder. I think Caldwell has proven adept at identifying talent at that part of the draft, and I don't think he overpaid in either instance.
Furthermore, I think the position is lacking severely. Fowler has a lot of potential, but he is coming off an injury and he is essentially a rookie. Branch has just signed with Miami. Clemons filled that role as a stopgap the past couple of years, and his play fell off. The team went after at least three accomplished pass rushers this offseason and missed on all three. Clearly the team thinks it a major priority.
There are a few considerations that would give me pause.
Historically speaking, teams have been able to find outstanding pass rushers in the 3rd and 4th rounds. Jason Taylor, Charles Haley, Justin Houston, Charles Mann, Jared Allen and others have terrorized QBs despite their lineage as mid round picks. I think Caldwell has been able to find talent in that part of the draft and I have faith he could find a contributor or two at LEO there.
I think despite this team's FA class, this is a team that still has holes, including at LB, and C or G. This part of the draft is also a good spot to fill those positions, and trading away picks from these rounds could preclude us from effectively filling those holes. There's also the thought that a guy could inexplicably fall that he never thought would be there. I would hate to think we would miss out on that guy because we have traded away a pick.
There is also the consideration that trading up to get a LEO, even if they HIT on the pick, may not necessarily yield the immediate impact this team needs. As of year two or three, the players acquired may well have been worth the investment and are catalysts for a Super Bowl caliber defense for us, but it may well be they need a year or so to fully adjust to the pro game.
Naturally, if the team traded back and landed Quinn, then LEO becomes far less of a concern. Or if the team landed a bushel of 2nd and 3rd round picks, then I may or may not be inclined to move up.
However, I believe if there is a player you want within reach, you go get that player. I think this team has the chance to make a quantum leap into contention. But it needs a pass rush catalyst to have impact this year to do it. Though a double digit sack guy would be great, I think what's more likely to happen is two or three guys will combine to get 10-15 sacks or so from that LEO position. If we can get to the higher end of that range, we'll still be in decent shape. What we can't have happen is what happened in the second round in 1998. where we had a huge need at CB, the talent was there to be had in the 2nd round, but we picked too far back and didn't deal up to get a stud and wound up with Cordell Taylor. If we don't take a pass rusher at 5, I think it imperative we do what it takes to get the guys we want/need later.