Here’s my perspective:

12 Picks:  I also thought that they would trade up.  That being said, I was also one who didn’t think that using all 12 would be the worst thing in the world.  This team lacks depth and those picks can help.  Additionally, mid to late round picks inevitably involve taking some chances.  The more picks you have, the more likely you are to hit on some of them.  I think all 9 of the picks in the first five rounds will make the team.  It’s the last 3 in the sixth and seventh rounds that are iffy.  However, that’s also the nature of those late rounds.  Yes, they could have traded the picks, but other teams know those late picks aren’t worth much either and won’t let you move up much in return.  Also keep in mind to trade up, you need a team wanting to trade down.  Maybe Caldwell tried to trade up, the teams asked for the moon, and he decided to stay put.  Can you imagine the hate if Caldwell traded away a bunch of picks and still didn’t get the players you wanted?

LT:  This is a position if you’re wanting to upgrade a starting position, you do it early.  My understanding is that the one offensive tackle the Jaguars liked was Andrew Thomas but he was off the board at #4.  While we had 12 picks, we only had 2 first rounders.  This team had more than 2 needs that could have been nicely filled with those picks.  They chose cornerback and defensive end.  Both were huge needs at premium positions that typically don’t drop in the draft and the Jaguars liked the value.

Fournette:  I was surprised that Jaguars didn’t take a running back particularly considering that they kept all 12 picks.  It must mean they are keeping Fournette.  I will say that I’ve generally liked what I’ve seen from Armstead in his limited playing time.  Not taking a running back in this draft is a legitimate criticism though.

WR2:  I disagree.  Although they may get creative with him on certain plays, I do think Shenault will be lined up as wide receiver for the majority of plays.  We also drafted a wide receiver in the 5th round to supplement a receiving core that returns all four of its top receivers from last year.

Offensive Line:  I don’t have a good answer at right guard.  I would have upgraded.  Guards often drop in the draft and I think Cann is terrible.  They did draft Bartch, a left tackle that some think may be better at guard, but he’s a small school project.  Not finding a replacement for Cann is a legitimate criticism.  

Tight End:  I didn’t expect them to draft a tight end.  Most analysts considered this a terrible draft for tight ends.  Besides, I think Jaguars want to give Josh Oliver a chance.  He’s a third round pick from just a year ago and didn’t get much of a chance due to injuries.  They then did sign a veteran in free agency in Eifert.  O’Shaughnessy also hopefully returns from injury.  Teams typically keep three tight ends and that’s your three.  They did draft a tight end in the 6th round as well, probably as a depth option in case O’Shaugnessy isn’t fully recovered.  

Fournette Situation:  I don’t understand everyone’s desire to get rid of Fournette.  He had 1,674 rushing/receiving yards last year and was arguably our team’s offensive MVP.  With a team with so little talent, we need to keep the talent we do have.  I also think he would do better with a better offensive line.  Give him a small hole and Fournette will make the other team pay.  Give him a wall of defenders and most running backs are going to struggle.

Yannick Situation:  I’ve never understood this one.  Is it all about money or is there something else going on?  The best I can tell is that he has a terrible agent that completely over-valued Yannick’s market value and now is trying to save face.  I would think an incentive laden contract would be the solution.  The agent can brag about the top figure, even though Yan would make substantially less in reality.  That being said, I think the Jaguars have all but given up hope.  That’s why they drafted Chaisson.

Swiss Cheese Team:  You’re question here is largely why the emphasis on defense over offense in the draft.  I don’t think it was so much a case of “defense versus offense”, but looking at needs from a position to position viewpoint.  The Jaguars return virtually all of their entire starting offense.  Foles was a big name but most hope the position will be upgraded by a full season of Minshew.  Swaim (who only played in 6 games) is hopefully upgraded by Eifert and/or a healthy Oliver.  All of the other offensive starters return.  The defense, on the other hand, had major defections.  We went into last season with Ramsey (a former 5th overall pick) and Bouye (a high priced free agent) as our starting cornerbacks.  Using a first round pick to replace one of them isn’t surprising.  We got the second best cornerback and many believed that there was a significant drop off in value after him.  At defensive end, we lost Campbell and also have Ngakoue threatening to hold out and clearly unwilling to accept a long term contract.  Defensive end is a premium position that often doesn’t drop in the draft.  The Jaguar scouts apparently loved Chaisson.  They claim he was fourth best overall player on the entire draft board.  If true, that’s amazing to get at #20.  While some may have been surprised including myself, there is a lot of logic behind that pick.  The Jaguars then did go offense in round 2.  In round 3, they came back to defense with a defensive tackle.  Is this surprising considering the team lost Dareus in the offseason and that’s not to mention that they loss Malik Jackson the year prior without finding a legitimate replacement?  The next pick went back to offense.  At that point in the draft, you’re looking at depth.  They rattle off three defensive depth players before going three straight offensive depth players.  While the last player is listed as “cornerback”, I think he was drafted as a kick returner.  Obviously, different choices could have been made, but most of these picks do make quite a bit of sense from a need perspective.  

Dave:  I have no idea how Dave kept his job.  It’s mind boggling to me.  Not only 6 losing seasons in 7 years, but all six of those losing seasons involved 6 wins of less.  5 of his 7 seasons involve the team winning 5 games or less.  Blame Coughlin?  Caldwell’s record is worse in the years without Coughlin.  Blame Bradley/Marrone?  Caldwell hired both of them.  There’s really no excuse for Dave.

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