(04-19-2023, 10:44 PM)Bullseye Wrote: It's been a while since I've posted, so I figured I've spared you guys from my thoughts for long enough.  So with about a week to go until draft day, here are some pre draft musings...

1.  I think the speculations regarding the Jaguars supposed interest in Budda Baker are interesting on a few levels.  While he's a little older than I'd like, he still seems to have about 2-3 good years left.  With the lack of offense characteristic of the rest of the teams in our division, he would seem to be able to thrive here, assuming we can scheme him to give a reasonable reproduction of Pakers era LeRoy Butler or Troy Polamalu. We've never had that element in our defense before.  The closest we came was 1999 with a past his prime Carnell Lake, who came from the Steelers' scheme.  But making such a move is not wihout the potential risks.  Will he need another contract?  If so, how much?  WHat would the Cardinals want in draft choice compensation for him?  Are we talking above or below a 3rd round pick?  That is my cutoff point for such a move.  Anything higher than a 3rd and I pass.

2.  If a Budda Baker deal does not come to pass, it would seem if we were hell bent on having such a player for our defense, a younger, equally alliterative version would be found in Alabama's rookie DB Brian Branch.  Cheaper?  Definitely.  But would he be as talented?  Do we have a coordinator creative enough to scheme him effectively?  On top of these concerns, I'm being troubled by the abundance of mock drafters on line who are projecting him to us-without a moments' thought.  Mock drafters not giving the Jaguars a moments thought js no big shock.  But rarely are so many on one accord when it comes to that player, rarer still is the player in accord with me.  It's to the point I'm tempted to revisisit my evaluation of the player.

3.  That said, even before this post, I was not married to the idea of Brian Branch for us at 24.  Besides the fact I think the team is more likely than in years' past to deal down, I think there are still likely to be a lot of viable options for us at 24 (assuming we stay) on either side of rhte ball.  On offense, There will likely be one of the TE prospects on the board.  Pederson had a lot of 2 TE sets in Philly.  Adding either Kincaid or Meyer or the kid from Georgia would restore the depth at the position for us, give us more personnel and formation versatility, and add another arrow in the quiver for TL and Pederson.  I would have to think if the right OL are remaining on the board, they could opt to replace Jawaan Taylor and maintain the three quality Ts on the roster, or even to upgrade Brian Bartch at G if Cyrus Torrence is still on the board at 24.

4.  I know it's still very early, but the Jaguars have to be the favorites to with the AFCS and the 49er have to be favorites to win the NFCW.  Buffahole could finish as low as 3rd in the AFC E, depending on what happens with the Jets and Aaron Rodgers.  I still think Tacks coach Mike Vrabel is an outstanding coach, but i am eager to see DeMeco Ryans for the Texans.  My gut tells me before long, this will be an excellent division in terms of coaching.

5.   I will go on the record now:  if the Georgia DT  is somehow still on the board whwn the Jaguaras are on the clock, I take the chance and pull the trigger and draft him.

I think Branch is an interesting prospect to fill this unique role of moving up into the slot/nickel position or playing deep centerfield when/if needed. My biggest concern with him though is his overall speed. It's not that I don't think he can handle it. My concern is when a team feels they have an advantage and can line-up a speed demon on him. His 4.5 speed is a concern. 

The other concern is can he stick and move with TE's like Kelce? Kittle?, etc? Those are the types of guys you often see in play-off contests or big games down the stretch with play-off implications on the line. I am not nearly as convinced as everybody else seems to be in the mock community. 

Regarding the TE and OG situation. I don't like the value there at 24. Not in this class. Even with Engram's situation lingering above the team. The fact of the matter is that he's at least here for another year. The TE class is too deep to bypass an adequate pass rusher or a solid CB2 with CB1 potential IMHO. Ideally, I would like to see a trade down if it comes down to having to select a TE there or Torrence. I was high on Torrence. I am not so high on him now. He's one dimensional and he has poor footwork from what I am hearing and he might not be a good fit here scheme wise. 

I would rather see Cam Smith at 24 or a top pass rusher that somehow slips like Murphy. I can tell you that I don't want anything to do with Bresee. He's the biggest boom/bust player there is in this year's draft. I am in agreement with Jalen Carter being the pick if he slips there. I still have concerns with his conditioning and decision making though as the recent turn of events have raised some serious questions regarding his longevity in the league. 

Coaching certainly looks better on paper across the division but the biggest question marks our three competitors have are at QB and until that's resolved I am really not all that concerned with any of them as long as Lawrence and Pederson are evolving together. I really feel like we have a Payton/Brees & Reid/Mahomes type combination on our hands. 

Back to the draft. For me, I pretty much laid out in the college forum what I was hoping for on the draft night. Which involves a trade down. However, if none of that happens? This would be my ideal draft with no trades below. 

24th - Lukas Van Ness - DT/EDGE - Iowa - Versatile scheme fit with 478 credited snaps split up with 242 times outside the tackles and 155 in the B-gap. Gives us breathing room because we all know we're more than likely losing Josh Allen in 2024's market and we need a compliment to Travon Walker. 

56th - Dawand Jones - OT - Ohio State - We need insurance as you cited above. Dawand is a MASSIVE insurance policy at 6'8, 374 pounds. I think he'll slip to us here because there was some concerns with his conditioning at his pro day but coming in for a year to work behind Robinson and Little and to get into NFL shape should bode well for 2024 and beyond. 

88th - Karl Brooks - DT/EDGE - Bowling Green - Another versatile scheme fit. Has the ability to play inside as a 3-Tech and outside. At 6'4, 300 pounds. He adds another healthy body to the rotation. Again, with this team having more than half of it's visiting choices dedicated to pass rushers? They're double dipping in this draft without a doubt. 

121st - Garrett Williams - CB - Syracuse - Here's that nickel CB everybody wants. Excited to see we actually visited with him. Big fan of what Syracuse's secondary did in general last year. Was another guy I brought up super early into the draft process. Fits a need. Offers great run support. 

127th - Anthony Bradford - OG - LSU - Another versatile lineman that can play OG/OT but projects better as an OG. For his size, 6'4, 332 pounds. He's a freak athlete. Scoring a 9.81 out of 10 on the RAS. Big guys with quick feet are coveted. This is an easy pick for me here. 

185th - Will Mallory - TE - Miami (FL) - Local prospect. Well rounded, coach's son for the position. Adds immediate depth and a solid run blocker to seal the edge with the ability to sneak out in the passing game inside the redzone. Love this selection here. Sneaky good pick here. 

202nd - Josh Whyle - TE - Cincinatti - Double dipping here at TE. Need the depth. Josh compares to basically Dan Arnold. Who we lost to free agency I believe. We still need competition here with Farrel backing up Engram and we need the bigger body types that can block and release to catch. Him and Mallory fit the mold for this in our system. 

208th - Andrei Iosivas - WR - Princeton - Good speed and size ratio. Solid production. Good camp body here with ST's capabilities and at least somebody you can slowly bring along the PS for development. 

226th - Trevor Reid - OT - Louisville - Another freak athlete that can play OT. Worthy of the pick here to develop. At this point late in the draft you're looking for athletes with high upside. Guys that can develop and hopefully backfill the bottom half of your roster in 2023 or early 2024. Iosivas and Reid fit the mold.

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