(01-18-2024, 11:50 AM)jaglou53 Wrote:

(01-18-2024, 10:33 AM)homebiscuit Wrote: Mock draft tracker from jaguars.com. My apologies if this has been posted previously.

https://www.jaguars.com/news/mock-draft-...s-at-no-17

Until free agency decisions are made, there's no way we can accurately predict the draft. However, as things stand now, my thoughts on these mocks are:

1. Extremely unlikely Nabers and Odunze will be available. Can't say I'd totally rule either out in the unlikelihood one drops, especially if Ridley departs. At this time, I'd prefer waiting until round 2 for Ridley's replacement due to the high quality depth at this position. Leggett would even be an option in round 2 depending on how he does at the combine and Senior Bowl.

2. Fuaga and Fautanu were selected 3 times each. Right now, one of these would be my pick. Both can play either guard or tackle and excel at run-blocking.

3. Jer'Zhan Newton is definitely intriguing if he drops to 17. He would provide the inside pass rush needed by the Jaguars. 

4. None of the other names excite me right now. Sweat and Coleman would be big reaches at 17.

Yep. In agreement all the way with this. I am still leaning towards WR / OT/OG there early but it's unlikely Nabers is there, his teammate, Thomas Jr. should be there though. Odunze would be ideal. I would be surprised if he slips out of the top 15. Nabers is a top 10 receiver. 

Fuaga is probably the most logical and probable prospect to be there. He fits a lot of areas of concern. Newton would honestly be a steal for me there at 17. I think he's that good of a player as well. He would be an instant plug and play upgrade that we also need severely on defense. 

That's why in this thread I went the other route with my mock. Similar to yours. I want the offensive line addressed first while targeting and double dipping in other areas of need. I walked out of my mock with three offensive lineman, two defensive tackles, two edge rushers and two receivers. 

A lot though, like you said, it's hard to predict for sure until they get into free agency. You just never know. They might goof up Josh Allen, they might goof up Calvin Ridley, they might make some obvious cuts to us and then some not so obvious cuts to us. They might think they already have some of their areas of need addressed based on what Baalke did with last year's class and the previous year's class. 

This is why I try to cover my basis and double dip at these areas of need. In hopes of at least knocking one of them out of the park. I don't think it hurts. Especially when you clearly see that your starters are lacking in quality and when they were injured your depth behind them was also lacking in quality. 

Baalke does do a better job in drafting defensive players and he's had more luck in finding and signing proven players offensively. It might be a little too unrealistic with some of our opinions. He might very well go CB with the 17th overall pick. He might very well go EDGE, even if some of these guys listed above are sitting pretty on his draft board.

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