(02-22-2024, 10:26 AM)Caldrac Wrote:

(02-22-2024, 10:07 AM)flgatorsandjags Wrote: A good thing is this is a very good WR class and a lot of teams will want to draft one instead of signing a high priced FA.  It wouldn't shock me if we get a G and C in FA if we signed Ridley, cut Zay, and drafted Brian Thomas Jr.  If we could add a couple pieces to the interior oline in FA.  Thomas Jr, Ridley, Kirk, Engram, and Etienne would have the potential to be one of the best offenses in the league.

Yeah. Been hesitant to run anymore mock drafts until they get through the free agency phase next month. That's ultimately going to shuffle everybody's draft boards. Ideally, and, not to derail this thread too far off topic because it is about Ridley.

However, they should hopefully enter free agency with the goal of landing at least one of the following positions with an immediate starter:

1. C
2. LG
3. DT

Landing just two or three of those positions with a big name or at least top three - five free agent will let the front office breath a lot better in April. We still have to consider the WR position though, for sure. Because we don't have Ridley at all as it stands. I can't remember if Agnew is free to go this off season as well. Then you factor in Zay Jones being a possible cut, albeit, minimal impact if we do cut him salary cap wise so we're probably better served keeping him. 

I was high on Brian Thomas Jr. months ago when I started looking at this class. Was on that train before the mock sites and analysts started making it a trend or habit. Would be thrilled if he's a Jaguar on the opening night of the draft. He was a TD scoring machine last year for the Tigers and if you look closely at his highlight reels you will see that he's very good at:

1. High pointing the football with his hands. He attacks the ball. It doesn't let it come to him. 

2. He's been making NFL caliber TD grabs with great body control, ball location and keeping two feet and/or dragging his toes to stay inbounds.

3. He's got great 50/50 catch radius. 

He's a great candidate in this offense and if he's there at 17 I would be tempted to take him over anybody really unless a top 10 prospect fell. There's a good chance he's not there though. Once you get past Harrison Jr., Nabers & Odunze, all of whom should probably end up going in the top 15. 

I'll tell you, what keeps bumming me out? Is, looking at some of my go to mock sites. I see Nabers going to the tacks at #7 and sometimes Odunze going to the clots right at #15. With even Thomas Jr. somehow slipping to the tinhorns at #23. Makes me sick to think about really. 

Three sleepers though at WR I would keep an eye out on. That's Ladd McConkey out of Georgia, Hayden Hatten out of Idaho & Xavier Weaver out of Colorado. I think those three guys will slip here and there in the draft but they're good options. 

There's good day two options as well if they absolutely have to replace Ridley in the draft. The two guys out of Texas, that kid out of South Carolina and that other kid out of North Carolina.