(02-26-2024, 08:12 AM)flgatorsandjags Wrote:

(02-26-2024, 02:22 AM)jaglou53 Wrote: DeJean is  definitely very versatile and some have him projected as a safety. The cornerback rankings are all over the place with Arnold, Mitchell, DeJean and Mitchell all having some support as being the best. It is too bad DeJean won't be working out in Indy this week, as you said. The depth of this cornerback class is a definite strength and for that reason I might prefer the Jaguars wait until round 2 or even 3 to take one. T,J. Tampa, Rakestraw and Khyree Jackson are all very good prospects who could be on the board in round 2 and their strengths in man coverage would seem to be a fit for Ryan Nielsen. Currently, I'm leaning towards taking Johnny Newton since the chances of getting a difference-making defensive tackle who can penetrate are much smaller after round 1. Mitchell from Texas is another possibility, but 17 is a little high for him (maybe trade back). I've gone back and forth on JPJ as the pick at 17. Today on NFL Radio on Sirius they interviewed Dane Brugler and he used the word "prodigy" when describing JPJ. If he isn't taken by Seattle at 16, JPJ would be a very safe pick who will likely play in many pro-bowls. Getting JPJ and T.J. Tampa or Rakestraw in round 2 would be very solid, in my opinion. Free agency will naturally have a lot to say about how they approach the draft.

I'd love JPJ in the first, I've been high on him for a while and I think he will end up one of the best centers in the league.    If we don't get a center in FA there will be a lot of speculation on if we stick with Fortner at center or draft a center in the first couple rounds.  I still don't think it's a guarantee we bring in another starter center even though Fortner is the 33rd ranked center and only 32 teams.  Hopefully Doug's and Baalkes comments on Fortner is just smoke but I wouldn't bet the house on it. 

If Baalke ignores addressing the Center position in a significant manner, my hope for this team will significantly be reduced. There is no justification in continuing to count on Fortner; both the tape and numbers don't lie. Is it possible that he he gets much stronger and becomes at least an average Center? I'd say that stranger things have happened, but not addressing this position during the off-season would be malpractice. If Fortner does improve, the team would then have the nice problem of having quality depth on the interior line.

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