The football season is over, and the measurements and times of the various college prospects are now official to NFL teams. In the upcoming weeks, free agency will start and NFL draft boards and needs will be adjusted as teams sign free agents and debate the comparative abilities between college players, and in many instances, weigh the strength of a free agency position vs. the strength of that same position in the draft pool.

 

What do you hope happens in the next couple of months?  What don't you want to happen?  What do you predict will happen?  It doesn't necessarily have to be Jaguars related.

 

Hope:  The Jaguars land at least two impact players in free agency.  I'm not talking about mere starters.  I'm talking about true difference makers for this team...guys who can make positive momentum and game changing plays, whether it be an established star, or a guy who doesn't have the big name but can thrive in our systems.

 

Fear:  That a division foe will land one of those type players above.  The thought of an explosive guy like C.J. Spiller ending up in Indy causes me indigestion.  The Colts do not need any more explosive, big play ability.

 

Prediction:  Washington DT Danny Shelton will sneak into the top 5, maybe even with Tennessee.

 

Hope:  if the Jaguars miss out on their preferred defensive stud in the first round, they can pull off a trade down that can net them a nice haul of extra picks without moving down too far, and still land an impact player with the first pick.

 

Fear:  The trade down causes them to miss out on a player they targeted lower, settling for a lesser player.

 

Prediction:  WV WR Kevin White will be drafted higher than expected.

 

Hope:  In addition to the two players mentioned in the first listed hope, that somewhere between FA and the draft, the Jaguars land a guy who can solidify RT.  I think if you solidify that position, you improve the performance of the OL overall.  J.J. Watt is a great player, and by all accounts he's a great guy.  But watching him notch SIX (6) sacks against us in two games last year was demoralizing.  Watching Ryan Kerrigan notch four sacks over the RT was nauseating.  If the RT we acquire, either via FA or the draft, becomes a star with us, I'll be thrilled.

 

Fear:  The new offensive schemes befuddle Bortles and the receivers and it takes them longer to catch on to them.

 

Prediction:  The Falcons and Bears will draft heavily on the defensive side of the ball, and one of them, most likely the Falcons, will trade ahead of us in at least one early to mid round to get a defensive player.  Tennessee will be another top ten team that should draft heavy on the defensive side of the ball.

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