This class does have the possibility to have as many elite defensive tackles as there were wide receivers in 2014. Another comparison would be the 1996 defensive end class. There were 6 defensive ends considered to have 1st round talent and the Jaguars were extremely lucky that Tony Brackens was the one who fell to the 2nd round. Busts like Cedric Jones, Duane Clemons and Regan Upshaw were all taken ahead of him since Brackens was considered inconsistent. Looking back into Jaguar draft history, this was one of the top 3 value picks in their history.

If the BAP in the 2nd round happens to be a defensive tackle, there is no question that the Jaguars should take that player. Even if they are fortunate enough to sign Malik Jackson in free agency, being able to sign first round talent like Vernon Butler, Billings, or Johnson in the 2nd round would be impossible to pass up unless another great value player like MacKenzie Alexander also falls for some reason. It is even possible that Nkemdiche will fall due to his character concerns so I'm sure Caldwell will do his due diligence on him prior to draft day.

 

Going back to the 1996 draft, the Jaguars should have learned that year that it is almost never smart to draft for need over value. Kevin Hardy was a good player, but Jonathan Ogden is a hall of famer that they passed on since they already had their bookend tackles. Unless my memory is failing, the Jaguars still do not have an ex player in the Hall of Fame and it is highly unlikely that any other ex-Jaguar player gets there anytime soon.

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