(02-12-2023, 03:35 PM)NYC4jags Wrote:

(02-12-2023, 02:54 PM)jaglou53 Wrote: I totally agree with the need to seek immediate starters in the draft at IOL and nickel. As you said, they should be able to find good value at both these positions sometime during the first 3 rounds.

With regard to IDL, I'm not so sure it will be easy to find someone who can add much to the team's already poor pass rush. Other than Calijah Kancey, who'd be a great 2nd round pick, what other IDL can be expected to effectively rush the passer? Most of the other top players at this position, with the possible exceptions of Bryan Breese and Gervin Dexter, are better at stopping the run and I'm not sure they'd be much better than what the team already has at that position (Fatukasi and Hamilton). That being said, I'd love for the Jaguars to sign Daron Payne in free agency. He would be worth whatever deal he gets if he continues to play at the same level as last season.

Edge rusher was not one of your top priorities. If the team continues to use primarily a 3-4 base defense, I believe they need to add another Edge rusher since Trevon Walker did not show enough in his rookie season for me to believe that this will be his best position. It wouldn't surprise me if he eventually became a pro-bowler due to his strength and athleticism, but that would be while playing on the defensive line where he could play both DE and DT- depending on the situation. There should be excellent value in the 2nd round round for getting an Edge rusher. Felix Uzomah, B'J' Ojulari, Will McDonald, Keion White and Derrick Hall have all demonstrating excellent pass rushing skills in college and at least one should be available at pick 56. 

I'd be interested in your thoughts on this and thanks for the excellent tape on our offensive line. It has certainly reinforced my belief that the line must get much better in 2023-24.

Thank you.

Regarding IDL, I don't have a complete picture on prospects and their traits/abilities just yet. Work is crazy these days and my armchair GM time is limited. 
And I agree it won't be an easy find. It usually isn't easy and the good ones are gone quick or they are dark horses no one saw coming. That's one reason why I mentioned this prospect being a rotational player. Sort of a disruption and pass rush specialist at DT or 3-4 end. Not expecting the next Aaron Donald to be there, but a guy that can disrupt A and B gaps more consistently than what we had last season from individual players - even if he's not all the way there as a rookie. 

On that note - intended scheme or alterations to the current scheme are going to go a looooong way to deciding how this goes down. We don't really know yet if we are staying the course, making a few tweaks, or revamping our mix of fronts. 

Regarding outside pass rush, I'm being more conservative/optimistic in my approach than many are. 
I thought I could see a difference in our pass rush getting closer after Williams moved outside toward the end of the season. 
I think the addition of a quality nickel will initiate yet another improvement in our pressures, knockdowns, and ultimately sacks. 
I'm not putting it all on the secondary by any stretch, Walker has to be better in year two, and Allen needs to make his "good weeks" happen more consistently.  I'm hoping we find a way to keep Key and draft a developmental guy in mid rounds that may be sifted into the rotation judiciously after the bye week or so. 
It's a need, it just doesn't feel as dire to me as the others I have ahead of it. My approach depends on Walker having more impact, and that's a gamble I'm aware of. 
Obviously the IDL guy I'm coveting would aid our EDGE/DE guys in their efforts as well by flushing QBs to them more often. 

RE: Walker
I'm not one that sees him as a 3-4 end/DT type. 
I think he's a 4-3 DE that can still succeed at 3-4 OLB and occasional third down 3-4 end/3-tech if he develops like our staff hoped he would when they drafted him. Fingers crossed.