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If Jacksonville doesn't go defense with its first pick, Caldwell likely will look at adding a receiver. Although he drafted USC's Marqise Lee and Penn State's Allen Robinson in the second round last year, neither is considered a burner who can stretch defenses and open things underneath for the team's top free agent acquisition, former Denver tight end Julius Thomas.
TOP 10 AGAIN: Barring a trade, the Jaguars will draft in the top 10 for the eighth consecutive year. They have little to show for the previous seven, which included four busts. Defensive end Derrick Harvey (2008) and receiver Justin Blackmon (2012) are out of the league,Jerseys Wholesale, and defensive tackle Tyson Alualu (2010) and quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2011) have been relegated to backup roles.
Florida's Dante Fowler Jr. might seem like an ideal choice to eventually replace Clemons, but the 265-pound Fowler is considered a tad heavy to play Jacksonville's hybrid Leo (edge rusher) position.
Jacksonville has the third overall selection in the NFL draft, and if the top two selections are quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota as many expect, the Jaguars would have their choice of the best non-passer available.
When picking in the top five and building a team, Caldwell believes you should select a guy who plays one of the premier positions — quarterback, left tackle and pass rusher.
OTHER NEEDS: Aside from pass rusher, receiver and running back, the Jaguars could use a safety,Cheap Jerseys China, a linebacker and more depth along the offensive line.
If he sticks to the script,Cheap Jerseys Paypal, the Jaguars likely will add USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams on Thursday night.
BLACKMON'S FUTURE: The Jaguars seem to have some clarity on Blackmon's potential reinstatement. Caldwell said he's doesn't expect to have the former Oklahoma State star back in 2015. "It's a league situation, and they going to go at their own pace," Caldwell said. Blackmon is suspended indefinitely for repeated violations of the league's substance-abuse policy.
"I think it's a great situation," Caldwell said.
"For us,Wholesale Jerseys China, if there's a difference-maker there, a perennial Pro Bowler for eight, nine, 10 years and really be a 1-A type of receiver,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, I think we're not in that phase to pass up that type of player," Caldwell said.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell has a fairly common draft philosophy:
Here are some other things to know about the franchise heading into the draft:
The Jaguars also could use help on the edge, where 33-year-old veteran Chris Clemons started every game last season and finished with eight sacks.
This much is certain: the rebuilding Jaguars still have plenty of holes and not enough draft picks to fill them.
So maybe Alabama's Amari Cooper or West Virginia's Kevin White would fit nicely. After all, Caldwell has said repeatedly the goal of this offseason is to surround Bortles with more talent.
Marks, who led the team with 8½ sacks in 2014, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the season finale. He hopes to return during training camp and be ready for the season opener, but there are no guarantees.
Drafting Williams would make a lot of sense, even though he probably would line up mostly as a defensive tackle in coach Gus Bradley's hybrid, 4-3 scheme. He's versatile enough to play outside and would help the Jaguars fortify a line that could be without defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks to start the season.
Caldwell landed two of those in his first two years in Jacksonville — both in the top five — with left tackle Luke Joeckel in 2013 and then quarterback Blake Bortles last season.
RB NEEDED: Jacksonville made an offer to sign free agent running back DeMarco Murray in March, but it came up well short of the five-year, $42 million contract he signed with Philadelphia. Nonetheless, it was a clear indication about how the Jaguars feel about their backfield. So they are likely to add a back in the early rounds to compete with Toby Gerhart and Denard Robinson.
STRONG TIES: In Jacksonville's 20-year draft history,Cheap Jerseys Online, the team has selected eight players from nearby Florida and seven from cross-country USC. The next most is four by Florida State, Tennessee and Virginia. |
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