1) Calais Campbell, DE         Miami             6’8”  290lbs.   5.03/40 – Bigger than prototype size and good athleticism.  Vanished at times this past season.  Was considered a top 10 pick after his Sophomore season.  I am still convinced that he is far better than his workouts.

2) Dre Moore, DT     Maryland        6’4”   305lbs.  4.88/40 – Rough around the edges DT with elite athleticism.  Built more like a DE than a DT, but has a good base and strength to rival most DT’s in this draft class.  With more polish, he’d be a late First Rounder, IMO. 

3a) Brandon Keith OT/OG     Northern Iowa   6’5”  343lbs.   4.98/40 – Athletic O-Lineman with great size and an ability to play 3 positions across the OL.    With good coaching and improved technique, he could be very productive.  Shows elite athleticism. Has off-the-field issues and quit on multiple occasions while at Oklahoma.  Has the size to be a phonebooth mauler, but the athleticism to pull and get to the next level.  Interesting prospect that could be overdrafted based simply on his measurables.  Keith was a late 4^th / early 5^th round prospect before his workouts, but the workouts have bumped him at least a full round. 

3b) Tom Zbikowski, SS     Notre Dame   5’11”   209lbs.  4.55/40 – Experienced Safety with better-than-advertised coverage ability.  Big hitter with good hands and instincts.  Good Punt Returner.  Surprised many with his excellent workouts.  A true strong safety excels in the box, but is solid in coverage.  Production dropped off this season on a bad Notre Dame team.

4) Tommy Blake, DE   TCU   6’3”   272lbs.  4.78/40 – I don’t believe we can pass this guy up when he slides to us here.  A former first round talent, who’s of the field issues really hurt his game and his scale this past season.  Sought medical help for depression and anxiety and has worked very hard in the offseason to return to his prior form.  He’s not there yet, but with a close eye by the coaching staff and an NFL quality conditioning program, he could be a helluva player in the mold of Terrell Suggs. 

5a) Kevin O'Connell, QB   San Diego State   6'5"  225lbs.  4.61/40– This guy is a developmental prospect with big upside.  Good arm with good athleticism.  Not what you’d call a polished QB, but has all the physical tools and prototype size.  Definitely on the rise after showing well at the combine.  Clearly shows the athleticism at the position that Shack and Jack covet.  A season with Mike Shula will make O’Connell a very solid QB…sooner rather than later.

5b) Ben Moffitt, LB   South Florida   6’1”   234lbs.   4.58/40 – Very productive LB’er with the ability to play ILB or OLB.  Showed very well at his Pro Day after not running a 40 at the combine due to injury.  Ran a low time of 4.55/40 at his Pro Day with a 37.5” vertical.  Has the production and athleticism to be considered earlier, but the lack of need for us at LB will allow us to wait until the middle of the 5^th to grab him.

5c) Chauncey Washington, RB  USC  5’11”   211lbs.   4.38/40 – Good all-around prospect that was thought to have marginal speed…until his Pro Day.  He shocked scouts with times under 4.40 when he was expected to be at or around a 4.6/40.  Decent pass catcher out of the backfield, but downfield routes need work.  Averaged 5 ypc as a Senior and scored 10 TD’s.  Battle-tested prospect with Big-game experience coming out of Southern Cal.  May find it difficult to grasp an NFL playbook.  Not a perfect prospect by any means, but has first day talent.

6) To Minnesota

7) To  Seattle

Those Who Stay Will Be Champions

Assuming that David Garrard is signed prior to the draft, then drafting Brian Brohm in Rd 1 does not make as much sense as it would if the two parties could not come to terms. Accordingly, here is my latest projection:

Rd 1(26): Gosder Cherilus - OT - Boston College

I believe that the Jags have had their eye on this guy for a while. He could be a dominant OLT if he could forget about the times when he is occasionally defeated by the opposing DE. No doubt he is currently a dominant run blocker and putting him at the OLT spot would definitely improve the run blocking on that side of the line. Given the dominance of the Jags current running game and with the prospect that it could be even more dominant with Cherilus at the OLT spot, the Jags decide that they can live with his less than dominant pass blocking abilities for now.

Rd 2(58): Red Bryant - DT - Texas A&M

He may not be flashy but he is a rock in the middle of the defensive line that just can not be rooted out. His run stuffing ability will allow the Jags to use three pass rushers to collapse the pocket.

Rd 3(71): Jeremy Thompson - DE - Wake Forrest

This guy is a late riser that has pass rush ability but can also hold the point of attack.

Rd 3(89): Dexter Jackson - PR/WR - Appalachian State

Jags move to improve their punt return game and potentially allow the Jags to dump Dennis Northcutt's contract. Jackson offers big play ability in the return game and the short area quickness to take over the slot WR spot.

Rd 4(125): Gary Guyton - OLB - Ga. Tech

Jags add another sub-4.5/40 LB to the mix. There is a good chance that 2008 is the last year that Mike Peterson is with the team, and Guyton can play all three of the LB spots as well as rush the passer.

Rd 5(143): Jack Ikegwuonu - CB - Wisconsin

Jags look to add a jar to the shelf for the 2009 season. Ikegwuonu is a mid Rd 2 value that is coming off an ACL injury. The Jags can afford to put him on the IR for 2008 and be patient about his development in 2009.

Rd 5(158): Dennis Dixon - QB - Oregon

Jags take another player that they will shelve in 2008 for his promise in 2009. Prior to his ACL injury, he looked like a Heisman Trophy Winner who might have been taken in Rd 2 of this draft. As it stands now, the Jags can afford to let him heal on IR for the 2008 season.

Rd 5(159): Gary Barnidge - TE - Louisville

Jags take a TE with WR hands who can fill the same role that Ernest Wilford filled, yet he is bigger faster and a better blocker than Wilford with a rookie paycheck.

1. DT Kentwan Balmer-- although I don't think this is a position of huge need, the Jags could be looking to the future with this pick.  Henderson and Meier are not getting any younger.  Who knows if McDaniel will be productive.  If there is no DE we like and Kenny Phillips is gone, Balmer could be the pick.  I don't like DT this high due to the pretty good depth we have at the position, but it may be the  best option when the time comes.  Who would be the odd man out if we only kept 4 DT's?

2. S  Tyrell Johnson-- I was not sold on this guy when people first mentioned him, but after seeing some clips of him play and reading about how is he climbing the boards, he looks like a solid 2nd rounder.   IMO, we need help at Safety in a  big way.  At Strong Safety Sensabaugh has issues with both shoulders and we are one twisted ankle away from having Fudge start at Free Safety.  Johnson can play both Safety positions and is said to be a great tackler against the run.

3. DE Jeremy Thompson-- another guy moving up the boards after some pretty good workouts.  May not be the best option at DE,  but after the top 3 DE's are gone, the gap between the talent level seems to narrow. 

3. TE Kellen Davis-- Do we really need a TE this high?  Yes.  Wrighster has been a playmaker at times, but his knee may keep him from being very productive this year.  Ultimately, that could cost him his roster spot.  Davis is big (6-6, 265), fast (4.6) and a good blocker.  Sounds like a fit for our offense.

Those picks would cover the 4 biggest needs of this team as I see them.  The remaining picks could be used for RB, OL, LB, and another DB.

2008 Jaguars-  New "Ends" = A New Beginning

Crazy as this sounds, I am beginning to reconsider Quentin Groves at Pick 26. I have been expecting his stock to fall and it remains solid at the end of Rd 1. If that were to happen then my draft might look like this:

Rd 1(26): Quentin Groves - DE - Auburn

Rd 2(58): Red Bryant - DT - Texas A&M

Rd 3(71): Carl Nicks - OT - Nebraska

Rd 3(89): Dexter Jackson - WR/PR - App. State

Rd 4(125): Jack Ikegwuonu - CB/S - Wisconsin

Rd 5(143): Gary Guyton - OLB - Ga. Tech

Rd 5 (158): Dennis Dixon - QB - Oregon

Rd 5(159): Steve Slaton - RB/KR - West Va.

He's bigger than KGB, Aaron Schobel, and Robert Mathis.

The fact remains, he's an explosive pass rusher and we know the number 1 need for this team is just that.  A pass rushing defensive end.

SEASON TICKET HOLDER SINCE 6/07 SECTION 204 ROW D   "When I watched film of the Jacksonville Jaguars the first person that stood out to me was Rob Meier."  -John Madden

Check it out and note where some players fall:

http://nfldraftguys.com/features/08_mock_draft_buchanan_080408.php

Here are my picks from this mock draft:

Rd 1(26): Gosder Cherilus - OT - Boston College

I think this guy can play the OLT position and become dominant as a run blocker.

Rd 2(58): Reggie Smith - SS - Oklahoma

Jags tag a ballhawking SS that can step in and perhaps start from Day One in Training Camp.

Rd 3(71): Dre Moore - DE/DT - Maryland

Jags take a 3rd down DT that could play LDE on first and second downs.

Rd 3(89): Phillip Wheeler - LB - Ga. Tech

Jags grab another Ga. Tech LB who really can rush the passer and play all three LB positions.

Rd 4(125): Brian Johnston - DE - Gardner Webb

Jags take a chance on a player who just might be the next Jared Allen or Aaron Kampman.

Rd 5(143): Gary Barnidge - TE - Louisville

Jags grab a recieving TE that could quickly become the No. 2 TE. He is also a local kid from Middleburg, Florida.

Rd 5(158): Dennis Dixon - QB - Oregon

Jags grab their No. 3 QB who will sit out the 2008 season while he heals from his ACL injury.

Rd 5(159): Jack Ikegwuonu - CB - Wisconsin

Jags take another injured player that could end up being a real gem at either the CB or FS spot for the Jags in 2009. He most likely sits out the 2008 season on IR.