JAGS02'S 2008 MOCK DRAFT

NEW TRADE: Raiders trade their #4 overall pick to the Cowboys for their #22, #28 and #61 overall picks.

1. Dolphins - OT Jake Long
2. Rams - DE Chris Long
3. Falcons - DE Vernon Gholston
4. Cowboys (from Raiders) - RB Derrick McFadden
5. Chiefs - OT Ryan Clady
6. Jets - QB Matt Ryan
7. Patriots - DT Glenn Dorsey
8. Ravens - CB Leodis McKelvin
9. Bengals - DT Sedric Ellis
10. Saints - LB Keith Rivers
11. Bills - CB Dominique Antoine-Cromartie
12. Broncos - OT Chris Williams
13. Panthers - RB Rashard Mendenhall
14. Bears - G Branden Albert
15. Lions - DE Derrick Harvey
16. Cardinals - CB Mike Jenkins
17. Vikings - OT Jeff Otah
18. Texans - RB Jonathan Stewart
19. Eagles - WR Devin Thomas
20. Bucs - WR DeSean Jackson
21. Redskins - WR Limas Sweed
22. Raiders (from Cowboys) - DT Kentwan Balmer
23. Steelers - WR James Hardy
24. Titans - DE Phillip Merling
25. Seahawks - RB Felix Jones
26. Jaguars - CB Antoine Cason
27. Chargers - OT Gosder Cherilus
28. Raiders - MLB Jerod Mayo
29. 49ers - WR Malcolm Kelly
30. Packers - CB Aqib Talib
31. Giants - S Kenny Phillips

I take Gosder Cherilus in this mock draft because with some experience I think he can become a dominant OLT especially in the run game.

I would still take Jerod Mayo over Antoine Cason.

I'm not sure why the Jaguars "need," or at least really want, a CB, but it's been made clear to me by the actions of the front office that they still want another top-flight CB. They tried to trade for Hall, but the Raiders obviously offered more. And there are published reports of the Jaguars personally interviewing virtually every top CB prospect in the draft. There's even a report at * as we speak about the Jaguars recent interview with Cason. So don't fool yourself. The Jaguars want a CB, and they want one early.

Beyond this, there are two other reasons to think CB.

1. The Jaguars "theme" this offseason has been to fix their pass defense. And every offseason they accoplish their theme.
2. Vic has been ragging on as of late about how a CB will be the Jaguars BAP at #26. He's actually been rather emphatic about it.

As for a LB, no we don't need one. Well, let me correct myself...we don't need one to potentially start right away. We do need depth, but that can be addressed later. But the Jaguars have four starting caliber LBs with Peterson, D. Smith, Durant and Ingram, and Iwuh practically makes for a fifth since they contemplated starting him last year. They can use a backup MLB to knock Gilbert off the roster, but do you really need to get that guy in round one?

As for Gosder, I considered the move. However, the teams looking at him can really use him to start right away and the Jaguars would only keep him as a 3rd OT in case of emergency. Again, that's a tough call to make with your first round pick, and Gosder is ready to start.  I still personally like the idea of Cherilus over Cason, but I just haven't seen anything to suggest the Jaguars might be looking that direction (aside from Vic's general fascination with big guys), and it would leave them still wanting a CB and a DE in the draft.

I thought about Campbell as well, but he's just not the BAP. Cason, Cherilus and Mayo are your BAPs along with Brohm, but nobody seems to need a QB. I also thought of Talib (he's a bigger CB which might help given the "no push out" rule), but I think Weaver has put his foot down on not selecting pot smokers.

'02 Check out my CAP_INFO, and join my new WEBSITE. Coach Del Rio: "Respect every opponnent, and fear nobody."

well our BAPs and the common BAP among draft sites may not be their BAP obviously.  Im sure most of us were stunned at the suggestion that Reggie or Matt was the BAP.  for all we know Early Doucet could be theirs this year.

But Vic usually does seem to have a pretty good idea at what the team is looking at.  as he should since he works with these people.  so if he says CB will most likely be their BAP, i believe it.

and it makes sense because it sounds like Revis was their guy last year.  and Cason sounds somewhat similar.  similar size.  similar productivity.  both good at returning INTs.  both returned kicks.  Revis may have been a little faster but if Cason had posted the same 40 at the combine, he probably would have been top 15 like Revis instead of top 25 or so.

Id be surprised with Cherilus just because the common theme is that he probably needs to play right tackle in the pro's. 

Ive said this before, but I dont really like the options for the Jags at this pick... if you believe most of these mocks.  BAP and need arent really matching up all that well.  and the guys who may fill needs have big question marks.  Merling and his injury.  Groves and his ability to play 4-3.  Campbell and his disappointing junior season along with poor workouts.  I really like Mayo as a player but we absolutely do not need a LB.  I think we should draft a QB, but I dont think we should do so early in the draft.  I dont know tons about Cason(id be lying if i said ive seen a lot of arizona games) but he seems to make the most sense.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS    Joined: 10/1/2000 12:00:00AM

Name: Antoine Cason  College: Arizona     Number: 5 Height: 6-0   Weight: 191 Position: CB  Pos2: KR Class/Draft Year: Sr/2008 40 Time: 4.45      40 Low: 4.39   40 High: 4.58   Projected Round: 1  Stock:   High: Mid 1  Low: Mid 2 Rated number 4 out of 241 CB's     24 / 2542 TOTAL

Combine Results		Pro Day Results
Combine Invite: Yes Height: 6002 Weight: 191 40 Yrd Dash: 4.45 20 Yrd Dash: 2.53 10 Yrd Dash: 1.51	225 Lb. Bench Reps: 20 Vertical Jump: 35 1/2 Broad Jump: 10'08" 20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.08 3-Cone Drill:  No 3-cone/tight hamstring	Dates: 03/08/08 Height: 6002 Weight: 191 40 Yrd Dash:  20 Yrd Dash:  10 Yrd Dash:	225 Lb. Bench Reps:  Vertical Jump: 36 Broad Jump:  20 Yrd Shuttle:  3-Cone Drill: 7.07
Before Combine: Hgt: 6002, Wgt: 190, 40YD: 4.45-4.54-4.59

Draft Scout Snapshot: DS Rating on 08/12/07: #4 CB, #28/750 Overall, Projected: Rnd 1-2 2008 Postseason update (04/04/08): Stock: Steady. Did not play at the Senior Bowl. His 4.45 40 at Indy looked slow compared with DRC and McKelvin, but it was better than scouts expected. He outperformed the other top corners with 20 reps and a 4.08 short shuttle. At his pro day, he has a 36" vertical and 7.07 three-cone. 2007: Started all twelve games at weak-side cornerback, ranking third on the team with a career-high 71 tackles (56 solos), including a 6-yard sack and four stops for losses of 12 yards…Caused two fumbles and deflected a team-high fourteen passes…Tied Nate Ness for the team lead and both ranked second in the league with five interceptions…Gained 164 yards with two interceptions on those five pass thefts…Made 56 of his stops vs. the pass, coming up with 26 third-down hits, including six in run support…Also made one fourth-down stop and tackled the opponent four times for no gain…Made seven of his tackles inside the red zone…Of the 73 passes targeted to his area, the opposition caught 23 for 258 yards (11.2 avg), two touchdowns and twelve first downs (held the opposition to 3.53 yards per pass attempt)…Allowed seven more first downs on 29 running plays he participated in. 12 GP; 12 GS; 62 TT, 2 TFL, 3 INT, 7 PBU, 1 FF; Playboy 2007 All-America… Candidate for Lott Trophy and Thorpe Award… First-team All-Pacific-10 Conference honors in 2006. 11 GP; 11 GS; 50 TT, 2.5 TFL, 3 INT, 5 PBU in '05. 11 GP; 11 GS; 70 TT, 5.5 TFL, 4 INT, 6 PBU, 3 FF; Started 11 games as a true freshman in 2004, earning All-Pac-10 honorable mention.

Overview    A shutdown cornerback in the mold of former Arizona standout Chris McAlister (Baltimore), Cason ranks with the elite defensive prospects eligible for the 2008 NFL Draft. With his added responsibility handling punt returns as a senior, he is the first Arizona player to earn All-Pac-10 Conference accolades on defense and special teams in the same season. Cason comes from a family rich in sports tradition. His father, Wendell, was a defensive back at the University of Oregon (1981-84) and went on to play for the Atlanta Falcons (1985-87). Antoine's brother, Dione, ran track at Washington State. His cousin, Ken-yon Rambo, was a receiver at Ohio State (1997-2000) before playing for the Dallas Cowboys (2001-02) and New York Jets (2003). Another cousin, Aveion Cason, was an All-American tailback at Illinois State (1997-2000) and presently plays for the Detroit Lions (2001-02, 2006-present) after seeing stints with St. Louis (2001, 04-05) and Dallas (2003) in his career. At Los Alamitos High School, Antoine Cason earned second-team All-CIF Southern Section and first-team Division I All-CIF honors as a senior. He was a member of the Tacoma News-Tribune Western 100, Prep Star All-American and Super Prep All-Farwest squad. He earned from Rivals.com a three-star rating and was ranked 38th among the nation's defensive backs. As a senior, Cason recorded 41 tackles, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries. He added first-team All-League as a junior, as he registered six interceptions. The Sunset League Defensive Back of the Year and first-team All-League pick as a senior, he added Orange County Register first-team All-County honors that year. He also competed as a running back and lettered in track. Upon enrolling at the University of Arizona in 2004, Cason was thrust into the starting lineup at left cornerback, where he would go on to start all 46 games during his collegiate career. He earned All-Pac-10 Conference honorable mention and was selected to the Football Writers Association and The Sporting News Freshman All-American teams. He also garnered TSN Pac-10 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors. He finished 2004 with 70 tackles (54 solo), 5 1/2 stops for losses, four interceptions, six pass breakups and three forced fumbles. He ranked fifth in the Pac-10 in interceptions, fifth in forced fumbles and ninth in passes defended. He began his career in explosive fashion, as he was named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week after posting 13 tackles (12 solo), including one for a loss, forced two fumbles, broke up one pass and returned an interception four yards vs. Northern Arizona. In 2005, Cason ranked fifth on the squad with 50 tackles (38 solo), including 2 1/2 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He deflected five passes and intercepted three others while playing strong-side cornerback. He was also named to the All-Pac-10 Conference second-team. After the season, he joined the Wildcats' 2006 outdoor track team, performing in the sprints and relays. As a junior, Cason received first-team All-Pacific-10 Conference honors, becoming just the fifth cornerback in UA history to do so. The semifinalist for the Thorpe Award was also a two-time Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week (vs. Washington State and California). He ranked third on the team with 62 tackles (48 solo), including two stops for losses. He caused and recovered a fumble, batted away seven passes and had three interceptions. He again competed on the 2007 Wildcats outdoor track team after the football season. Cason earned All-American first-team honors from The NFL Draft Report and Rivals.com in 2007. He added All-Pac-10 Conference first-team honors as a defensive back and return specialist. He ranked fifth in the league with 27 punt returns for 271 yards (10.0-yard average) and a pair of touchdowns. He tied with teammate Nate Hess for second in the Pac-10 with five interceptions, returning two pass thefts for scores. He deflected 14 passes and was third on the squad with a career-high 71 tackles (56 solo), including one sack and four stops behind the line of scrimmage. He was a finalist for the Thorpe Award and semifinalist for the Bednarik Award. Cason started all 46 games during his Arizona career. He ranks fourth in school history with 15 interceptions, shattering the old Wildcats record with 349 yards in returns and a career average of 23.26 yards per interception return. He deflected 32 passes, caused five fumbles and recovered another. He also registered 253 tackles (196 solo) with a six-yard sack and 14 stops for losses of 43 yards. In his only season as a punt returner, he totaled 271 yards with a pair of touchdowns on 27 attempts (10.04-yard avg).

Analysis    Positives: Has a developing frame with room to carry additional bulk with no loss in quickness...Possesses the long arms and reach, along with very good timing and leaping ability, to get to a pass at its highest point...Displays natural hands to make the interception and demonstrates good vision and running stride to gain valid yardage after the interception...Runs with a normal stride and shows steady acceleration to reach his top speed...Smart, instinctive player who has demonstrated an ability to learn and retain information, demonstrating the ability to make quick reads and react to the action in front of him...Hard worker in the offseason training program and has improved his overall quickness while competing on the school's track team as a sprinter...Plays with alertness and shows no hesitation in his reactions, making quick and proper adjustments on the field (shows proper timing moves to make plays on the ball in flight)...Competes for the ball and when tackling, will deliver a blow and try to dislodge the ball -- has five forced fumbles during his career...Plays with alertness and is quick to diagnose the play, mirroring the receiver on deep patterns...Maintains position on the receiver in man coverage, whether playing, trailing, covering or allowing cushion on the pass...Has a good feel for zone coverage, adjusting to the receiver throughout the route's progression...Makes plays on the ball, showing vision, instincts, and the ability to anticipate, as he has superb reaction skills, displaying exceptional timing and a break on the play, with excellent hand-eye coordination...Has enough confidence in his closing speed to be utilized on occasion as a blitzer (must come off the edge rather than shooting the gaps)...Snatches the ball naturally on the interception, possessing the hands of a receiver...Shows athleticism while moving to the ball, coming out of his backpedal cleanly, whether using the side-pedal or shuffle technique...Displays the balance, body control and footwork to come out of his breaks cleanly, showing crispness in his plant and drive...Has good ball concentration while extending and catching the pass in his hands, as well as the ability to adjust to the ball over his outside shoulder...Works to play off blocks and close on the ball inside the tackles, but is best when making plays outside the box...Has the loose hips to change direction cleanly, especially when trying to redirect the outside running game back inside...Does not get fooled much by play action, as he won't spend too much time eyeing the quarterback. Negatives: Shows good foot quickness, agility, and body control to turn, but he's not always fluid...Has quickness to accelerate on breaks, but lacks a strong burst and great top-end speed...Has a developing frame, but needs to add more bulk and strength, as he can be washed out of the play by a physical blocker when coming up to make a play in the box...Classroom work is only adequate...Plays with good toughness, but could be more aggressive and show more urgency at times, as he fails to get good hand placement on the receiver...Must get more physical and develop upper-body strength, as he is only adequate in attempts to press, failing to consistently impede the receiver's route progression...Shows good foot quickness and hip turn, keeping tight coverage, but isn't always fluid...Gets turned around at times and doesn't possess a burst or the top-end speed to recover (gets a bit narrow in his base, failing to clear his feet on the move)...Slips on his backpedal plant at times and while he has good acceleration, he lacks a closing burst (does not have the explosive speed to quickly recover)...Active in run support, but his effort in this area is inconsistent, as he does not have the power to deliver blow-up tackles...Hits and wraps up adequately, but fails to generate much power on contact. Compares To: CHRIS McALISTER-Baltimore...Cason's game is similar to that of the Ravens' McAlister, another former Arizona cornerback. He looks natural making plays on the ball in flight, showing the long arms and reach to get to the ball at its high point. He does a nice job of keeping plays in front of him, but needs to get more aggressive with his hands, as he lacks the placement and strength to consistently reroute receivers. He has good timed speed, but appears to lack the second gear to explosively close on the ball. Opponents challenged him often in 2007, targeting 73 passes into his area, as they averaged 11.2 yards on their 23 completions, but he has very good timing and ability to deflect the pass, obvious by the 50 passes that his coverage assignments failed to catch.

Career Notes    Ranks fourth in school history with 15 interceptions, topped only by Chuck Cecil (21, 1984-87), Jackie Wallace (20, 1970-72) and Chris McAlister (18, 1996-98)...His 349 yards on interception returns shattered the school record of 252 yards by Darryll Lewis (1987-90)...His average of 23.27 yards per interception return broke the previous Arizona all-time record of 13.16 yards by Dennis Anderson (12 for 218 yards, 1972-75)...Gained 164 yards on five interceptions in 2007, the most yards gained by an Arizona defender in a season since Darryll Lewis totaled 192 yards on seven picks in 1990...Returned two punts for touchdowns in 2007, one shy of the school record of three, first set by Floyd Hudlow in 1964 and matched by Jackie Wallace in 1971...His five interceptions in 2007 were the most by a Wildcat in a season since Chris McAlister totaled six in 1996...His 14 pass deflection in 2007 were the most by a Wildcat since Michael Jolivette had 20 in 2001.

2007 Season    All-American first-team selection by The NFL Draft Report and Rivals.com...All-Pac-10 Conference first-team choice as a defensive back and return specialist...Finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation's top defensive back...Semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, given to college football's top defensive player...In his first season as the team's punt returner, he ranked fifth in the conference with 271 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 27 attempts (10.04-yard average)...Started all 12 games at weak-side cornerback, ranking third on the team with a career-high 71 tackles (56 solo), including a six-yard sack and four stops for losses of 12 yards...Caused two fumbles and deflected a team-high 14 passes...Tied Nate Ness for the team lead and both ranked second in the league with five interceptions...Gained 164 yards with two interceptions on those five pass thefts...Made 56 of his stops vs. the pass, coming up with 26 third-down hits, including six in run support...Also made one fourth-down stop and tackled the opponent four times for no gain...Made seven of his tackles inside the red zone...Of the 73 passes targeted to his area, the opposition caught 23 for 258 yards (11.2-yard average), two touchdowns and 12 first downs (held the opposition to 3.53 yards per pass attempt)...Allowed seven more first downs on 29 running plays he participated in.

2007 Game Analysis

2006 Season    Earned first-team All-Pacific-10 Conference honors, one of only five Wildcats cornerbacks to ever earn that accolade...Semifinalist for the Thorpe Award...Earned Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week recognition vs. Washington State and California...Started all 12 games at strong-side cornerback, ranking third on the team with 62 tackles (48 solo), including two stops for losses of eight yards...Caused and recovered a fumble...Deflected seven passes and intercepted three passes for 57 yards in returns and a touchdown.

2006 Game Analysis

2005 Season    All-Pac-10 Conference honorable mention...Started all eleven games, playing every defensive snap, as he ranked fifth on the team with 50 tackles (38 solos), including 2.5 stops for losses of 5 yards...Deflected five passes and gained 40 yards on three interception returns.

2005 Game Analysis

2004 Season    Freshman All-American selection by the Football Writers Association and The Sporting News...TSN Freshman All-Pac-10 Conference choice, earning honorable mention All-Pac-10 honors from the league's coaches...Started all 11 games at left cornerback, playing every defensive snap...Recorded 70 tackles (54 solo) with 5 1/2 stops for losses of 18 yards...Caused two fumbles and deflected six passes...Intercepted four passes for 88 yards in returns...Earned Pac-10 Player of the Week honors vs. Northern Arizona, his first game in the collegiate ranks.

2004 Game Analysis

Track    Lettered in 2006-07 on the Arizona men's outdoor track team...Competed as a sprinter and in the relays...Posted a 22.38 clocking in the 200 meters at the 2007 Wildcat Classic (3/07)...Part of a 4x100-meter relay team, along with Troy Harris, Marcus Tyus and Xiong Xuehan that clocked 40.56 at the Jim Click Classic in 2007 (3/28).

Injury Report    No injuries reported.

Agility Tests    Campus: 4.54 in the 40-yard dash...310-pound bench press...35-inch vertical jump...31 1/4-inch arm length...9 1/2-inch hands...Right-handed...16/28 Wonderlic score.

High School    Attended Los Alamitos (Cal.) High School, playing football for head coach John Barnes... Earned second-team All-CIF Southern Section and first-team Division I All-CIF honors as a senior...Member of the Tacoma News-Tribune Western 100, Prep Star All-American and Super Prep All-Farwest squad...Earned from Rivals.com a three-star rating and was ranked 38th among the nation's defensive backs...As a senior, Cason recorded 41 tackles, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries...Added first-team All-League as a junior, as he registered six interceptions...The Sunset League Defensive Back of the Year and first-team All-League pick as a senior, he added Orange County Register first-team All-County honors that year...Also competed as a running back and lettered in track.

Personal    Political Science major...Co-president of the University of Arizona's Student Athlete Advisory Board in 2006-07...Volunteers for church usher duties...Son of Deborah and Wendell Cason...Comes from a family rich in sports tradition...Father was a defensive back at the University of Oregon (1981-84) and went on to play for the Atlanta Falcons (1985-87)...Brother, Dione, ran track at Washington State...Cousin, Ken-yon Rambo, was a receiver at Ohio State (1997-2000) before playing for the Dallas Cowboys (2001-02) and New York Jets (2003)...Cousin, Aveion Cason, was an All-American tailback at Illinois State (1997-2000) and presently plays for the Detroit Lions (2001-02, 2006-present) after seeing stints with St. Louis (2001, 04-05) and Dallas (2003) earlier in his career...Active within the community, Antoine Cason and former Arizona football player Matt Brooks founded the 'Cason Cares' campaign to raise money for cancer research, as they presented a check to the American Cancer Society during the UA men's basketball game against Texas A&M at McKale Center (12/02/07). The pair has been selling rubber wristbands for $3 to help generate funds for the campaign and honor family members that have been stricken by cancer. Cason lost his grandfather, Royce Rambo, last February to cancer, while Brooks has had a number of family members afflicted with the disease...While his exploits on the field have generated national headlines, Cason's efforts in the Tucson community have been impressive as well. A solid contributor to the athletic department's community service arm, he has donated his time to a number local organizations and filmed a public service announcement for the university...Named a semifinalist for the 2006 Ronnie Lott Trophy, which is presented to the senior football player that exhibits both athletic ability and sense of community...Born 7/09/86...Resides in Long Beach, California.

Player Statistics

 

Draft Scout Player News

04/11/08 - These players are among those scheduled to visit the Cowboys' facility in the days leading up to the NFL draft: Texas WR Limas Sweed; Virginia G Branden Albert; UNLV ILB Beau Bell; Texas A&M TE Martellus Bennett; Virginia Tech OT Duane Brown; Arizona CB Antoine Cason; Texas RB Jamaal Charles; Missouri WR Will Franklin; Virginia Tech CB Brandon Flowers; Iowa CB Charles Godfrey; Indiana WR James Hardy; East Carolina RB Chris Johnson; Arkansas RB Felix Jones; Oklahoma WR Malcolm Kelly; Tennessee LB Jerod Mayo; Troy CB Leodis McKelvin; Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall; Indiana CB Tracy Porter; USC LB Keith Rivers; Tennessee State CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie; Oregon RB Jonathan Stewart.

04/11/08 - The Cardinals will be taking a gamble if they pass on choosing a cornerback with the 16th overall pick in the draft. The need at the position is great. The starters, Eric Green and Rod Hood, are back and both are decent players. But with Antrel Rolle moving to safety, there is little talent and depth behind them. The third corner right now is veteran Ralph Brown, a solid player but probably not someone the coaches want to play in more than certain situations. Behind Brown, it's 5-foot-8 Michael Adams, a rookie free agent last year who played sparingly. This reportedly is a decent class of cornerbacks and maybe the Cardinals believe they can get a decent one in the second round. But don't count on guys like Antoine Cason from Arizona and Brandon Flowers from Virginia Tech dropping that far. No, the Cardinals will likely base their decision in the first round on need, and there is none greater than corner. They don't need a first-round pick to necessarily start right away. But it would be nice to add a playmaker at the spot, as well as someone who could challenge for a top job and be competent replacement in the event of event. Right now, they don't have a player like that on the roster. The Cardinals don't plan to bring in any top prospects, a continuation of a philosophy implemented several years ago. Club officials deny it has anything to do with saving money. They say they find out all they need to know about prospects from their scouts and interviews at the Combine.

03/19/08 - CB Antoine Cason had a private on-campus workout for New England on Sunday. 03/21