Consider the top rated players and their characteristics:

1. Chris Long, St. Louis - Probably the most complete DE in the draft, but he isn't going to scare anyone off the edge. If he can get you 8-10 sacks a year, it's gravy. It's my opinion that no DE in this class can hold the point and chase down runners like him, but he isn't going to rock an OT back with his first step.

2. Vernon Gholston, New York - Incredible athlete that has all of the tools available, but has been known to take plays off. Did he even play in the BCS game? This guy could do it all, but there are legitimate questions about his desire. Think John Abraham and remember that Abraham sat out a playoff game because he was going into Free Agency.

3. Lawrence Jackson, Seattle - Long-time starter that is probably going to have a 12 year career. Won't scare you off the edge, but if you aren't paying attention he'll beat you and put the QB on his back. Probably a dyed-in-the-wool LDE that can hold the point and give you 6-10 sacks a year. The number could be higher, but I don't know that he has the first step to consistently produce pressure.

4. Phillip Merling, Miami - Incredible hard worker that goes until the whistle blows. Rated just below C. Long as being an all-around DE more due to experience and field knowledge than anything. The most telling thing about him is that he was drafted by a team switching to a 3-4. Is probably going to remind you of New England's Richard Seymour once he refines his game some.

5. Calais Campbell, Arizona - Insane measureables, but was that Junior year indicative of his future? Lots of folks think highly of him, and I can understand why, he has shown the ability to dominate at the NCAA level. However, is he going to develop past where he is right now? Big time upside with him if he can.

6. Quentin Groves, Jacksonville - Probably the best pass rusher right now, but he tips the Defense's hand once he steps on the field. Doesn't have the strength right now to hold a point, but has speed to burn. He could turn into a O. Umenyiora type that beats the OT with his speed and that is what will keep him on the field on Downs 1 & 2.

7. Jason Jones, Tennessee - Small school guy that would probably be best served as a 3-4 DE. Not really quick, and might be maxed out as far as size/weight is concerned. Will get his numbers on hustle and determination, but does he have the raw abilities that a player needs to make a difference on Sundays?

Again, this is just my personal opinion, and I don't have a whole lot riding on it besides Message Board bragging rights, but I think that Harvey has a combination of Quickness, Speed, Strength, Growth Potential and Production that no other DE in this class has. We might finally have our every-down DE. 

Go heavy early. If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.

I quit reading after that because you are way off.  For the jaguars to move up that far would have taken a the whole draft class and part of next years normally.  This is the best trade up for value I have ever heard of or seen.

Also, the Jaguars couldn't have gotten Allen for that asking price.  Read my ask vic question on May 2nd (Tyler from Coon Rapids, IA) it would be nearly impossible for that to happen.  You need to think about the value they got in return for Allen, it would have taken more from us to do so.  For some reason people fail to realize this.

Tyler from Coon Rapids, IA,

I'm glad you're so confident.   But, I don't know how you can think trading two thirds and a fourth round pick to move up and draft an unproven commodity is more valuable than trading the same or less for Pro Bowl talent DEs Jared Allen or Jason Taylor.  The question will always be would you rather spend $30 million of guaranteed money for a car that you know has the utmost power and performance of it's class or $15 million on a car that could be as fast, could use a few tune-ups to get there, but could also be tossed away for scrap metal?  Likewise, I don't think we'll know whether this was "the best trade up for value (you've) ever heard of or seen" for a few years from now.  We need to see how Harvey performs out in an NFL uniform before that statement can be confirmed or denied.  Perhaps, we won't know that for a fact for another 3-4 years from now!  And let's not spew out Draft Trade Value Chart numbers.  You can't quantify the unquantifiable!   Besides, I disagree with that statement since I personally think trading a 3rd and 5th to Green Bay for Mark Brunell was better. 

Now let's examine the facts.  There have been a number of DEs taken in the 1st round that haven't amounted to more than practice squad fodder.  At least Allen and Taylor have more than proven themselves and would help out the Jags pass rush immediately, which is essentially why they spent so much to move up.  I'm not saying that Derrick Harvey is going to be a bust, but I'm saying it was a lot to give up for a player who hasn't played a down in the NFL.  Also, look at the rounds in which Allen (4th Rd) and Taylor (3rd Rd) were taken.  History has proven that there probably was an Allen or Taylor available in the 3rd or 4th rounds this year.  I know I'm going to be keeping an eye on Jeremy Thompson out of Wake Forest.

I took a look at DE's taken in the 1st Rd of the draft since 2000.  Gaines Adams had a solid rookie campaign with 6 sacks in 16 starts.  But, Jamaal Anderson, pick #8 didn't have one sack in 16 starts.  Now you could say Anderson played for a below level team, the Atlanta Falcons, who didn't get many sack opportunities because teams were running all over them.  The same could be said for Allen and Taylor.  Taylor played for a 1-16 team and still had 10 sacks.  Allen 15.5 for another losing team.  Imagine what they could do on a defense with the Jaguars supporting cast? 

Excellent DEs have come out of the 2nd Day of the draft.  Elvis Dumervil (4th Rd in 2006, 21 sacks, 10.5 avg), Mark Anderson (5th Rd. #159 in '06 17 sacks), Justin Tuck (3rd Rd. #74 in '05, 10 sacks in '07), Robert Mathis (5th Rd. #138 in '03, 42 sacks), and Aaron Kampman (5th Rd. #156 in '02, 41 sacks).  You can't tell me you wouldn't want Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (drafted in the 5th #149) or Adalius Thomas (5th #186).  And what about current Jags DEs?  Reggie Hayward was a 3rd Round (Denver) selection in 2001 and Rob Meier was a 7th in 2000 and former Jag Bobby McCray was a 7th rounder in '04.  History shows that somebody from the '08 draft class will be a Day Two steal. 

Now, let's look at the success of 1st Rd DEs.  Since 2000, Mario Williams, Will Smith, Julius Peppers, Dwight Freeny, and Justin Smith are the only real success stories.  The same can't be said, however, for other 1st Rd. selections Erasmus James, Marcus Spears, Michael Haynes, Jerome McDougal, Bryan Thomas, Jamal Reynolds, or Courtney Brown (#1 selection overall).

Overall, drafting college football players is like trying to pick stocks.  You can have all the analysis in the world to make the most educated decision possible, but, in truth, you really don't know how that stock is going to do.  If we did, we'd all be rich (or at least the stock brokers would be billionaires)!  If Derrick Harvey hits, becomes a Pro Bowl player or helps lead us to a Division title, Conference Championship or best of all a Super Bowl, then the Jags have made the right decision.  If he doesn't, then we'll all wonder about what could have been if we traded for Jason Taylor or Jared Allen.

To say this opinion is "way off" is simply ignoring the facts:  First Round DEs aren't always successful and, quite often, 2nd Day DEs become Pro Bowl Superstars!

At least we both can agree that Allen and Taylor have an incredible amount of ability at DE.  And we both can agree that Derrick Harvey has a world of potential.  But, until Harvey has proven it on the NFL stage, he's merely a project.  You can't tell me that you know, without a shadow of doubt, that Derrick Harvey is going to play to the level of a Pro Bowl player.  Does he have the potential to be better than Allen or Taylor?  Absolutely.  But, for now, we can only speculate on his potential and hope this was the right decision. 

We have put our faith in the Jags FO and hope they do what's best to bring success to this franchise.  I have trust in them that they have done that.  The decision has been made and we can now look forward to Derrick Harvey putting on #91 and terrorizing QBs, along with Quentin Groves, for a long, long time.