Jaguars Free Agency: Tracking 2012 Signings, Targets and Rumors

The season wasn't exactly how the Jacksonville Jaguars management and coaching staff expected it to play out in 2011.

With a mandate already in place for then-head coach Jack Del Rio, the team needed to win and make the playoffs or heads would roll down at EverBank Field.

The season wasn't complete before that promise was kept by then-owner Wayne Weaver.

The Jaguars took more hits during the season than maybe any other team in the league, with 31 players ending the season on IR. The team, 5-11 on the season, endured injuries that almost crippled them, even with the sixth-best defensive unit in the league. That is a testament to the work of defensive coordinator and former interim coach Mel Tucker.

Now, the team is under new ownership in the ever-exuberant Shahid Khan and has a new head coach in Mike Mularkey, who put together a staff that will work diligently with second-year quarterback Blaine Gabbert to make him a better passer than what he showed during 15 games last season, 14 of them as a starter.

Mularkey knows a thing or two about quarterbacks, having worked to help Matt Ryan become one of the better young guns in the league during his time as offensive coordinator in Atlanta before his arrival in Jacksonville.

This may also be another make-or-break season for the Jaguars in that general manager Gene Smith is tied to the hiring of Mularkey, a personal friend, and the drafting of Gabbert. If both fail, the leash Smith has been given to help fix this team may be severed before the 2013 season begins.

As part of this slideshow, there are many areas to look at in terms of development and growth. Not just the draft and free agency, but other offseason issues as well.

What about major needs on both offense and defense, and what holes in the roster need to be filled? We will look at every unit and discuss its strengths and weaknesses.

How will the salary cap be affected by team moves, both with the signing and releasing of players from the 53-man roster?

We will also identify free agents who look like good fits for the team. And what happens with re-signing players to new contracts or contract extensions?

And we will examine the draft and what best fits this team's needs. While there are lots of holes to fill, this team may not be as far off from becoming a contender as people think. But with the NFL today, everyone is fair game and no one knows where the dominoes (players) will fall into place.

Tracking Free-Agent Signings, Re-Signings and Roster Moves

Right now, there have been no significant roster moves by the team. So much was done during the regular season with injuries, street free-agent signings and of course the issues that surrounded the team.

In one swift move, past owner Wayne Weaver fired then-head coach Jack Del Rio, named defensive coordinator Mel Tucker as interim head coach, extended general manager Gene Smith's contract by three years and then sold the team to auto parts tycoon Shahid Khan.

The moves appear to be a step in the right direction, but no roster moves have been made yet.

That is a very big "YET" because so much can happen in the next week.

With free agency on the horizon and expiring contracts of players, there will certainly be movement within the organization, and players with tenure, like Rashean Mathis, may be the focus of this movement.

March 20, 2012: Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that the Jaguars signed CB Aaron Ross to a 3 year, $15.3 million dollar contract.

March 14, 2012: Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union is reporting the Jaguars have signed QB Chad Henne to a 2 year contract.

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting via his Twitter that the Jaguars have signed wide receiver Laurent Robinson to a five-year, $32.5 million deal.

ESPN is reporting the Jaguars have re-signed DE Jeremy Mincey to a 4 year contract worth up to $27.2 million dollars with $9 million guaranteed.

March 13, 2012: Kassim Osgood reports on Twitter that he has been released by the Jaguars.

March 7, 2012: Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that the Jaguars agreed to a 1 year, $5 million dollar contract with Rashean Mathis.

Rashean Mathis signed a one-year deal on Tuesday, allowing the hometown defensive back the chance to remain with the team that originally drafted him.

The deal, according to the Florida Times-Union, is an incentive laden contract worth $5 million.

Mathis is the teams all time leader in interceptions and has been with the team since he was drafted in 2003. He had one last season and four pass defenses in nine games before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

March 5, 2012:  ESPN is reporting that Josh Scobee has received the Jaguars franchise tag.

According to a report in the Florida Times-Union, the one-year deal is said to be about $2.65 million.

While the deal is on the table for Scobee to sign, the kicker, who has been with the team since the beginning of his career, wants a long-term deal. According to his agent, Ken Harris, the deal will not immediately be signed with the hope that a long-term deal can be reached before free agency or the beginning of the training camp.

It also means that if the contract is not signed before the free agency period begins on March 13 (eight days from now), Scobee and his agent can negotiate with any team out there in the NFL.

Salary Cap Status

The Jaguars are in a pretty good position right now, with money to spend from the salary cap and the deep pockets of new owner Shahid Khan.

Most teams in the NFL would want to be in Jacksonville's shoes right now.

According to an article on profootballtalk.com, the Jaguars have around $32.9 million available from the 2011 season, which will be carried over. There is an increase for inflation, so the number is actually larger than that.

The team has players under contract in the area of $92 million. If the salary cap was $120 million last season and there is a $5 million increase over last season, then there is almost $38 million to spend in free agency.

Cap Hits That Cause Some Concern

The first contract to look at is Aaron Kampman. Two seasons ago, the Jaguars signed the "injured" defensive end from Green Bay to a contract. Since being a member of the team, Kampman has played sparingly due to another knee injury.

Kampman is scheduled to be paid $8 million, including bonuses, this coming season. Does it make sense to keep a player like him, who was supposed to anchor this defensive line and help develop talents like Terrance Knighton and Tyson Alualu?

Marcedes Lewis signed a new contract last season with $18 million in guaranteed money. At the time, it looked like a good move to keep a Pro Bowl-type tight end on the roster.

Last season, Lewis held out in California (with the blessing of Jack Del Rio) and came to camp late, did not get into a rhythm with new quarterback Blaine Gabbert, and had an awful season. With a cap hit of $6.2 million this year, you have to ask which Marcedes Lewis will show up?

And maybe the last contract that needs to be looked at is Greg Jones. While the talented fullback paves the way for Maurice Jones-Drew, he has a salary number of $4.5 million this season. Jones blocks and does little else. A player like Brock Bolen, who is younger and a little faster, may make sense to keep and save some of that cap room.

A Valued Player

It is hard to define what makes a player a "good value" when the team has a 5-11 record. But if you look at these three contracts, they make the most sense.

Maurice Jones-Drew is worth his weight in gold and worth every penny of the $8.3 million he is scheduled to receive this coming year.

The NFL's leading rusher would command more money on the open market. When you run for 1,606 yards, are the team's second-leading receiver and account for over 46 percent of the team's offense, this number appears to be a little low.

Center Brad Meester may not be the equivalent of a Dwight Stephenson or Randy Cross, but he is the best offensive lineman the Jaguars have had in their history next to a guy named Boselli.

Meester is a 12-year veteran, having spent all his time in Jacksonville, and has become the anchor of this offensive line that does well at run blocking but needs help with pass blocking. Meester is scheduled to make $3.225 million this season, which is quite low for what he does for this team.

Paul Posluszny was everything the Jaguars thought he would be and then some, playing at a high level all season after being signed from the Buffalo Bills.

Posluszny signed with the team the first day of free agency, and that set the tone for the rest of the Jaguars' spending spree. He led the team in tackles in the middle of the defense and helped the team finish the season as the sixth overall defense in the NFL. At $7 million for this coming season, he is well worth the money.

Future Earnings

One contract that you have to figure will come up in discussion is that of quarterback Blaine Gabbert.

This was Gene Smith's pick for the future. The Jaguars signed the rookie last season to a four-year, $12 million contract, all guaranteed. This season, Gabbert is scheduled to make $2.727 million, which is slight among starters in the NFL.

Does his contract have any bearing on whether the Jags keep him or cut him next season if he does not progress in his maturation as a starter in the NFL?

Many Holes Still to Fill

While the 2011 season saw the Jaguars defense get healthy (until injuries hit) and the pass rush and secondary improve, there are still many holes to fill on this team, on both sides of the ball.

How the team negotiates this will determine how this team will do in 2012. Here is a look at the team from each offensive and defensive unit.

Offense: This team was last in total offense in the NFL. If you have the league's best runner in Maurice Jones-Drew, but the worst passing offense in Blaine Gabbert and a bunch of street free agents and pedestrian players, that says your offensive coordinator and head coach are not on the same page.

Both are now gone, and Mike Mularkey takes over a team that needs to score more points and be more consistent. Hiring Bob Bratkowski as offensive coordinator and Greg Olson as quarterbacks coach should make a huge difference.

Quarterback: Blaine Gabbert proved to be as bad a rookie quarterback as there could be last season. While Cam Newton, Andy Dalton and even T.J. Yates proved to be better, Gabbert was gun-shy, unsure of himself and a lost cause in the pocket. More will be expected of him this year because his leash will be a little tighter.

Running Back: Every team that played the Jaguars knew Jones-Drew was coming at them, and get this, they could not stop him. When you have a human bowling ball coming at you with power and fury, the best thing is to get out of the way.

And he did this with little help from backups. DuJuan Harris showed flashes at times, but Deji Karim wasn't what the team was hoping for. This season, they get Rashad Jennings back from injury.

Wide Receiver/Tight End: Can we just quit this right now? Seriously, the receivers were a joke and don't look any better right now. The tight end position was also in need of cardiac care.

Mike Thomas led the team in catches but MJD was second, and Marcedes Lewis, for all his greatness a year ago, was a joke as well. The team re-signed Mike Sims-Walker in the middle of the season, but he went on IR (again) and was released.

The team will go to camp with as many as four receivers on the roster, including Brian Robiskie, who was signed last season but never saw the field.

Offensive Line: How do you have a runner who leads the league in rushing and a passer who was sacked the third-most times in the NFL last year? Led by Brad Meester and Uche Nwaneri, this could be a very good line if things come together.

Eugene Monroe was better last season at left tackle but needs to gain weight, and the team needs to decide if Eben Britton's continual injuries will plague this team. Also, Jason Spitz was signed as a free agent last year, but he was injured and did not see much field time.

Defense: Finished sixth overall in the NFL and had two dominant games in 2011, a 12-7 win over the Baltimore Ravens and a 41-14 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

While the team has holes to fill in free agency, the biggest signing might have already happened when the team re-signed defensive coordinator Mel Tucker to a new contract to help solidify what had already been started.

Defensive Line: You got everything you could out of Jeremy Mincey. The undrafted free agent from Florida has become the team's best pass-rusher and run stuffer. Mincey is a free agent this season, and the Jaguars will do everything they can to keep him.

Matt Roth was playing at a high level until a concussion took him out for the season. Defensive tackles Terrance Knighton and Tyson Alualu played well. Alualu needs to step up a bit—he had offseason knee surgery to clean out his joints and needs to play like a first-round talent.

Linebacker: The unit was the most improved on the team. Paul Posluszny was great in the middle. Daryl Smith continued to be as stellar as he has been in years past, and free-agent signing Clint Session was as good as advertised until he got hurt.

Those three together for another full season could spell trouble in the AFC.

Defensive Back: The position with maybe the most question marks. What to do with Rashean Mathis? Dwight Lowery was traded for and played exceptionally well. He is a free agent this season and an important puzzle piece to keep.

Dawan Landry lived up to the hype, and Drew Coleman is solid if not spectacular. There is decent depth, but injuries made the secondary look like a MASH unit last year.

Special Teams: When your kicker is the second-most important player on your team to score for you, that is an issue. Now, Josh Scobee is a free agent and could command big money on the open market.

Nick Harris came in and solved the team's punting problems after the awful free-agent signing of Matt Turk. If signing Jeremy Mincey is priority A for this team, Scobee is a close second.

Listing the Jaguars 2012 Restricted and Unrestricted Free Agents

On March 13, there will be another frenzy of activity when 32 NFL teams are allowed to go shopping for prized free agents on the open market.

Let the bidding begin. While high-priced free agents will be the talk of the following month, teams such as the Jaguars have their own free agents to contend with.

Jacksonville is the only team these free agents can negotiate with now. Once the free agency period begins, all teams in the NFL are free to seek their services.

Nate Collins	DT	RFA
William Middleton	CB	RFA
Russell Allen	LB	RFA
Courtney Greene	S	RFA
Matt Roth	DE	UFA
Josh Scobee	K	Franchise Tag
Brock Bolen	RB	RFA
C.J. Mosley	DT	UFA
Mike Sims-Walker	WR	UFA
Leger Douzable	DT	RFA
Dwight Lowery	CB	UFA
Rashean Mathis	CB	Re-Signed
Luke McCown	QB	UFA
Guy Whimper	T	UFA

Update: Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that the Jaguars agreed to a 1 year, $5 million dollar contract with Rashean Mathis.

Update: ESPN is reporting that Josh Scobee has received the Jaguars franchise tag.

Determining Contract Value and Worth for Every Jaguars Free Agent

Decisions, decisions.

There will be some serious numbers crunched between now and April 13. There are 13 free agents listed on the current Jaguars roster.

When it comes to building for 2012, this is a team that needs to start from scratch. There is a core of players who should be viewed as a necessity for the growth and development of this team and others who may be cut that will not matter much.

Here is a look at every free agent the Jaguars must assess in regard to the team's future:

Jeremy Mincey: $30 million

Mincey is a beast and the sack leader on this team for the past two seasons. He is from the state of Florida and played college ball for the Gators. While he wants to be a part of this team, he has stated he wants to be paid what he is worth as a pass-rusher.

March 14, 2012: ESPN is reporting the Jaguars have re-signed DE Jeremy Mincey to a 4 year contract worth up to $27.2 million dollars with $9 million guaranteed.

Dwight Lowery: $25 million

Lowery was acquired in a trade right before the beginning of last season and proved to be a force in coverage. He too has said he wants to be back. The secondary was much improved with him in it. Injuries hurt him at the end of last season.

Josh Scobee: Update: ESPN is reporting that Josh Scobee has received the Jaguars franchise tag.

Matt Roth: $18 million

Last season, Roth said he would play for anyone for $3 million. Jacksonville stepped up to the plate. Roth was instrumental in run stoppage and rushing the passer until a concussion ended his season. Could he come back and make a difference again?

Rashean Mathis: Update: Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that the Jaguars agreed to a 1 year, $5 million dollar contract with Rashean Mathis.

Luke McCown: $1 million

He is the current backup to Blaine Gabbert who saw the field twice after the game against the Jets. He is probably on his way out of town.

Guy Whimper: $1 million

He is a guy who looked good at times and at others looked like a turnstile. Whimper can play both tackle positions, which makes him attractive to this team and maybe to others.

Leger Douzable: $3 million

He is a nice player who fits in at defensive tackle and at end. He gives you maximum effort. This is a team that needs more players with his kind of motor.

Brock Bolen: $3 million

Everything that happens to him depends on Greg Jones. When you see him in the lineup you see a little Tommy Vardell. He blocks well, catches the ball, runs over people and can even play on special teams.

C.J. Mosley: $1 million

He played well when called upon to fill in gaps for injured players. Another one of those guys who gives you maximum effort when he is on the field.

Courtney Greene: $4 million

I liked how he played when he was in the lineup. Ironically, he came in to fill in for injured defensive players and wound up on IR himself. He is a solid backup who can start when called upon.

Russell Allen: $3 million

While there are other linebackers on this team who are more notable, Allen gives you everything he has with every play. He is rough and rugged and a good special teams player. Every team should have a player like him.

William Middleton: $700,000

He is another good backup for this team but you wonder if he will be back. Could he earn another roster spot with another franchise?

Nate Collins: $500,000

Not sure where he fits in. Recently got into some legal trouble. Big, wide body who proved to be effective when he was on the field.

Projecting Which Free Agents the Jaguars Will Re-Sign, Which Will Walk

Now comes the fun part. After the team does its assessment and looks at all its options, who stays and who goes?

It's not a task I would want to be a part of. But decisions are made for many reasons. And in some cases, there are players who honestly just do not want to come back and play for the team that paid them last season.

Here is a look at the free agents on the Jaguars list and whether they stay or go:

Josh Scobee: Update: ESPN is reporting that Josh Scobee has received the Jaguars franchise tag.

Jeremy Mincey: Re-signed (4 years, $21 million)

There is no argument this kid needs to get paid. The Jaguars need to step up. He could be the Tony Brackens-type this team needs.

March 14, 2012: ESPN is reporting the Jaguars have re-signed DE Jeremy Mincey to a 4 year contract worth up to $27.2 million dollars with $9 million guaranteed.

Dwight Lowery: Re-signed (3 years $12 million)

Lowery is a great defender and a leader on defense. If the team loses Rashean Mathis, he becomes a more important piece of this puzzle.

Rashean Mathis: Update: Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that the Jaguars agreed to a 1 year, $5 million dollar contract with Rashean Mathis.

Matt Roth (released)

I want him to stay, but if the team can get a Robert Mathis or Cory Redding then this makes the one-year wonder expendable.

Leger Douzable: Re-signed (2 years, $4 million)

If he continues to be able to play multiple positions for this team, then he certainly will get more playing time and possibly fight for a starting spot on the inside.

Courtney Greene: Re-signed (2 years, $3 million)

All he needs to do is continue to play solid football and back up the starters with the hope of getting some consistent playing time.

Brock Bolen: Re-signed (3 years, $4 million)

He is the little engine that could. Being a good special teams player and the eventual starter at fullback brings him back for another few years.

Nate Collins: Released

It will be crowded with all these linemen. Douzable is more versatile and he gets the nod.

William Middleton: Released

This does not mean he won't be re-signed later if he is not picked up by another team. He could be a cheap find again.

Russell Allen: Re-signed (3 years, $6 million)

Allen is too good a backup to let go. He could start for some teams in this league. His play on special teams is also impactful and valuable.

C.J. Mosley: Released

Again, just a case of a crowded defensive line.

Luke McCown: Released

The team wants to bring in a veteran to give Gabbert some competition. If Kyle Orton or Jake Delhomme are available, they will get a call.

Guy Whimper: Released

I was on the fence with this one. He could come back if there are injuries (there always are). But for now, he becomes a street free agent.

Available Cap Space After Re-Signings

It is all about the numbers and the dollars.

The team came into free agency with approximately $38 million to spend and in most cases, that is a lot of money to play with (unless you are a professional football team).

Some contracts are incentive-laden, while others (like the one for Blaine Gabbert) are straightforward, all guaranteed and smaller than most rookie contracts. What all this adds up to is a lot of repositioning of players, contracts, negotiations and plans to be made for the future.

The Jaguars must also take into consideration who will be a free agent next season, what money will come off the books and how contracts can be restructured once more money is made available.

Incidentally, there are 19 current Jaguars scheduled to become free agents in 2013 including Jason Spitz, Brad Meester, Derek Cox, Daryl Smith and Mike Thomas.

After the potential re-signings, there should be about $19 million left to play with in free agency. Teams have a way of using signing bonuses as carrots to bring players in and have the back ends of contracts loaded so they are not using all their salary cap space in one place.

It will be interesting to see who comes and who goes, but also who will be lured in with the promise of millions to play in Florida.

Biggest Needs After Re-Signings

Like a lot of teams, signing their own free agents is an important step for the Jaguars to take, especially when players like Mincey, Scobee and Lowery had such a huge impact on the team last season.

But now comes the fun part of identifying what still needs to be filled. If the team can sign those three players, Rashean Mathis and maybe Matt Roth, that keeps the core of the defensive unit intact, and the team can hunt for more players to fill gaps.

Offense

Wide Receiver: I cannot put any more stress on this than there already is. Receiver is the TOP PRIORITY on this team. The Jaguars will not be re-signing any receivers to new contracts, so they will go fishing just like everyone else. The need to reel in two receivers in the free-agent market is crucial.

Offensive Line: The unit is good at run blocking but awful at pass blocking. The Jaguars need a solid guard because there were times when rookie Will Rackley looked lost on the line, and free agent Jason Spitz was injured and not the answer. The team also needs to address right tackle since Guy Whimper was a spinning top and Eben Britton's career is unknown.

Tight End: Zach Potter was better than Marcedes Lewis last season. And for the contract he signed, Lewis needs to be doing more. Maybe a free-agent tight end will shake things up.

Quarterback: This is a question mark. Yes, Blaine Gabbert was awful last season. But he was a rookie thrown to the wolves last season and will be learning his second offensive scheme in two seasons. Let's see how he does this season before we pass judgement.

Defense

Defensive End: The Jaguars still need a pass-rusher even if they sign Jeremy Mincey. They need speed off the edge. I don't see them re-signing Matt Roth, and Aaron Kampman cannot be counted on.

Defensive Back: This team could lose both Lowery and Mathis, and even if they sign them, having too many defensive backs is not an option. There are still holes on this team and every one of them needs to be filled.

Identifying Potential Free Agents the Team Could Sign

Now that we know what the team needs and what it could do in the draft and with its own players, it is time to get down to brass tax.

I'm talking about signing some of these "big" name free agents and some who may not be as huge on everyone's list, but they sure make sense when you look at the needs of this team.

Here are some names to remember. They are not all the players who could be on the "wish" list, but they will be highly sought after.

Update: ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting via his Twitter that the Jaguars have signed wide receiver Laurent Robinson to a five-year, $32.5 million deal.

Harry Douglas, Atlanta: The wide receiver is someone I think the Jaguars should target for a number of reasons. He has speed to burn, knows Mike Mularkey's system, and is the third receiver in the Falcons' offense. Douglas automatically becomes a major weapon here in Jacksonville.

Ben Grubbs, Baltimore: Update: Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting the Saints have signed guard Ben Grubbs to a five-year deal reportedly worth $63 million.

Marques Colston, New Orleans: His days in New Orleans are numbered, and he would still be a top target in this offense. While he caught passes from Drew Brees and the Saints, he would be a welcome addition to a team needing size, speed and a home run target.

Stevie Johnson, Buffalo: Another receiver we should covet for his speed. Johnson is a bit of an odd ball, but you cannot deny his productivity in Buffalo and with a strong running game here, the passing attack would move through him. (Re-Signed by the Bills)

Brandon Carr, Kansas City: This cornerback from Kansas City is a little underrated and may fly under the radar. He could be a solution helping to defend taller receivers and also help out in the return game. 

Projecting Contract Values for Jaguars' Free Agent Targets

While there is a need to spend money, these free-agent targets will not come cheap. The team spent over $100 in signing bonuses alone last season. While there might not be that kind of money being thrown around this season, it does not mean that big amounts won't be put to use.

But also remember that a lot of players who are now on the free-agent list will not be there once the market opens in 11 days. Many will re-sign with their current teams. These are five I think will be playing in another stadium next year for sure.

March 20, 2012: Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that the Jaguars signed CB Aaron Ross to a 3 year, $15.3 million dollar contract.

Harry Douglas, Receiver (3 years and $12 million):

The Jaguars have had an awful time with free agent receivers in the past (Jerry Porter, Torry Holt). Douglas is a middle-of-the-pack receiver who will receive a decent contract that could be incentive-laden.

Brandon Carr, Defensive Back (3 years, $18 million):

This contract will only happen if the Jaguars do not go after Morris Claiborne in the first round of the draft. Teams like Kansas City and Tennessee could get involved in a bidding war for his talents, so the price may be overvalued.

Mario Manningham, Receiver (5 years, $25 million):

I put him on here because after his Super Bowl performance, he will be highly sought after, but I don't think he comes to Jacksonville. I think the Jets, the Chiefs and the Ravens all get into the battle for his services. But he would be a great Keenan McCardell-type addition to the team.

Analyzing Jaguars' Draft Strategy and Positions of Need

There are a lot of options for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but with the seventh overall selection in this year's draft, the team needs to hit a home run in every round to have a successful offseason.

For the past few years, general manager Gene Smith has either made a splash by trading to take someone like a Blaine Gabbert from Missouri, or failed miserably because he chose small-school talents that did not pan out (Tiquan Underwood, Cecil Shorts). Now is the year where Smith must pull the trigger on making the right moves.

This is not rocket science, but it is much harder than an SAT test.

The Jaguars, after sewing up needs in free agency (please take two receivers and a defensive back), will focus on their offensive woes.

They can pray to the draft gods and hope someone like Justin Blackmon falls to them in the first round, or they can take a chance on someone like Michael Floyd, who has the necessary tools to be a great receiver but is a bit of a reach in the first round.

The team also needs help at guard and tackle, but I cannot seem them taking someone like David DeCastro from Stanford or Riley Reiff from Iowa that early. Those needs can be met in rounds three and four.

I expect them to look hard at defensive end as well, maybe toward a speed rusher or an outside linebacker/defensive end, and at a cornerback who has great speed.

Also, because of the team's needs and the fact that this draft is heavy on defensive line talent and at receiver, don't be surprised if they trade down with teams that want either one of the three offensive tackles in the draft or Trent Richardson, who could bring a nice package of picks from a team like Cincinnati or maybe the New York Jets.

If there were a year to deal for more picks, which means more chances to strike it rich, this would be the year for this team.

Draft Names to Keep an Eye on

Where do the Jaguars want to go with this one?

There are so many ways you can look at this. Having a Top 10 choice is a good thing and a disaster all rolled into one, especially with the seventh spot.

I believe there will be a run on defensive players, which should open the door for receivers to be open at the seventh pick and deep into the second and third rounds.

Here is a look at how the draft may go for the Jaguars.

Wide Receiver

Justin Blackmon could be the fourth player chosen in this draft or slide to the seventh slot. If he does, that is AWESOME. My only concern is he was listed at 6'2" before the combine and now he is only 6' tall. This is not a red flag, but two inches could be gigantic in the end zone.

Michael Floyd is the guy I see this team trading down to take if they deal with someone like a Cincinnati (who may want Trent Richardson) or the Jets. He is thick at 6'3" and 225 pounds and looks like he could run over a defensive back or two.

Brian Quick of Appalachian State is someone the Jaguars could take in the second round. He is quick and tall (6'4"), and while he comes from a small school, he could make a name for himself as a slot receiver. I think he has a lot of Mark Duper in him.

Defensive Back

Morris Claiborne is the best defensive back in this draft, and his size and speed as a shutdown defender is above everyone else. The Jaguars would stand pat and pray he falls to them or move up to fifth with the Buccaneers for a shot at him. He can also help in the return game.

Defensive End

So much to do and so much to see and say. While everyone has Quinton Coples of North Carolina penciled in as the team's pick, I like Melvin Ingram if the team can trade back and get him at 12 or 13. While he is a bit on the short side at 6'1", his 276-pound frame is massive and he can play linebacker, defensive end and, in some instances, defensive tackle.

Vinny Curry is an interesting pick in the second round. At 6'4" and 265 pounds, he can play standing up or with his hand on the ground. He would be a welcome addition and may make someone like Aaron Kampman or Matt Roth expendable.