2012 NFL Draft: 6 Safest Draft Moves Jacksonville Jaguars Can Make

Fifteen days and counting.

With the eye on the prize and many NFL hopefuls waiting to have their names called on the first night of the NFL draft, the Jaguars are doing their due diligence to make sure they get the right player.

Everything is truly a crapshoot as far as how this team will go in the first round. Receiver. Defensive End. Cornerback. Maybe a surprise.

And don't look now, but the Jaguars could trade down a few places and pick up a pick or two to bolster their roster.

Whatever does happen, it may be the biggest move this team has ever made.

6. Melvin Ingram, Defensive End/Linebacker South Carolina

He is a hybrid and a good one of those.

Linebacker, defensive end, defensive tackle, run stuffer—if only he could play all of those at once.

The only question is his height at 6'1" and 276 pounds. He is a little short to play on the line. And will his sudden rise continue once he gets to the NFL?

Slight risk with major reward.

5. Quinton Coples, Defensive End, North Carolina

He is the safest because he is the best pure pass-rusher in this draft.

While there are others like Melvin Ingram and Courtney Upshaw who can play various  positions, Coples knows one thing: to get to the passer.

But while he is big at 6'6" and 281 pounds and has speed, his lack of motivation at times in college makes him a risk.

The Jaguars know it is a risk worth taking.

4. Justin Blackmon, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State

This is only if he gets past St. Louis.

Blackmon has been rated as the best receiver in this draft since the end of the college football season. He remains a tremendous option for whoever selects him.

But now, Michael Floyd is moving up the charts, and there are questions whether the two are equal in talent. Floyd is bigger than Blackmon.

But while Floyd may be the best player to come out of this draft three years from now, Blackmon will guarantee instant success.

3. Riley Reiff, Tackle, Iowa

This may be a shock, but the Jaguars still have some issues on the offensive line.

Eugene Monroe improved last season, and the interior line opened holes for Maurice Jones-Drew to win a rushing title. The right guard slot, however, is still a question.

Eben Britton is slated to be the starter, but he has been plagued by injuries. Does drafting a tackle, who may be better than anyone else at that slot, make sense? If you want to help the development of Blaine Gabbert and his timing in the pocket, it does.

2. Morris Claiborne, Defensive Back, LSU

Forget the fact he did not fare well on the Wonderlic Test. Dan Marino did not do well either. I think he fared pretty well in the NFL.

Claiborne is one of the top five players in this draft. Snatching him up will do wonders for your defense and return game.

Remember, it is all about improvements. The Jaguars need plenty of that.

1. Trade the Pick

Move down and secure other picks along the way.

Teams like Cincinnati, Miami, Dallas, New England and the Jets may all want to play Let's Make A Deal. The Jaguars could be Monte Hall.

New England and Cincinnati both have multiple choices in the first round. It could be interesting to see if they stay put or move to better their offenses and defenses.