Jacksonville Jaguars 2012 NFL Draft Report Card: Grades for Every Pick

It's over and now, we get to talk about it.

In what can only be described as a strong start and strange finish, the Jacksonville Jaguars have six new players on their roster.

And while players like Justin Blackmon and Andre Branch were "need" picks that filled holes on both the offense and defense, there are other picks that still have us scratching our heads.

As we have said before, drafting players in the NFL is not an exact science, and some teams do better than others. This year, I think the Jaguars were one of those "middle of the road" teams in terms of choices made.

This is a team that had to have a "great" draft, where team general manager Gene Smith had to hit a "home run" or find consistency in his picks. He showed he could find players from major college programs, and could find players who fit the needs to the team.

Like last season, however, this draft (and potentially Smith's job) could be on the line if last season's top pick, Blaine Gabbert, does not take a step in progression and this year's third pick, punter Bryan Anger of California, does not prove he is better than Reggie Roby.

Here is a look at every pick the team made and an analysis of that choice.

Round 1: Justin Blackmon, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State

He was he prize of this year's selection process.

At 6'1" he is tall enough to be a factor in the red zone and a good threat on the outside.

Blackmon does something that many have tried to do for years since Jimmy Smith left the team, he gives them a true threat as a No. 1 receiver.

Blackmon will play opposite free-agent signee Laurent Robinson from the Dallas Cowboys. The fact the team now has two taller pass catchers on the outside will do many things for the passing game, which includes allowing Mike Thomas, the team's leading receiver in 2010 and 2011, to move into the slot and play underneath in the passing game.

Thomas, who is 5'8", was undersized, playing against defensive backs who were bigger than he was on the outside most of the season.

The Jaguars, although very "quiet" about who they were looking to take this year (I thought it would be Melvin Ingram of South Carolina), made the right choice to trade up to the fifth pick and get their man.

And above everything else, they took the St. Louis Rams' choice only one spot ahead.

Grade: A

Round 2: Andre Branch, Defensive End, Clemson

A pass-rusher the Jaguars truly need.

Branch, according to sidelinescouting.com, is a defensive end who has 112 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, 23 quarterback pressures and 10 pass breakups in 1,131 snaps over 34 games (13 starts) in his career.

Branch could immediately start opposite Jeremy Mincey, who the Jaguars re-signed in the offseason.

According to jacksonville.com, Vito Stellino said "Branch has played more on the right side, so Mincey, who can play either side, may be switched to left end. Defensive line coach coach Joe Cullen said they will determine where Branch is more comfortable."

Can Branch be the answers to the Jaguars' pass-rush problems? Can he replace the often injured Aaron Kampman?

At 6'4" and 259 pounds, Branch can also serve as an outside linebacker who can help with the run game from the edge.

Grade: B

Round 3: Bryan Anger, Punter, California

The draft pick that will either prove the Jaguars to be geniuses or will be much-maligned for taking a punter in the third round.

Yes, there are many great things to talk about when describing Bryan Anger of California, most notably the name "Anger" for a kicker.

But he has to be Ray Guy to show everyone in this league the Jaguars made the right choice.

If anger had been chosen in the fifth round instead, we would not be having this conversation.

Jaguars general manager, in an article on jacksonville.com, that the team was very pleased with the selection of Anger, comparing to him as "Shane Lechler of the Oakland Raiders, the best punter in the game, although he was drafted in the fifth round in 2000."

Hopefully, since the Jaguars released their two punters on the roster, handing the job to the rookie, this will pay off and the team will prove their drafting and knowledge of players proves they knew what they were doing.

Grade: C-

Round 5: Brandon Marshall, Linebacker, Nevada

Not to be confused with Brandon Marshall, the wide receiver for the Chicago Bears.

Marshall, a three-year starter at Nevada, is a 6'1" and 241-pound linebacker who started for three seasons at Nevada. While there, "he led Nevada in tackles in his junior and senior seasons. Marshall can play both strong and weak side."

His versatility is an asset for a linebacking corps which is arguably one of the best in the NFL and a big part of the sixth overall defense in the league last year. The Jaguars linebackers coach Mark Duffner said, "right now, Marshall is sixth [on the depth chart] and will compete for a backup position and special teams.

The Jaguars only have six linebackers on their roster right now.

I love this pick because the Jaguars not only needed depth at linebacker, but they found someone who could be an outside pass-rusher and with a few added pounds, could be a devastating tackler in the running game.

Grade: B-

Round 6: Mike Harris, Defensive Back, Florida State

Sometimes, draft choices work out for both the player and the team.

Maybe that is what happened with the Jacksonville Jaguars and FSU defensive back, Mike Harris.

As a sixth-round draft choice, Harris is being praised as a player that could help the team on the back line of the defense, on special teams and possibly as a "Wildcat" quarterback for the team.

At 5'10" and 188 pounds, Harris was "part of a three-man starting rotation at cornerback in helping FSU rank as the No. 4 defense nationally," this according to sidelinescouting.com 

In a profile of Harris in the Florida Times-Union, he was described as a "solid run defender who can hit and a good tackler."

If Harris is as good as advertised, then the Jaguars made a great selection in the late rounds of the draft. I like the fact that Harris, a state-product, will come in and provide depth in nickel situations and contribute on special teams. When you take players in the last two rounds of the draft, you hope to find solid backups and hidden gems.

Also, the fact he will possible play as a "Wildcat" quarterback is a new dimension to the team.

Head coach Mike Mularkey, as stated in the Times-Union article, used the "Wildcat" where "he ran 50 to 60 snaps a season in 2001 with wide receivers Hines Ward and Antwaan Randle El as quarterbacks before it was known as the Wildcat."

If Harris proves to be everything he "could" be for this team, then this might be the second-best pick for the team this year.

Grade: B

Round 7: Jeris Pendleton, Defensive Tackle, Ashland

Sometimes, you just have to have a "feel good" story of your draft.

Jeris Pendleton of Ashland College worked and went to junior college long before he made his way to the four-year institution and was discovered by the NFL.

As a defensive tackle, at 6'2" and 322 pounds, he ran a 4.9 40-yard dash and showed great agility.

Gene Smith, the team's general manager, said in the story in the Florida Times-Union, that he thought Pendleton's age, he is 28 years old now, can be an "asset because of his maturity."

Pendleton will provide depth on the defensive line where the Jaguars are a little thin. Starting defensive tackles, Tyson Alualu and Terrance Knighton are both dealing with injuries. Alualu should be ready to play by the time the team begins training camp.

Knighton is a different story because of an eye injury he suffered earlier this month. He is not allowed to do anything related to putting strain on his eye for the next three months.

I don't know enough about this guy to make a full decision on his drafting. If he comes in and plays hard and wins a spot on the team, what a coup for this team.

If he does not and becomes a practice squad player, then it is not a loss for the Jaguars either.

Grade: C-

Overall Draft Grades

I liked what the team did at the beginning of the draft and the end of the draft.

The middle of the draft still has me (and other pundits) confused.

Justin Blackmon and Andre Branch can be immediate starters and be improvements to both the receiving corps and defensive line.

Blackmon should be the No, 1 receiver and Branch a starting end who will put pressure on the passer much like Jeremy Mincey on the other side.

While those are two choices the team really does not need to worry about, the middle of the draft will decide everything. If Bryan Anger turns out to be the next Ray Guy or Reggie Roby or Shane Lechler, then the Jaguars made the best decision of this year's draft.

I believe all these players can make the team and contribute. Once the league and the media gets over the idea that this team may have made a gaff, they will see this draft was pretty solid.

Overall Grade: B-