You Know(shon) It: Jacksonville Jones(-Drew)ing For Moreno?

On Monday, the Jacksonville Jaguars cut the franchise's all-time leading rusher, Fred Taylor.

For the past three years, Taylor has split time with Maurice Jones-Drew in the Jags' backfield. But health concerns, age, and a $6 million salary in a shrinking economy led the team to make a tough move.

The Jags also figure to be without their defensive leader of the past few seasons, Mike Peterson, when 2009 begins.

The defensive captain had issues with head coach Jack Del Rio during the season and missed a couple games because of the disciplinary action resulting from a closed-door confrontation between the two.

The team also recently cut wide receiver Joey Porter and cornerback Drayton Florence.

So now it becomes speculation time for the Jaguars fan base, with an NFL Draft approaching in which the Jags have the eighth overall selection.

There are three relatively simple answers for the Jaguars, and how the first seven selections fall will likely dictate a great deal of the team's off-season.

I would look for the team to hang on to linebacker Peterson heading into the draft as potential trade bait to jump back into the second or third round.

There are a number of players that, if they fell to Jacksonville, would fill the voids left by Porter, Taylor, and presumably Peterson in the first round.

Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest

A burning question for the Jags will be what to do at eight if Curry falls, which isn't likely. Most analysts have Curry going between three and five, being the top linebacker in this year's class.

If Curry is gone, and the Jags use the eighth selection on another position, the Peterson trade scenario could surface.

The later third of the round figures to still see a handful of players who could greatly help the Jags, from Ray Maualuga (LB, USC) to Hakeem Nicks (WR, UNC).

Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia

Moreno is the top running back in the draft, and is from neighboring Georgia. Looking at the top seven picks in the draft, there is a strong likelihood that Moreno should be available for the Jags: Detroit took a back last year, St Louis has Stephen Jackson, the Chiefs have Larry Johnson, Seattle acquired Julius Jones last year, Cleveland has Jamal Lewis, the Bengals have Cedric Benson and Chris Perry, and the Raiders have Darren McFadden.

The question for Jacksonville is whether or not they think Moreno is worth the eighth overall selection. If not, they could trade down and take him.

Or they could package picks both in 2009 and/or the future with Peterson to get back into the middle of the first round to take Moreno.

Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State

If the Jags decide to replace Florence with a young corner, Jenkins should be available at the eighth selection as well. He is a good, strong corner that could step in immediately.

If the Jags go the defensive route with Jenkins at eight, the Peterson trade scenario might jump them back into the end of the first round with their sights on two former Buckeyes; Chris "Beanie" Wells might look nice next to Jones-Drew as well, and should be available in the late 20's into the top of the second round.