Jacksonville Jaguars Day 3 2014 NFL Draft Primer

After it was all said and done, Day 2 of the NFL draft turned out to be just as enthralling as its predecessor.

With Blake Bortles dubbed as the team's quarterback of the future, the Jacksonville Jaguars made sure they went out and surrounded him with talent by drafting a pair of dynamic wide receivers.

Marqise Lee out of USC and Penn State's Allen Robinson were both selected in the second round to ensure that Bortles has plenty of help whenever he winds up taking the job away from Chad Henne.

Looking ahead, the third and final day of the draft is going to be the place where general manager David Caldwell can start thinking about defense for a change.

On top of that, it's also the perfect time to roll the dice on some prospects who have astronomical upside despite their issues.

As we head into the last day of the draft, we will be recapping all of the action from Day 2, updating the Jaguars' biggest needs, checking in to see what some of the experts have to say and concluding things with a fresh mock draft.

The Jaguars have one day left to make a splash. Let's examine how they can achieve that feat. 

Day 2 Recap and Analysis

Day 2 was a wild one for Jacksonville.

After locking down a franchise quarterback on Thursday night, Caldwell and head coach Gus Bradley made it clear that they will spare no expensive trying to surround him with as much talent as possible.

Things got underway when the Jaguars took USC wide receiver Marqise Lee at the top of the second round. He isn't the fastest player you'll ever see on tape, but he has enough quickness and explosiveness to break down a defense and pick up huge chunks of yards in the open field.

What you have to like about him is that he's a polished route-runner. In a league that's been dominated by quarterbacks, Lee is the type of guy who will find a way to get open more times than not.

That's good news not only for the health of this offense but also for Blake Bortles. The team's official Twitter feed mentioned that he and Lee are familiar with each other.

After Lee landed in Jacksonville, Caldwell made a shocking move by trading picks with the San Francisco 49ers to get back into the second round. Once there, he nabbed Penn State's Allen Robinson to take even more pressure off Bortles.

Robinson's ceiling is actually higher than Lee's due to his great size and terrific hands.

The combination of Lee and Robinson was an exciting way to start Day 2. But more importantly, it shows that this regime isn't taking any chances when it comes to its franchise quarterback.

Just when you thought the night was over, out of nowhere Caldwell did it again.

Working out a deal with the New England Patriots to climb into the third round, he drafted offensive guard Brandon Linder out of Miami.

He has experience operating in Jaguars offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch's zone-blocking scheme. The two were together when Fisch was the Hurricanes offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2011 -2012.

Overall, the Jaguars put forth a really nice effort on Day 2. They focused strictly on rebuilding the offense and made sure that they are set up well for the future.

Updated Needs for the Jaguars

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Linebacker

Now that the team's biggest offensive needs have been put to bed, it's time make head coach Gus Bradley happy and draft a little defense.

Linebacker is one area that the Jaguars could definitely use an upgrade.

Looking at the current group of guys on the roster, there wasn't one player who from Pro Football Focus' (subscription required) point of view who posted a positive grade in 2013.

You can argue the validity of advanced metrics until the cows come home, but the fact is, those metrics now have a place in the today's NFL. And what they tell you is that the Jaguars need a boost when it comes to the linebacker position.

Cornerback

Like pass-rushers, you can never have enough cornerbacks on your roster.

Last season, the secondary didn't perform up to standards. Surrendering 247.6 yards per game and 29 touchdowns through the air, this unit could use a little help.

Checking out Bleacher Report draft expert Matt Miller's big board, plenty of talented cornerbacks are available to be had.

Guys like Jaylen Watkins out of Florida, E.J. Gaines from Missouri and Bashaud Breeland from Clemson all have shown off good ball skills and upside on film.

Making a play for one of those guys should be taken into serious consideration as the Jaguars head into the final day of the draft.

Edge-Rushers

In today's NFL, building a great defense centers on edge-rushers. The more you have at your disposal, the better off you'll be.

Without the team having the luxury of a young, prominent pass-rusher on the roster, Day 3 of the draft is a great time to go after one. You never know which one of these late-round prospects could turn into a full-blown superstar given the right situation.

Center

It doesn't seem like drafting a center is a huge priority right now for this team. That would indicate that Caldwell and Bradley are comfortable with the options on the roster.

Still, it makes sense to at least consider drafting one.

Florida State's Bryan Stork and Utah State's Tyler Larsen are both top-10 centers on Miller's big board who just happen to be available.

Top Day 3 Targets

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Chris Smith, OLB/DE, Arkansas

If the Jags are looking to scoop up a versatile pass-rusher, Arkansas' Chris Smith is worth considering.

He doesn't have the allure of some of the more polished edge players on the board but has good lateral quickness and can knife into the backfield thanks to a quick first step.

What's nice about him is that he has very good speed. The fact that performs well in open space would allow him to slide in that coveted "Leo" role in Bradley's defense.

E.J. Gaines, CB, Missouri

Gaines has remained a constant throughout the course of my mock drafts and targets. He's the one prospect left on the board who fits beautifully into what the Jaguars like to do on defense.

A Cover 3 guy by design, if he's still on the board by the time the Jaguars get on the clock, Bradley should pick up the phone and call this young man.

Jordan Tripp, OLB, Montana

Out of all the linebackers who are left in the draft, Montana's Jordan Tripp could be exactly what the Jaguars need.

He projects beautifully into a 4-3 alignment thanks in part to his ability to stuff the run and drop back into coverage.

At 6'3", 234 pounds, he's a fluid athlete who could come in and start right away as the weak-side linebacker in 2014.

Yawin Smallwood, ILB, Connecticut

Inside linebacker Yawin Smallwood is another prospect who would look good in a Jaguars uniform.

He has good size and nice range and was productive over his collegiate career. He doesn't have game-changing measurables, but he's a player who could walk in the door, grab a helmet and go to work.

That's exactly the type of player the Jaguars should be looking to pick up at this point in the process.

George Uko, DT/DE, USC

USC's George Uko is an interior defensive lineman who can line up at either defensive end or defensive tackle.

He reminds you at times of Michael Bennett from the Seattle Seahawks. Uko has good agility and uses his hands well in the trenches.

But the biggest reason why he should be a top target on Day 3 is his colossal upside as an interior lineman.

What Are the Experts Saying?

Using Bleacher Report's resident draft guru Matt Miller's seven-round mock as a guide, here are two players that the Jaguars may end up going after on Day 3.

1. Draft USC's George Uko in Round 4 

George Uko wouldn't be a bad fit for this defense. 

Although he played both defensive end and tackle at Southern California, his skill set is best suited to be a defensive tackle in a 4-3 scheme.

He's pretty raw right now, which means he would need a chunk of time to grow into that position. Still, if he can put it all together, he possesses enough natural ability to become a disruptive force on the interior of a defensive line.

2. Draft Dontae Johnson (CB/S North Carolina State) in Round 5

North Carolina State product Dontae Johnson is more of a cornerback/safety hybrid than anything else.

Running a 4.45-second 40-yard dash at the combine, he did his best to make sure NFL teams remember his name.

His versatility to play two positions could intrigue Coach Bradley. Plus, anyone with that type of pure speed always has a shot to make waves in the NFL.

He may not be the best option in Round 5 for the Jaguars due to the fact that they still have to take care of some other areas of need.

4 Predictions for Day 3

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1. The Jaguars Will Draft All Defensive Players

So far it's been a steady dose of offense for the Jaguars. After drafting two receivers and a guard, the time to go after quality defensive prospects is now.

Jacksonville can still address a bevy of pressing needs thanks to a deep draft class. That makes this prediction an easy one for Caldwell and Co.

2. The Jaguars Will Draft Another Quarterback

The fact that a ton of quarterbacks are still available gives this prediction some weight.

It's been done before: Back in 2012, the Washington Redskins took Robert Griffin III and followed it up by going after Kirk Cousins a few rounds later.

After signing a deal this past offseason, Chad Henne will most likely be around for a season or two. But who's to say if Alabama's A.J. McCarron or San Jose State's David Fales somehow falls into the fifth round, Caldwell won't bite?

3. Caldwell Rolls the Dice

Whether that means the Jags take a chance on a young man with character concerns or go after a player coming off a significant injury, this would be the day to take a risk.

If nothing else, Coach Bradley is a guy who could easily handle the pitfalls of adding a risky player into the locker room.

4. The Jaguars Trade the Rest of Their Picks to Land a Prospect They Covet

With two trades already in the books, is it crazy to think that Caldwell may load up the rest of his picks and try to land one more coveted prospect?

Having the luxury to bring in a variety of players certainly helps. But if there's a guy this team really likes still out there, the front office has proved it has no qualms about going after him. 

Updated Jaguars Mock Draft

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Round 4, Pick No. 114: E.J. Gaines, CB, Missouri

We've talked about E.J. Gaines a lot over the last couple of days. Right now, with him still on the board, the pick absolutely makes sense.

He has gathered a ton of experience working in a Cover 3 scheme. All that means is that he could come in and help this club out from the jump.

Round 5, Pick No. 144: Yawin Smallwood, LB, Connecticut

Listed as one of the team's top targets in an earlier slide, Yawin Smallwood would be a tremendous value pick in Round 5.

He would instantly provide depth to a linebacker crew that still has to be tweaked.

He has the skill set to play either weak-side or middle linebacker in the Jaguars' 4-3 scheme. On tape, he has shown all of the traits and ability to excel at either position.

Round 5, Pick No. 159: Aaron Lynch, DE, USF

Aaron Lynch once again stands pat in this mock draft as the team's second fifth-round pick.

He offers far too much potential for the Jaguars not to take him into consideration.

A long frame, great speed and impressive strength are three attributes any team would love to have in a young pass-rusher.

Round 6, Pick 205: Aaron Colvin, CB, Oklahoma

Aaron Colvin's ACL injury may end up being the reason why he is taken in the sixth round. If that turns out to be true, he's a no-brainer at pick No. 205.

Looking back at what MMQB.com's Greg A. Bedard said about Colvin should make you feel great about this pick.

Rehashing his notes from the 2014 Senior Bowl, Bedard wrote, "It’s too bad Oklahoma CB Aaron Colvin tore his ACL this week, because he was definitely standing out for his man coverage ability. Looked like a first-rounder."

Round 7, Pick 222: Xavier Grimble, TE, USC

Blake Bortles now has two wide receivers he can grow with. Why not bring in a tight end and give him another option to utilize in the passing game?

USC's Xavier Grimble is 6'4" and moves well for a guy his size. There's no risk involved with drafting a player in the seventh round.

With his college teammate Marqise Lee already rocking a Jaguars uniform, Grimble would be a great way to keep the whole USC thing going down in Jacksonville.

All 2014 draft projections provided by NFLDraftScout.com (viaCBSSports.com), unless noted otherwise. All CFB stats courtesy of Sports-Reference.com unless noted otherwise. Combine results courtesy of NFL.com.