Best Draft-Day Contingency Plans for the Jacksonville Jaguars

The NFL draft may be the most hectic few days of the year for the NFL and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Picks get taken, trades are made and by the end of it all you've drafted a crop of young talent that can hopefully take you to the next level. The most important thing on draft day to realize is things aren't always going to go your way, and you must have a contingency plan.

For the Jaguars, this year's draft is the great unknown. According to Ryan O'Halloran of The Florida Times-Union, general manager Dave Caldwell said earlier this year that he's more open to trading out of the Jaguars' third overall pick. While that is an option, there are a lot of players at the top of the draft who could be huge for the Jaguars.

Leonard Williams, Shane Ray, Randy Gregory, Dante Fowler Jr...and that's just the defensive playmakers. The Jaguars have options; however, there needs to be a detailed contingency plan in case talks break down or another team selects their preferred pick.

For the draft-day scenario, we'll use NFL.com's four different mock drafts, all of which have Dante Fowler Jr. going to Jacksonville. Fowler is a stud of an athlete and has had a solid career at Florida, and he would be a good fit with the Jaguars defense.

As mentioned, the Jaguars have some options, and a contingency plan may work out better than the original plan. It's just another part of the chaos that is draft day.

With the basics out of the way, here are the best contingency plans if Fowler is out of reach.

Contingency Plan No. 1: Trade Down

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

With Caldwell stating that he's more open to trade down in this year's draft, this may be the actual plan for the Jaguars. Trading out of the third overall pick can bring big results and can improve multiple positions unlike just one top-tier pick.

The Jaguars don't have the best history when it comes to trading picks (see Justin Blackmon and Blaine Gabbert), but it's a sensible option here. There are teams from the middle to end of the first round who would love to trade up and get a receiver like Kevin White or a pass-rusher like Shane Ray.

Now, with the demand comes options, so it's crucial that the Jaguars pick the best one. A trade that involves a player would probably be the best.

If the Jags were able to get a couple of draft picks and a solid player from a team that would like to trade, that could be a bonus in a number of ways.

A high-quality player along with young talent would be a solid trade and would probably work out in the Jaguars' favor. If Caldwell and Co. can't get the pass-rusher they want, there is no need to settle for second-best.

Trading down may rob a team of getting the best positional player available, but it can offer an opportunity to improve in multiple areas and improve the team as a whole.

Contingency Plan No. 2: Settle for Second-Best

Dean Hare/Associated Press

There is no way to tell exactly what the Jaguars would do should a team take their favorite pick—in this case Dante Fowler Jr.—before they got to select him. However, a need is a need, and there are other options.

Shane Ray, Leonard Williams and Randy Gregory would be available should Fowler be selected by the Tennessee Titans, who NFL.com currently has projected to take a defensive player (Leonard Williams).

Of the three, my preferred selection would be Williams. Williams had a solid combine and two terrific seasons at USC. Ray and Gregory are both first-round-quality players, but Williams would be the best option for the Jaguars right now.

Now, Williams isn't quite like Fowler. But they offer similar talents in pass rushing and intelligence, and selecting Williams would be a better move than any other defensive players available. 

It's never enjoyable to lose out on a player you really want, but in this case, there are options, including one who is considered as good as the original plan. 

Williams would be a solid pick for the Jaguars with the third overall pick, and if the Titans did select Fowler, this would be a good rebound.

However, what if the Jags want a more versatile player than a defensive line player?

Contingency Plan No. 3: Go Versatile

Nati Harnik/Associated Press

One of Dante Fowler Jr.'s best attributes is that he can play as an edge-rusher or play as an outside linebacker. And if the Jaguars really want a guy who can do that, the next best option is Randy Gregory.

Gregory has spent the past two years destroying offensive tackles and has tallied 17.5 sacks over that time. While Gregory is a tremendous rusher and athlete, he's also versatile and can drop back and play at the outside linebacker position.

Versatility in a defense may be Gregory's and Fowler's best overall characteristic and may be the best overall thing for the Jaguars defense at the moment.

Head coach Gus Bradley and defensive coordinator Bob Babich could use a player like Gregory to the best of their abilities. Shifting Gregory around the defense and having him become a lethal variable to watch out for would give the Jaguars defense a playmaker who could make a huge difference.

The Jaguars also need this kind of playmaker for the sole sake of depth. Too many times last season the Jaguars' lack of depth become a glaring weakness late in the game. With a guy like Gregory, players can catch breathers and be in better overall shape to consistently perform throughout the game.

All in all, a player like Gregory would be an excellent pick should the Jaguars lose out on Fowler.

Contingency Plan No. 4: Best Available

Butch Dill/Associated Press

Sometimes, the only thing you can do when your desired player is swept under your feet is to go with the best available. In the Jaguars' case, the best available player at the third spot would be Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper. 

Cooper is coming off 2,463 yards and 31 touchdowns in three years at Alabama, and he is arguably the best wide receiver in the draft.

Cooper offers the complete package when it comes to a wide receiver: size (6'1", 211 lbs), speed (4.42 40-yard dash) and instinct. He has been burning corners in the SEC since 2012, and with the right coaching, he will continue to succeed in the NFL.

Cooper's best attribute is his instincts. He has the awareness and intelligence to find where the secondary will make a mistake and punish it instantly. Cooper is a deep threat on every play, and that would be a huge help to a Jaguars team that doesn't seem to have a player like that at the moment.

Cooper is also improving with each year. A lackluster 2013 due to a few injuries along with an issue with drops motivated Cooper to succeed in 2014, and he did—1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns later, Cooper has solidified himself as the best receiver in this year's draft.

Wide receiver isn't the most immediate need for the Jaguars in 2014, but it would certainly be an upgrade to take the best available player in Cooper.

Contingency Plan No. 5: Focus Elsewhere in 1st Round

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

The Jaguars obviously have needs elsewhere as well, and they could come back from losing Fowler by selecting a player who fits a hole elsewhere in the team. 

With talent at wide receiver and in the offensive line positions, the Jaguars could find a good pick in a player like Kevin White, the aforementioned Cooper or a lineman like Andrus Peat or Brandon Scherff. 

While trading down is still an option to get any of these picks, things can change quite a bit come draft day. If the Jaguars felt the need to take Peat, Scherff, White or Cooper, it would still be a fine choice.

The Jaguars can come back to the issue of pass-rusher later in the second round or further as well by focusing on another need. Should they find a player they feel fits with the plan and strategy of the defense, there's no reason they shouldn't select him, especially after losing out in the first round. 

Strong college players like Hau'oli Kikaha or Lorenzo Mauldin will most likely be available in the second and third rounds respectively along with other potential playmakers. 

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What the Jaguars do with their third overall pick will set them on a path for the rest of the draft, and it's important to realize that good can still come out of a contingency plan.

The Jaguars can't afford to misstep during the draft. Every pick or trade needs to be thought of as the best possible option. Making the most out of each pick or trade is how a team "wins" the draft, and even losing a player you desire can't stop that.

It's crucial the Jaguars keep sight of what's important should a team draft Fowler or whoever their No. 1 player is before they can select him. While disappointing, each move in a regular plan or a backup plan needs to be calculated and practical.

The Jaguars have to adapt and act with the chaotic nature of this year's draft if they want to continue to improve as a team and end the run of disappointing seasons.

All stats were found at ESPN.com unless otherwise stated.

Evan Reier is a first-year journalism major at the University of Alabama and a member of Bleacher Report's APSM program. Follow Evan on Twitter at @evanreier.