Best- and Worst-Case Scenarios for Jacksonville Jaguars' Top 3 Picks

For the Jacksonville Jaguars, the most important part of this draft is making sure they don't lose sight of their needs. General manager Dave Caldwell and head coach Gus Bradley have been great at this in the past, but they need to continue that success in the 2015 NFL draft.

The Jaguars have a lot of leverage for this year's upcoming draft. With the third overall pick, they have their pick of pass-rushers and also have a lot to get from a trade should they feel the need.

It's crucial the Jaguars get the pass-rusher they want if they choose to make a selection. With the third overall pick, you have to be sure of your selection. The Jaguars know this better than most, but with all the different options, it may be a hard decision.

Should the Jaguars decide to trade, they equally have to be sure of their decision. With the third overall pick, there should be a market for a trade, but that doesn't mean they will trade. The offer has to be near perfect; otherwise, the Jaguars may be left with an uncomfortable situation.

And the second day is nearly as important as the first day. They can find potential starters and future stars on the second day of the draft, and like their first-round pick, they have to make every move with certainty.

We won't know the Jaguars' plans till draft day, but the important thing is that they go with a move and commit to it. I doubt they will be on the fence as the draft draws near, but certainty is the most important part of the team's plans for draft day.

With the intro out of the way, let's look at the three best- and three worst-case scenarios for the Jaguars in the 2015 NFL draft.

Third Worst: Missing out on Dante Fowler Jr.

John Raoux/Associated Press

Dante Fowler Jr. hits all the qualities the Jaguars need to look for in a pass-rusher. He's an incredible athlete, has great technical ability and is a proven player who has competed against the best in college football.

So, if the Jaguars miss out on him, it would be a major blow to their opening day of the draft. Fowler's 14.5 sacks at Florida may not be the highest, but his potential ability as a player cannot be understated.

His combo of strength and speed, as well as his smart handwork, is near unstoppable. While he may be a little raw, with the right development and playing time in 2015, Fowler can make an immediate impact and be a long-term star for the Jaguars.

If the Tennessee Titans decide to go after an edge-rusher instead of a quarterback, Fowler may be at the top of their list. The Jaguars are left with great options like Leonard Williams, Randy Gregory, Vic Beasley and Shane Ray, but it's not the same quality.

The Jaguars need to focus on offense on the second day and perhaps the rest of the draft. In the second round they have to find the best fit at receiver, running back and center. 

The Jaguars can make up for missing out on Fowler with a solid second day, but not getting the preferred player of choice like many expect them to is a tough outcome. No matter who the Jaguars are able to grab on the second day, losing Fowler would be devastating.

Third Best: Dante Fowler, Sammie Coates, Reese Dismukes

Reed Hoffmann/Associated Press

So, if the Jaguars are able to grab Dante Fowler, what next? 

Well, the importance of getting Fowler cannot be understated. He's a momentum swing for the rest of the draft and the fans' response to it. Getting the best pass-rusher in the draft will be widely praised, and the Jaguars should feel good going into the second day.

With their second- and third-round selections, the Jaguars should focus more on the offensive side of the ball. There is an underrated depth in this draft for the positions the Jaguars are in need of. Plenty of receivers, running backs and centers will be available for the Jaguars to choose from on Day 2.

Should both Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon get selected before the Jaguars' second-round pick, they should turn to a receiver. For me, that guy is Sammie Coates. There are plenty of options, but Coates has the best chance to make an impact for the Jaguars.

Coates' 1,643 yards and 11 touchdowns through two seasons as a starter at Auburn aren't mind-blowing, but no receiver's numbers would be in a run-based offense like Auburn's. At 6'1", 213 pounds, Coates is near perfect in size and athleticism.

His technical ability isn't too shabby either. He's good at extending and positioning himself for catches, and he could be a reliable, strong receiver for quarterback Blake Bortles at a second-round value.

In the third round, the best available player between centers and running backs will most likely be Coates' college teammate, Reese Dismukes. He won the Rimington Trophy this past year and was an All-American. 

Dismukes is strong and smart and could be a great competitor for center along with Luke Bowanko. Given his pedigree and ability, taking Dismukes in the third would be a steal.

Second Worst: Miss out on Fowler, Coates and Gordon

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

Whereas missing out on just Dante Fowler is hard enough, if the Jaguars aren't able to land any of the aforementioned players, it may be disastrous. The Jaguars have to be sure to get exactly what they want if they seek to continue progressing.

Having already explained how frustrating it would be to lose Fowler, not being able to land their second- or third-round targets would just add the bitter icing on the awful, metaphorical cake.

As with the "Leo" position, there is a lot of depth at the various positions the Jaguars might target on Day 2, but they need to get their surefire picks. Losing out on both Sammie Coates and Melvin Gordon would leave them in a precarious position.

In the second round, the best possible option for the Jaguars is Coates or Gordon. While the Jaguars can't get both of them, not being able to get one of them would mean settling for less, which is not how you get the pieces for a franchise.

As for the third round, it's likely the Jaguars will be able to land one of the top available players like center Reese Dismukes or wide receiver Justin Hardy. However, at that point in the draft, the damage has already been done. 

There are certain standards and level of quality the Jaguars have to reach with the players of this year's draft. Not being able to take their preference in the first two rounds could mean a stall in the progress the team has made—and that means another year of struggle.

Second Best: Trade with Browns

Stephan Savoia/Associated Press

Now, as impressive and incredible Dante Fowler is, would he be as valuable as two first-round picks? That's up for debate, but the chance the Cleveland Browns may trade up for quarterback Marcus Mariota could give the Jaguars not just one first-round pick but two.

There would have to be a perfect situation for this to happen: Fowler or Leonard Williams would have to be selected, and the Browns have to legitimately want Mariota. Both are possible, and should the opportunity arise, the Jaguars need to consider it.

Now with the Browns' 12th and 19th pick, the Jaguars can get first-round talent at two positions. With the 12th pick, the Jaguars' best option is Leo pass-rusher Bud Dupree. 

Dupree is another athletically gifted Leo who, like Fowler, has shown a lot of raw talent that could be molded into the Jaguars' ideal pass-rusher. At the very least, his 23.5 sacks in just less than four years at Kentucky is evidence that he can play.

With the 19th pick, the Jaguars should go after center Cameron Erving. He was initially a tackle, but his incredible play at center in 2014 has the NFL looking at him as a potential center. Erving has performed at the highest level for FSU, and he has the ability to be an immediate starter at center.

As for the second- and third-round selections, the best available will most likely be Sammie Coates and Reese Dismukes again, which would be too great selections, as I've stated in previous slides.

Worst: Trade to a 20th or Later Spot in the Draft

Doug McSchooler/Associated Press

While trades can be beneficial to both parties, I don't see the Jaguars getting much out of trading out to anyone besides the Browns. The Jaguars won't get a better offer than two first-round picks in 2015, and they have to be wary of making a mistake by trading out.

The Jaguars are not going to get a ridiculous offer for their third pick. As good as Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston may be, they are not worth trading a ridiculous amount of picks in this year's draft or first-round picks in 2016.

Keeping that in mind, the Jaguars have to be skeptical of a trade that may seem excellent on paper. A series of picks this year isn't exactly what the Jaguars need to move forward.

In the past couple of years, I might have understood such a move. The Jaguars were in need of a new young wave of talent, but now they have the talent for the most part. They are pivoting to a new level of quality, and they now need the best they can get, not the most they can get.

A trade seems like a legitimate viable option, but I can't see it working out other than in a trade for the Browns' two first-round picks. The Jaguars nearly have the team they want and can gain a lot more from quality selections than quantity.

Best: Fowler, Gordon and Justin Hardy

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Notice the improved attitude of Dave Caldwell from the previous slide to this one? It's because he was able to get the best possible player for the Jaguars in the first three rounds. If they are able to select these three players, the Jaguars will be sitting pretty going into Day 3 of the draft.

First and foremost, the Jaguars are able to get the top pass-rusher in Dante Fowler. As I've already said, the Jaguars need a top pass-rusher at the Leo spot desperately, and Fowler can be that guy.

As for the second round, the Jaguars get to pounce on Melvin Gordon. It's unlikely that he actually slips to the second round, but if he did, the Jaguars would be able to take a top-two running back. 

Gordon's 4,915 yards and 45 touchdowns in his time at Wisconsin is proof that the guy is worth the selection. He's a strong, efficient runner who could easily compete for the starting position and, at the very least, be a strong option for the future.

As for the third round, there is another change. Considering the Jaguars were able to take Gordon in the second, they missed Sammie Coates. They can make up for it with the selection of ECU receiver Justin Hardy. 

Hardy was a four-year starter at ECU and has some of the most incredible receiving numbers in college football history: 387 receptions, 4,541 yards and 35 touchdowns. He's not the most athletic receiver available, but he's most definitely proven and could be a good option for quarterback Blake Bortles.

This final outcome is the best possible in my opinion. The Jaguars hit their most needed spots with excellent players in every round and are able to make their picks count. The entire fanbase can smile like Caldwell if this outcome becomes reality.

All stats were provided by ESPN.com, unless otherwise stated.

Evan Reier is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report covering the Jacksonville Jaguars. Follow Evan on Twitter at @evanreier.