5 Creative Moves the Jacksonville Jaguars Can Pull on Draft Day

Thinking "outside the box" is one of the best ways to stand out on draft day for any franchise, and this is especially true for the Jacksonville Jaguars. With the third overall pick, all eyes will be on them, and if they go a different route than many expect, it would certainly catch some attention.

However, is it the best move for the Jaguars to get creative with their first-round pick? Going with what you know can get you a confirmed, smart decision rather than going the unexpected route and taking a risk.

There are pros and cons to both certainty and risk. "Certainty" isn't absolute, but having faith and making the "smart choice" is attractive. Drafting common mock selection Dante Fowler Jr., for example, would be the conservative choice and not a bad one, by any means.

But what about trading? Or taking one of the top receivers? Questions arise that could lead to the more profitable option. Getting active on draft day can work out really well, or it can end disastrously if a team isn't careful.

The Jaguars see these two paths, and I'm honestly not sure which route they may go. However, the Jaguars are a young, open-minded team. If anyone were to do it, it'd be general manager Dave Caldwell and the rest of his front office.

It's exciting to know that something is building in Duval County. There is a team forming that the fans can not only support but be optimistic about and proud of. While the job isn't done, getting crafty on draft day could mean a big jump ahead in the race to the top.

Let's look at the ways the Jaguars can get creative on draft day.

Trading with the Cleveland Browns

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The allure of a star quarterback is strong, and the Jaguars may make use of that leverage in this year's draft. There are plenty of teams that have hinted at trading up for Marcus Mariota, but the Cleveland Browns could offer the Jaguars the best deal.

If the Jaguars don't feel confident about their options on draft day, or if they just feel that trading back is the best option, the Browns could give them the best offer: the 12th and 19th picks and probably more.

Two first-round picks? That's the kind of talent that can help a team make huge strides toward winning. Not to mention that the Browns would probably have to give up a mid-round pick this year or the next as well.

Now with the Browns' 12th and 19th picks, the Jaguars can get first-round talent at two positions like the wide receiver and "Leo" hybrid defensive end/linebacker spot. My picks for these selections would have to be UCF receiver Breshad Perriman and Kentucky pass-rusher Alvin "Bud" Dupree.

Dupree was an accomplished pass-rusher in the SEC, and his raw athleticism and malleable technical ability could make him the strong Leo that the Jaguars are looking for. His 23.5 sacks in four years at Kentucky prove that finding the quarterback and bringing him down comes naturally to Dupree.

At the 19th pick, there's a little less available to the Jaguars. I think both Georgia's Todd Gurley and Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon will be taken before the Jaguars can select a running back, but they can find a top receiver in Perriman.

Perriman offers fantastic size at 6'2" and 212 pounds, but what's really incredible is his forceful quickness. Perriman ran a 4.25 second 40-yard dash for NFL scouts and is known for being a head-on player. If he can improve technically in Jacksonville, he could be a knockout selection.

The Jaguars could gain a lot from a trade from the Browns. Going outside the standard selection could pay off extremely well. If the Jaguars were able to select both Dupree and Perriman, they'd receive two starters for the price of one.

Trade and Take a Running Back

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The Jaguars need a running back who can be their top back for this upcoming year and potentially the future, but they're not exactly in a place to get the best one. The third overall pick is valuable, but the Jaguars would be reaching if they selected a back at that spot. 

Instead, they can get a top back and potentially some extra picks by finding a suitable team to trade with, one that leaves them in a comfortable spot knowing the RB won't get selected before the Jaguars' new pick.

If the Jaguars are going to need to trade back to somewhere, preferably around the 8-11 range, who's the top candidate? For me, it's most definitely the St. Louis Rams.

The Rams upgraded at quarterback by getting Nick Foles, but they need a standout receiver for him to target. With the third pick in the draft, the Jaguars have their choice of receivers: Amari Cooper, Kevin White or somebody else.

The Rams most likely wouldn't give up too much for a trade from 10th to third, but they'd definitely have to put something on the table. I could see a second-day draft pick and a third-day pick in next year's draft as possible additions.

With the 10th pick or somewhere around the 10th pick, the Jaguars can most likely rest assured that Gurley and Gordon will be available. Between the two, I'd have to say Gurley is the Jaguars' best bet.

Gurley's college career included 510 carries for 3285 yards and 36 touchdowns, impressive numbers considering he missed ten games between 2013 and 2014. Gurley has the ultimate combo of speed, strength and vision.

His physical running and dynamic vision to make big runs could make him a force to reckon with in the Jaguars' offense. His presence would open up the passing game and create a balanced attack with which the Jaguars could really succeed.

Trading with the Kansas City Chiefs

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While the Kansas City Chiefs don't have as much to offer the Jaguars as the Browns do, the Chiefs may be willing to throw down serious picks or players. With Alex Smith at quarterback, and a scarcely talented receiver core, the Chiefs may not have a choice but to trade up. 

Besides Jeremy Maclin, the Chiefs' next best receivers are Jason Avant and Da'Rick Rogers. They need more depth all around if they want to continue to succeed in the AFC West, and trading up for Amari Cooper or Kevin White would solve the issue and then some.

And with Smith turning 31 this May, the Chiefs also need to consider their options at quarterback. Not only is Smith getting older, but the best he's done for Kansas City is 3,313 yards, 23 touchdowns and 11 turnovers. If Mariota is the next "elite" quarterback, it may be time for the Chiefs to pull the trigger.

But enough about the Chiefs, what can the Jaguars get out of thinking outside the box and trading with the Chiefs? 

First and foremost, they would get the Chiefs' first-round pick at the 18th spot. Considering who would most likely be available, I'd have to take Perriman and his 4.25. There probably won't be a single starter-quality Leo to choose from at that point, and Perriman would be a strong selection to fill a current need.

The other option there is if the Jaguars get extremely lucky and Melvin Gordon or Todd Gurley happens to be available. I'm doubtful of that scenario, but if either back is there, he would be the choice.

From that point on, it gets interesting. The Chiefs may offer a first-round pick for next year along with another pick this year or the next, or it could be a mix of second- and third-day picks over the next two years. 

It's not quite as good as trading with the Browns, but the Jaguars could gain a good bit from trading with the Chiefs. As good as it is to remain creative, however, the Jaguars have to be selective and get a deal worth making.

Take a Wide Receiver

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I've suggested Perriman as an option if the Jaguars trade down, but what if the Jaguars want a top receiver at the top spot? There are two incredible options in Amari Cooper and Kevin White if the Jaguars decide to look to offense rather than to use the pick for a Leo.

The options available at both wide receiver and the Leo spot are incredible. There are potentially five or six guys that the Jaguars could take with the third overall pick, but why should they go the unexpected route and select a wide receiver?

Well, between Cooper and White, it doesn't seem like the Jaguars could go wrong. No other receivers look as NFL ready or have as much talent as Cooper and White. 

Cooper offers a terrific combo of speed and size and has the pedigree of a top receiver. The 6'1", 211-pound receiver has 3463 career yards with a total of 228 receptions and 31 touchdowns, and he was arguably the most important player offensively for Alabama beginning with his freshman year in 2012.

Whereas Cooper offers pedigree, White offers impact. White took on the role of a top starting receiver this past year and made the most of it with 109 receptions, 1447 yards and 10 touchdowns. White dominated the Big 12, and his size (6'2", 215 pounds) and instincts were unstoppable.

But who should the Jaguars pick between the two? 

For me, the better option is Cooper. Cooper excelled for the majority of his career with the Crimson Tide and offers better intelligence and big-play ability. He embarrassed defenders regularly in Tuscaloosa, and his ability to get open would be extremely beneficial to Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles.

Either way, I don't think the Jaguars can go wrong by surprising people and going with Cooper or White.

Trade with the New Orleans Saints

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Another realistic, creative move the Jaguars could make would be to trade with the New Orleans Saints, who can also offer two first round picks. At 13 and 31, they aren't the highest of picks, so that could mean the Saints would have to offer even more.

The Saints are also looking for a strong pass-rusher, and they may be willing to trade their picks to get him. While the Jaguars need a Leo as well, current Leo Chris Clemons can most likely excel for another year at the position to allow a later-drafted Leo to train and develop.

With the 13th pick, the Jaguars might be able to get their running back of choice, depending on the teams before them. I do think that either Melvin Gordon or Todd Gurley will be there, and I'd say either player could make a huge impact for this team.

With the 31st pick, the Jaguars have options at various positions. A Leo, wide receiver or even a DT would make plenty of sense there. However, the most apparent need is at the Leo spot, and UCLA's Owamagbe Odighizuwa could be a value fit at the 31st pick.

Odighizuwa had only 9.5 sacks in 2012 and 2014 (he missed 2013 because of surgery on his hip), which isn't too impressive, but there may not be a player with better upside than Odighizuwa. 

He arguably had the best combine out of any Leo available. A top performer in five different events, Odighizuwa made up a lot of ground on his competition and proved that he is in no way fragile and is more of an athletic beast than many of his peers.

This trade depends on the Jaguars' valuation of the Leo spot. If it's crucial this year to have starter-level quality, it's best not to trade down. But if the Jaguars are willing to wait a year or two, Odighizuwa could be molded from an incredible athlete into a refined player with all the right tools.