The Complete Jacksonville Jaguars Draft Primer

In a few hours, the 2015 NFL draft will have started, and the Jacksonville Jaguars will have made their move, be it a selection or a trade. There may not be a more exciting day of the offseason for both the Jaguars and the rest of the NFL.

But before the draft gets under way, we've got to get prepared. The Jaguars have a very open draft ahead of them, and the possibilities are endless, which means that the spectators have to be ready for just about anything.

The most important aspect of this year's draft is the idea that it's a connecting move from the bottom of the NFL to a more competitive state. The Jaguars have spent the past three years with one of the worst records in the NFL.

Now, general manager Dave Caldwell is entering his third year and his third season. It's been a tough, patient building of this Jaguars squad, but now it's time to focus on getting results.

Drafting some top talent will drastically help that. If the Jaguars can address the last remaining holes in the team with young talent, Jacksonville should be able to compete in nearly every game this season and will have fully set up a foundation for the future.

It hasn't been easy being one of the youngest teams in the NFL, but focusing and building through the draft have improved the Jaguars on and off the field. This year's draft needs to be the turning point.

With the intro out of the way, let's look at at the Jaguars' complete draft primer.

The Jaguars' Draft Picks

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The Jaguars have no major changes in their draft this year, save for switching the third and fourth picks every other round with the Oakland Raiders. Other than that, the Jaguars have no picks from trades coming into this year's draft.

All Seven Rounds of Draft Picks

• First Round, Third Pick, Third Pick Overall

• Second Round, Fourth Pick, 36th Pick Overall

• Third Round, Third Pick, 67th Pick Overall

• Fourth Round, Fourth Pick, 103rd Pick Overall

• Fifth Round, Third Pick, 139th Pick Overall

• Sixth Round, Fourth Pick, 180th Pick Overall

• Seventh Round, Third Pick, 220th Pick Overall

While it's never an enjoyable season that leads to high draft picks, it is enjoyable to have such an early pick such as the third or fourth in each round. It's crucial the Jaguars make the right selections in this situation or use the picks for trade leverage if it comes to that.

Positional Needs

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The Jaguars' positional needs have been a subject of much debate. The current team includes a lot of young prospects with potential and proven veterans, but accepting the team in its current state isn't what the Jaguars are about.

The end goal isn't to improve; it's to win. To do that, you have to shed the sentiment and look at each position objectively to find out how you're going to improve.

Jaguars' Top Positional Needs

• Defensive End ("Leo")
• Wide Receiver
• Running Back
• Offensive Guard
• Defensive Tackle

First and foremost, the Jaguars have to draft an impact player for the defensive line. Whether that's at the Leo position or at either defensive tackle spot, it has to happen this season. A devastating pass-rusher is the Jaguars' No. 1 need, plain and simple.

Behind the Leo, the Jaguars need a top receiver. Typically, the only option is free agency besides the first round, but the depth at WR this year extends all the way to the Jaguars' second-round pick. Another young receiver may seem excessive, but quarterback Blake Bortles needs all the help he can get.

The next priority for the Jaguars is at running back. Denard Robinson should be the current starter, but the Jaguars may be looking for a "true" back. I can definitely see the Jaguars taking one, but I'm doubtful it will be one early enough to take the starting job.

The Jaguars currently have three guards on the roster, and one, Tyler Shatley, has never started. It's important the Jaguars grab a depth option at guard to have insurance and to potentially groom him for a starting job in a couple of years or so.

The oldest group on the Jaguars roster is the defensive tackles, averaging 26.6 years old. While not extremely old, it's a position to plan for the future. Getting a young DT to train with Sen'Derrick Marks and Jared Odrick would be a very smart investment down the road.

Top Targets

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The Jaguars have various positional needs on both sides of the ball, but which players are the top targets for the Jaguars at each spot? The Jaguars aren't going to be able to select all of these players, but here are the top spots for the Jaguars' top five needs.

Defensive End (Leo)

With so much depth for edge-rushers, it's really the Jaguars' pick. For me, the top guy is Dante Fowler from Florida. Fowler is a bit raw, but he's an incredible athlete with a promising foundation for developing his technical skills.

Randy Gregory, Vic Beasley and Bud Dupree are also great picks, but no one has a higher ceiling than Fowler. His floor isn't bad either, and he has the talent and experience to start Week 1 for the Jaguars if he needs to.

Wide Receiver

Another position with a lot of depth, the wide receiver position gives the Jaguars multiround options. The top prospect is most definitely Alabama's Amari Cooper, whom the Jaguars would have to take with the third overall pick. He's quick and strong, and he has the polish of a veteran.

The Jaguars don't have to select a receiver in the first round for top quality, however. Various receivers such as Auburn's Sammie Coates and Miami's Phillip Dorsett will be around in the second round, so if the Jaguars get a Leo in the first, they can wait until the second.

Running Back

The Jaguars' precarious running back situation has me seeing them taking someone toward the top or not at all. If they are looking for the top back, they need to look no further than Georgia's Todd Gurley. Gurley is an athletic freak with the vision and motor you see in great running backs.

However, the Jaguars have options in the second and third rounds. Many expect Jay Ajayi from Boise State to be available in the second round and Alabama's T.J. Yeldon to be available in the third. The Jaguars have options; it just depends on their value of the running back position.

Offensive Guard 

The Jaguars will probably wait until the third day to take a guard, and if they do, their best option is Jeremiah Poutasi. Poutasi is most likely going in the fourth or fifth round, and he's a definite pick if he's available in the fifth.

There are options on Day 2 such as Hobart College's Ali Marpet and and South Carolina's A.J. Cann, but for the price, they aren't worth it. The Jaguars should get a guard, but there is better value at more apparent needs in the second round.

Defensive Tackle 

Leonard Williams is arguably the best prospect in the draft and is the top defensive tackle in the draft. Williams is versatile with great athleticism and a keen nose for the quarterback. If the Jaguars want a top DT, Williams is their guy.

Williams can also play at the Leo position, but if the Jaguars decide to pass on him, they'll probably wait until the third day before they select one. There is talent throughout the draft, but how talented the Jaguars' selection is will depend on what needs matter most.

Trade Possibilities

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With the third overall pick, the Jaguars have a lot of leverage in a trade. The race for quarterbacks Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston has a lot of teams looking to trade up, and the Jaguars are in perfect position to take advantage of that.

Trading with the Cleveland Browns

The Browns have two first-round picks at 12th and 19th, and a recent report from ESPN's Pat McManamon saying they have offered their two picks to the Tennessee Titans for the Titans' second overall selection confirms their desire to trade up.

If they can't work it out with the Titans, there is a good chance they'll turn to the Jaguars next. With two first-round picks, the Jaguars could address two positions with top talent, and they could potentially get another pick from the Browns. 

However, for this to happen, Mariota most likely has to be on the board when the pick comes to the Jaguars.

Trading with the New York Jets

The Jets seem extremely interested in getting a new franchise QB, as ESPN's Todd McShay noted, and in a similar situation to the Browns, Mariota falling to the Jaguars will determine whether the trade will happen or not. The Jets don't have two first-round picks to offer, but they'd put a lot on the table for a trade.

The Jets would most likely put up their first, second and a fourth- or fifth-round pick for a trade. That's a lot of picks, but is falling back to sixth worth it? There will most likely be a Randy Gregory or Vic Beasley available, so the Jaguars can get a top edge-rusher and a couple more picks.

Trading Back into the Second Round

The Jaguars traded back into the second round last season for WR Allen Robinson, and I can see them doing it again this year. There are various players at WR and RB the Jaguars may miss out on late in the second, and they may want to trade back in to get their top guy.

RB Jay Ajayi comes to mind. Ajayi will most likely go in the middle-to-late second round, and if the Jaguars are willing to lose the picks, they can trade back in for him. If they make a trade in the first and get some extra picks, that's ammunition to trade back into the second for Ajayi.

Best Fit vs. Best Overall vs. Best Value

The third overall pick is the story of the Jaguars' draft. The Jaguars have a tough, three-way decision for their pick: Do they take the best overall player, the best fit or the best value? This pick alone could make or break this draft.

In regard to the best overall player, I'd say it's got to be Leonard Williams. No other player had the combination of a great career, a solid combine and the combination of athleticism and intelligence. And he just gets better, because he can play just about any position on the line.

Williams is the safest possible pick. There are no guarantees in the NFL draft, but if there is one, Williams has all the qualities to be a future Pro-Bowler and be a leader of a franchise.

As for the best fit, the decision is between Vic Beasley and Dante Fowler. Both offer everything you want to see in an edge-rusher: quick, tenacious and strong enough to deal with any member of the offensive line.

Neither is perfect technically, but Beasley offers more moves and plays at the moment, but Fowler has the overall higher ceiling. I like Beasley a lot, but considering Chris Clemons can put up decent numbers at the Leo position, I'd prefer the Jaguars to go with the better long-term option.

Finally, there is the best value, which is a trade in the Jaguars' case. It's a seller's market, and they could get a lot out of a trade down from third overall. There's no guarantee, but it's probably the best chance to get the most for their buck.

It's an incredibly difficult decision among three really promising options, but what the Jaguars do will remain a tantalizing secret until draft night.