Jacksonville Jaguars Draft Picks: Results, Analysis and Grades

Day 1 of the 2015 NFL draft has passed and the Jacksonville Jaguars took Dante Fowler. Continue to the next slide to see some instant reaction and analysis of that pick, and stay here for when the Jaguars make any selection in the draft for more!

First and foremost, the Jaguars have the third pick of each odd round and the fourth pick of each even round, due to a tie with the Oakland Raiders.

All 7 Rounds of Draft Picks

• Round 1, third pick: Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida
• Round 2, fourth pick (36th pick overall)
• Round 3, third pick (67th pick overall
• Round 4, fourth pick (103rd pick overall)
• Round 5, third pick (139th pick overall)
• Round 6, fourth pick (180th pick overall)
• Round 7, third pick (220th pick overall)

With the picks at hand, the Jaguars are in a good place to either make the strongest possible selections or use their high position as leverage for a trade down. 

Whether they trade or not, the Jaguars need to look to select these players at some point or another in the remaining two days of the draft:

• Wide Receiver—The Jaguars have three young receivers in Allen Hurns, Allen Robinson and Marqise Lee, but there is no top receiver. The Jaguars may also wait until the later rounds to get a slot receiver to let Hurns move to a more familiar spot.
• Running Back—Denard Robinson showed some serious promise last season, but the Jaguars' lack of a top running back is evident. If they feel it's a need that should be addressed sooner rather than later, expect a back taken in the first three rounds or so.
• Offensive Guard—With three guards on the roster, the Jaguars are in need of some extra depth, and potentially a guy who can train and learn under Zane Beadles.
• Defensive Tackle—The oldest group on the roster, defensive tackle could use a strong depth player to learn from Sen'Derrick Marks. Not the most talented spot top to bottom, a deeper selection could be groomed for a spot sooner rather than later.

Like the rest of the NFL, the draft is pivotal for the Jaguars. It's the way they've been building the past couple of years, and it is their plan for the future. 

With a variety of needs and lots of depth at certain positions rather than others, the Jaguars have a lot of different ways they can go on Day 2 and Day 3. It's all a matter of situation and confidence in one position or another.

However, there's no doubt in my mind that general manager Dave Caldwell has a plan in mind. He's done an excellent job by most people's standards the past couple of years and I expect him to continue doing big things for the Jaguars this year.

Check back here for all the reactions and analysis regarding the Jaguars' draft selections throughout the weekend, check out my seven-round mock draft, and happy draft weekend!

Round 1, Pick 3: Dante Fowler Jr.

With their first pick and the third overall pick, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Dante Fowler Jr. He was a dominant force down the road from Jacksonville in Gainesville, and he'll be looking to excel at the Jaguars' Leo position. 

Fowler will compete for the Leo position, one that is predominantly focused on pass rushing, which is his specialty. He totaled 14.5 career sacks at Florida and was known for being tenacious and athletic when getting around blockers to the quarterback.

Fowler has the athletic build the Jaguars were looking for. At 6'3" and 261 pounds, he is a near-perfect model for a quick, athletic edge-rusher. 

Despite being taken third overall, he will still have to prove he's better than Chris Clemons for the Leo position. No matter who wins the job, though, Fowler will benefit from the competition and education from the veteran.

The only complaint about Fowler is that he's not polished. He's going to have to work to get rid of his remaining kinks and learn some new technical moves to get past the tough competition of NFL-level tackles.

He's a fantastic pass-rusher, fits the scheme perfectly and is a smart player who will benefit the Jaguars immediately and especially down the road.

Overall Grade: A-

Round 2, Pick 36: T.J. Yeldon

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With the 36th overall pick and the fourth pick in the second round, the Jacksonville Jaguars have selected T.J. Yeldon. Yeldon was an important part of the Alabama Crimson Tide offense for a few years, and now he'll look to take his talents to Duval County.

Yeldon's most impressive stat is how long he was a factor for the Crimson Tide. As a freshman, Yeldon accumulated 1,108 yards and 12 touchdowns as a backup. He continued to dominate in 2013 with 1,235 yards and 14 touchdowns before taking a step back in 2014 with 979 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Yeldon's best attribute is his ability to do anything a team asks of him. He has great hands out of the backfield, is a solid blocker and can run both inside and outside. It would be fair to say that he's the most complete back available.

However, Yeldon isn't without faults. He can take a long time to decide on his hole, and he sometimes looks like he's running with low confidence. Furthermore, his instincts aren't as strong as those of his competition.

The Jaguars took Yeldon because he's the most pro-ready back available, but his ceiling isn't high. He can be an average back in the NFL, but he will be able to do anything and everything the Jaguars ask of him.

Overall Grade: B

Round 3, Pick 67: A.J. Cann

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With the 67th overall pick in the draft, the Jaguars have taken offensive guard A.J. Cann from the University of South Carolina. Cann was a two-time team captain for the Gamecocks and will look to be a long-term leader for the Jaguars starting in 2015.

Cann was not only a two-time captain, but he was a four-year starter. He was an All-SEC selection in 2014 and is used to being a dependable, consistent performer, which is what the Jaguars will expect from him when he comes in.

Cann isn't perfect, but he's got near-perfect size at 6'3" and 313 pounds and is one of the top zone blockers available. Cann's got great hands and is adept at locking up a defender and taking him out of the play. 

Cann does need to improve in his pass blocking to maintain a starting spot, and I don't expect him to go flying out the gate. He will improve in that regard, but Cann needs to make big strides this summer and during the season.

Cann is going to need a little work, but I see him starting Week 1 in place of Zane Beadles. He'll improve in his pass blocking and continue to excel as a run-blcoker. All in all, I think Cann is a really good, sensible pick in the third round. 

Overall Grade: B+

Round 4, Pick 104: James Sample

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

After trading with the New York Jets to go one spot back and acquire a seventh-round selection (229th), the Jaguars have selected safety James Sample from the University of Louisville. I like Sample a lot, and he'll be a definite competitor for either safety spot

Sample is a physical and instinctive safety who is extremely good at closing down on the ball-carrier and making big plays. Last season, he had 74 solo tackles and four interceptions, and showed exactly how good he is.

Sample has only played one full season of football in his career, but in that season he proved his worth. He'll need to work on his coverage skills, but his aggressive playing style and physicality will help in that regard.

Sample can most likely play either position for the Jaguars, especially if he works on his coverage ability. Initially, I see him playing a bit more strong safety, but with time, he could be a good free safety.

Sample only has one full season to judge on, but he has a lot of talent and potential. The Jaguars addressed a need and made a smart pick in the fourth round here.

Overall Grade: B+

Round 5, Pick 139: Rashad Greene

Frank Franklin II/Associated Press

With their fifth-round selection and the 139th overall pick, the Jaguars have selected wide receiver Rashad Greene from Florida State University. Greene was a top receiver for the Seminoles and will look to bring that success from Tallahassee down the road to Jacksonville.

Greene is a small slot receiver, weighing in at the combine at 5'11" and 182 pounds. However, Greene is elusive, smart and can turn a routine catch into a touchdown. Greene had back-to-back seasons with 1,000-plus receiving yards and set the FSU school record for catches in 2014 with 99.

Greene is a really strong slot receiver option, and for a fifth-round pick, he is a tremendous value as well. He played on one of the top teams in the nation the past few years, and that experience will be a tremendous help when he comes to Jacksonville.

He was well-known in Gainesville for getting past his defender quickly and effectively, and he is a great option over the middle. He's not the fastest guy available, but he's quicker than he looks and will make corners pay if they don't treat him with respect.

Greene doesn't necessarily do everything right, especially other duties like blocking, but overall this was a great pick in the fifth round. Greene could be a Week 1 starter, and now the Jaguars have a true slot receiver.

Overall Grade: A-

Round 6, Pick 180: Michael Bennett

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With the fourth pick of the sixth round and the 180th pick overall, the Jaguars took defensive tackle Michael Bennett from Ohio State University. Bennett slid out of the second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-round projections, and the Jaguars took advantage here.

Projected in the second round by NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, Bennett being available is stunning. However, there really isn't anything too risky about Bennett. In fact, Bennett shapes up to be an amazing investment for the Jaguars.

A defending national champion, Bennett was a key starter for the Buckeyes the past two seasons. His quickness and aggressive play mixed with fantastic technical skills was a big reason for his 14 sacks the past two seasons. 

The only issue with Bennett is that he's not an every-down defender. He's not efficient in his pass-rushing despite his great technique, and that'll be something he'll want to work on to have as large of an impact as he can in the NFL.

For a sixth-round pick, Bennett is an absolute steal. Dave Caldwell made a great selection here, and as he works with Sen'Derrick Marks and the rest of the D-line, Bennett might evolve into a great interior pass-rusher.

Overall Grade: A+

Round 7, Pick 220: Neal Sterling

With their first pick of the seventh round and the 220th pick overall, the Jaguars have selected Neal Sterling, wide receiver from Monmouth. Sterling isn't the most well-known player, but he was a good player at Monmouth.

Sterling's most identifiable trait is his impressive 6'3", 238-pound body. He's a three-year starter for the Hawks and was consistently their top option at receiver. His 2014 season was particularly impressive, in which he had 955 yards and six TDs.

Sterling is a great athlete and consistently has good hands. He led the Hawks in every single receiving category and was the driving force of the offense. The stat that stands out the most? His 90.5 yards receiving per game in 2014.

Sterling can work his way up the depth of the Jaguars roster. He may hit a wall at the sixth or seventh spot, but he's got the height and the experience to be a factor on this team. I'm not gonna say Sterling is a top player, but he has a lot of potential.

Overall Grade: B

Round 7, Pick 229: Ben Koyack

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

With their second seventh-round pick and the 229th pick overall, the Jaguars have selected tight end Ben Koyack from the University of Notre Dame. Koyack was the leading tight end for the Fighting Irish last season and will fight to become a contributing member of this squad.

Koyack has been a contributor to the Fighting Irish for the entirety of his four-year career. He finally became the full-time starter for Notre Dame this past season and was an important member of the team.

He totaled 30 receptions, 317 yards and two TDs in his senior season but was more important to the Fighting Irish's running game. He's a fantastic run-blocker, and that'll be his primary argument for playing time with the Jaguars this season.

Overall, Koyack is a solid pick. Tight end wasn't a top need for the Jaguars, but he could be an important member of the team with his blocking skills. He'll challenge Clay Harbor for the third-string TE spot, and that'll be a battle to watch.

Overall Grade: C+