Jacksonville Jaguars: Complete 2015 NFL Draft Wrap-Up and Analysis

Well, after months of hype and speculation, the 2015 NFL draft has come and passed. The Jacksonville Jaguars have made their picks and now will look toward preparing for what should be a very eventful NFL season. 

The Jaguars' plan was up for discussion coming up to the draft, but looking back, it's pretty apparent that they knew their needs and would address them with the highest-quality players possible.

They played it conservative for the majority of the draft, trading only once. The game plan of general manager Dave Caldwell was to pick the player they were most confident in, and they did that here. 

Rather than make big moves or trade out of their first-round pick like some thought they would, the Jaguars instead played it smart and decided they would be graded on their quality of picks rather than their draft activity.

This draft helped set the focus of the Jaguars in 2015, which is that they plan to have a strong running game and that the defense will feature some of the highest-performing college players around. From Rounds 1 through 6, the Jaguars selected players from some of the top programs in the world.

The Jaguars can be happy with their work. They put their best foot forward, went with their gut and ended up picking a lot of players who have the potential to be valuable team members.

With the intro out of the way, let's wrap up the Jaguars' NFL draft.

The Selections

The Jaguars made eight selections in seven rounds, obtaining the eighth pick from a trade with the New York Jets for the 104th overall pick and the 229th overall pick. This is the third consecutive year the Jaguars have ended up with more than seven picks.

Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida: With the third overall pick, the Jaguars picked the best overall fit for their most apparent need. Fowler was a dominant force at Florida, and he'll be a Week 1 starter at the "Leo" defensive end position for the Jaguars.

T.J. Yeldon, RB, Alabama: I expected the Jaguars to select a running back in the draft, and they went with Yeldon in the second round. Yeldon is a complete back, and his ability to do everything an NFL back should will have him as the Week 1 starter at running back.

A.J. Cann, G, South Carolina: I thought the Jaguars would take a guard at some point, but I didn't think they would do it in the third round. They didn't disappoint with Cann, however, and his experience and consistency will be a great starting point for him in Duval County.

James Sample, S, Louisville: I've liked Sample for a good while, and his athleticism and intelligence could make him a great option at safety. He may not be ready to start Week 1 this season, but Sample has a high ceiling and a bright future.

Rashad Greene, WR, Florida State: The Jaguars needed a slot receiver, and they got one. Greene had back-to-back 1,000-plus yard seasons at FSU and is used to playing with the best of the best. He'll be a part of the Jaguars offense in Week 1 and was a terrific pick for his value.

Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State: A national champion and tenacious pass-rusher, Bennett slipped to the sixth round, and the Jaguars couldn't be happier. Bennett is proven and can create big plays, and working with the Jaguars defensive line will only benefit him.

Neal Sterling, WR, Monmouth: Sterling was a bit of a surprise, but he's a strong pick. He led every receiving stat for Monmouth in 2014 and could be used by Caldwell as a tight end, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him line up farther outside as well.

Ben Koyack, TE, Notre Dame: Koyack was a top run-blocking TE in the draft but offers great hands as well. Initially, expect him to be used in two-TE schemes, but he could grow into a viable receiving option as well.

Best Pick: Dante Fowler Jr.

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The hype coming up to the third overall pick provoked a lot of questions, speculation and, in my case, a small bout with insanity. At the end of the day, however, the Jaguars went with the guy they were most confident in: Dante Fowler Jr.

The selection of Fowler spawned from timing and the fact that he really fit the Jaguars' needs. In a pass-heavy league, it's important to have as good as a pass-rusher at the Leo spot as you can, and the Jaguars addressed that in Fowler.

Fowler was a playmaker and leader at Florida, thanks to his sheer athleticism and a killer instinct. He's still a bit raw technically, but the Jaguars didn't draft him because of his polish. They drafted him because of what he could potentially do.

That's not to say Fowler isn't a standout right now, but his ceiling is so high it's a little scary. As he develops his moves, works and gets comfortable doing what he does best, and pretty much only that, he could be a top edge-rusher in the NFL.

Fowler will start Week 1, replacing Chris Clemons, who will now be the backup. Fowler will benefit from this partnership more than any other, and learning from Super Bowl XLVIII-champion Clemons will be a great experience.

The Jaguars now have the long-term pass-rusher they've looked for in Fowler. No draft selection is a guarantee, but Fowler deserves praise for his ability and what he can do in the future. The Jaguars deserve praise for staying home and picking the best fit in their system.

Worst Pick: Ben Koyack

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

This is less of a knock at Ben Koyack and more of a criticism of the draft selection itself. Koyack is a great run-blocker and a solid overall tight end. The Jaguars still had a spot or two to address, though, and they missed their chance by taking Koyack.

Acquiring and using the extra pick on Koyack was fine, but that pick could've gone toward adding some much-needed depth at outside linebacker or potentially another safety or corner. 

Koyack himself will be a great addition for the Jaguars, and I expect to see him on the field sooner rather than later to clear holes for the RBs. If he continues training as a receiver, he can put his proven hands to use as well.

Koyack is another selection from a top program (although that top program only had one draft selection this year in Koyack), but he was an unnecessary selection. There are multiple blocking TEs already on the roster, and while Koyack is an upgrade, there were more apparent needs.

It deserves to be said, though, that this least favorite pick is a seventh-round pick that they didn't start with. Caldwell may have had his best draft yet, and Koyack will be a useful addition, but I can't help but look at the other positions the Jaguars could've bolstered.

I hope Koyack proves me wrong. 

What's Left to Address?

Stephen B. Morton/Associated Press

With the draft in the rearview mirror, what else do the Jaguars have to do to make sure they're prepared for this upcoming season? Despite a great overall draft, the Jaguars still have some spots they might look to improve before the offseason.

Outside Linebacker

The team seems to have faith in its starting trio of linebackers, but the drop in talent after them is a concern. I expected the Jaguars to address this in the draft, but apparently they did not feel the need.

The starters are good, but if one gets injured, I don't know how confident I am in the backups. So, the Jaguars should consider picking up an experienced linebacker or two in case Telvin Smith or Dan Skuta falls to injury or fails to perform.

Cornerback

This is less of addressing a need and more of bolstering the position. The Jaguars have faith in their current group of corners, and the quality of depth isn't as bad as at OLB. However, they could definitely use another veteran.

Davon House was a terrific signing, but adding another vet would be a stabilizer and could provide a reliable backup to call on. 

Kicker

Josh Scobee is a Jaguars legend and an important part of this team, but he finally started to show some cracks in the armor last season. He went 20-of-26 on field goals, good for a 76.9 success percentage, which is his worst mark in three years.

Scobee still has a good year or two left in him, but it might be time to grab a guy with experience to back him in case he continues to make errors. Hopefully, last season was an anomaly, but it's always smart to prepare for the future.

Final Grade

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

The Jaguars have made their picks, selected the players who they think will lead this team in the future and finally wrapped up draft weekend. So, what is their final grade?

Because it's too hard to choose between letters, I'm going to give the Jaguars a final grade of an A-.

The Jaguars addressed nearly all their needs for the upcoming season, and they didn't just address them. In fact, they made improvements and continued their success in picking players who can help them now and in the future.

The selections of Fowler, Cann, Greene and Bennett are the ones that really stick out to me. The Jaguars got some of the top talent from great programs around the country and are starting to set a standard.

The selections of Yeldon, Sample, Sterling and Koyack are all sensible picks, especially when you look at the Jaguars' plans this upcoming season. I picked Koyack as the worst pick, but even then, it's still not a terrible selection.

The Jaguars had another great draft that seemed to be acted upon with confidence and conviction. With the difficult task of running an NFL team, that's all you can ask of Caldwell.

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.