Categories
NFL

2014 NFL Draft Handicapping Tips – Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars

2014 Draft Preview

The Jags could be slated to bring in a nice haul from the 2014 NFL Draft, with their 10 picks. To be frank, this is a franchise that needs it badly.

Picks

Draft picks (by round)

  • 1st round 3
  • 2nd round 7
  • 3rd round 6
  • 4th round 5, 19 (Traded from BAL)
  • 5th round 4, 10 (Traded from DET) 19 (Traded from BAL)
  • 6th round 3
  • 7th round 7

Jaguars 2014 NFL Draft Predictions

The overall lack of talent in Jacksonville is glaring, and if this franchise wants to avoid car-bumper magnate Shad Khan re-locating this team to Los Angeles or London, they need to create a winning young nucleus that creates fan buzz. Fast.

First Round: (#3 overall) Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo

Jacksonville would love WR Sammy Watkins to help out QB Chad Henne in the short-term (and whoever the Jags’s QB of the future will be in the long-term), but it seems increasingly likely the Rams will snap Watkins up with the second pick.

CLICK TO GRAB OUR Expert sports picks for 2014 Betting!

Thus, the Jags still get one of the elite prospects in this year’s draft; Mack could play any LB position on the field and could also be a pass-rushing DE on third down.

Mack will be an impact defender in the NFL and shouldn’t be considered a consolation prize. Like the Texans, Jacksonville needs a QB, but I think the Jags will also subscribe to the theory that there’s plenty of talent available there later.

NOTE: The Rams could trade down at #2, which could change this pick. Regardless of what happens, it looks to be either Mack or Watkins.
[soliloquy id=”82219″]
Second Round: (#39 overall) Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Eastern Illinois

The small school that brought us Tony Romo has produced another intriguing NFL prospect in Garoppolo. Jimmy had an impressive season (albeit at a lower level of competition) and threw the ball well at the East-West Shrine Game. With all the success Romo’s had (statistical if not playoff wins), being from Eastern Illinois isn’t a red flag like it used to be.

Garoppolo is smart and can make all the NFL throws. Reports have surfaced indicating Jacksonville’s interest in him, though this pick could possibly also be Louisville pivot Teddy Bridgewater. The Jags should stick with Henne for the short-term, which is nice because whoever they draft won’t have to step in and start immediately.

Third Round: (#70 overall) Josh Huff, WR, Oregon

The verdict with this pick depends heavily on what happens in the first round. If Jacksonville selects Mack, they will want to grab a WR soon to offset star WR Justin Blackmon’s indefinite suspension. If the Jags go with Sammy Watkins in Round 1, it’s more likely they will select a DE/OLB ‘tweener with this pick, someone like Trevor Reilly from Utah or Kyle Van Noy from Brigham Young.

If we assume Jacksonville grabs Mack, then Oregon pass-catcher Huff would be a nice pick because he’s fearless catching the ball in traffic, which with either the pedestrian Henne or a rookie throwing to him, should happen more often than not.

Fourth Round: (two picks)

Jacksonville whiffed on center Alex Mack, so the Jags will want to grab a center somewhere in Round 4. Someone like Travis Swanson from Arkansas would fit the bill. The Jaguars may also be interested in an interior defensive lineman.

Other possibilities for the Jaguars: Sammy Watkins (WR, Clemson), Teddy Bridgewater (QB, Louisville), Kyle Van Noy (DE/OLB, BYU), Caraun Reid (DT, Princeton)

The 2014/15 NFL futures betting season is here in full force! If you like to bet on the NFL, you are in the best possible place for online betting. CappersPicks.com has NFL odds up on a ton of futures, and you will also find NFL lines up for early games as well.

Eventually the online sportsbooks will post NFL Win Total Lines & Futures. When they do we suggest you check out BOVADA.

By James Hayes

James has been naming every player on the EA Sports video game rosters for half a decade now, he’s finally putting his knowledge to better use writing for us here at CappersPicks.com. Your comments are welcome below…Give Us Your Take!