Jacksonville Jaguars Rumors: Playing it safe at No. 3?
Jake Matthews runs the 40 yard dash. Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
The Jacksonville Jaguars could go in a number of directions with the third overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, as drafting a quarterback, snagging an elite prospect on defense, plucking another offensive tackle with a top draft pick, snagging Sammy Watkins with Justin Blackmon an uncertainty, and trading down are all legitimate options for brilliant GM David Caldwell.
The MMQB’s Peter King reports that a “peer” of Caldwell’s stated that the Jaguars will prioritize making a safe pick with the third overall selection, and King names Sammy Watkins and Jake Matthews as two options for the Jaguars. It’s unclear if King is purely speculating, but I live by the belief that tune-in insiders like King and Ian Rapoport don’t tweet names or name things in draft-related pieces like this without going off of some inside knowledge.
If the Jaguars draft Matthews, then they would have a Texas A&M bookend set to protect whichever QB they put behind center, and it will be interesting to see if that passer ends up being Chad Henne. I expect the Jaguars to snag a QB in the second round after taking a top, safe skill position prospect like Watkins or Matthews with the third overall pick. At this point, though, my favorite option for the Jaguars is Khalil Mack, but I have serious doubts that he’ll be available for them at No. 3.