Jacksonville Jaguars: What position to target in first round of 2018 NFL Draft
By Larry Brake
The Jacksonville Jaguars will be drafting from an unfamiliar position in the upcoming 2018 NFL Draft. What will they do with it?
In 2000, the Jacksonville Jaguars drafted R. Jay Soward as the 29th pick in the NFL Draft. Marcedes Lewis was the 28th pick in 2006. In the 2007 draft, the Jaguars drafted from the 21st spot. Since then, Jacksonville has drafted from a top-10 spot.
Currently, the Jaguars have the 29th slot. Which position will they take or would they move up by making a trade? Before the draft starts, there are a few dates that might tip off the Jaguars direction.
First of all, on Feb. 20, marks when teams can designate the tag of franchise or transition player. Is there a player that Jacksonville would designate with the Franchise Player tag? Allen Robinson and Aaron Colvin are free agents beginning in March. Could the Jaguars tag either one of those players? They have until March 6 at 4:00 p.m. ET to decide if they will tag any player. Then the focus moves to the next critical date.
Discussions with unrestricted free agents can begin on March 12. However, contracts can not be signed until 4:00 p.m. ET on March 14. Also, the trading period begins on the same day. After signing Calais Campbell, Barry Church, and A.J. Bouye last year, are there potential signings that would affect who Jacksonville drafts in the first round?
Assuming that the Jaguars re-sign Colvin and Robinson, the Jaguars will not be big spenders in the free agent market. Expect the decision to name Blake Bortles as the 2018 starting quarterback in early March. The Jaguars will look to upgrade a several positions in the draft.
Tight end is where Jacksonville will address first. Expect them to draft an athletic, stretch the field vertically, type. Oklahoma’s Mark Andrews would fit that description. CBSSports.com has him ranked as the best tight end in the draft and the 31st best player overall. He should be there at 29 for the Jaguars.
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Andrews stands six foot five and weighs 254 pounds. He caught 112 passes for 1,765 yards with 22 touchdowns. His numbers are better than Lewis’ are from 2013-17. Lewis caught 103 passes for 1,278 in five years while Andrews played just three seasons.
Jacksonville needs to use their first round pick on a tight end. A game changer comes along every once in awhile. Tennessee and New England have their game changing tight ends. It is time for Jacksonville to get theirs.