Jacksonville Jaguars: What options are there with 2018 first round pick?
By Larry Brake
The Jacksonville Jaguars have several options for the first round in the upcoming 2018 NFL Draft. Here is what they might do.
Dave Caldwell has built a talent filled roster for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Usually the Jaguars are drafting from the top ten spots. Since they had a successful run to the AFC Championship Game, Jacksonville are in the 29th slot.
Caldwell made tough roster decisions due to salary cap space concerns. Allen Hurns and Marcedes Lewis were released recently to add $10 million to the cap space. Caldwell restructured Telvin Smith’s contract to increase cap space via moving money from roster to signing bonus.
Spotrac.com reports the Jaguars have $13 million in cap space. The draft cap is $5.5 million for the upcoming draft class for 2018. Caldwell has several draft options in the first round. Currently, Jacksonville has seven draft picks. The Jaguars have picks in the first four rounds, sixth round and two seventh round. Would Jacksonville make a move up or down in the first round?
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Andrew Norwell signed to become the Jaguars starting left guard. As a result, Jacksonville will not draft a lineman in the first round. Caldwell signed two free agent tight ends and re-signed Ben Koyack. They probably will not take a tight end at number 29.
Marqise Lee signed a new contract after losing Allen Robinson. Donte Moncrief was added to the receiving corps. The Jaguars have not selected a wide receiver in the first round since selecting Justin Blackmon in 2012. D.J. Hayden should become the slot corner. Jacksonville has the best two cornerback tandems in the NFL. Also, Jalen Myrick and Tyler Patmon are waiting in the wings at the corner position.
Caldwell solidified the teams’s glaring weaknesses through free agency except at quarterback. Perhaps the Jaguars will decide to move up and get a quarterback. There are quality quarterbacks in this years draft. Caldwell might elect to move down and have two second round picks. If they do, expect Jacksonville to pick linemen. The second round picks might be used to address the right side of the offensive line.
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In recent years, Caldwell has built the Jaguars into a Super Bowl contender. After his free agent signings, he has options going into the first round of the draft. Most of all, there might be more pre-draft moves in the works. Let’s see how it all plays out.