Notable Free Agents

RB - Maurice Jones-Drew, Jordan Todman

FB - Will Ta’ufo’ou

WR - Mike Brown, Taylor Price

G - Uche Nwaneri

C - Brad Meester

DT - Kyle Love, Brandon Deaderick

CB - Will Blackmon

2014 Draft Picks

Round One, Pick Three

Round Two, Pick Seven

Round Three, Pick Six

Round Four, Pick Five

Round Four, Pick 14 (from BAL)

Round Five, Pick 4

Round Five, Pick 10 (from DET)

Round Five, Pick 19 (from BAL)

Round Six, Pick Three

Round Seven, Pick Seven

Biggest Offseason Needs

1. Quarterback

The most important position on any team is the quarterback, if you don’t have a quality quarterback; it’s extremely difficult to be playoff contenders consistently. Jacksonville’s last quality quarterback was David Garrard and they have been unable to find his replacement since.

But the Jaguars are in fantastic position to find their quarterback in the 2014 NFL Draft, and with the third overall pick, there is a chance they could walk away with a franchise quarterback. Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is considered to be the best quarterback in this class, but Johnny Manziel is another potential fit for the Jaguars with the third pick.

2. Defensive End

Gus Bradley would love to find a franchise quarterback but he is a defensive-minded coach and the Jaguars’ defense needs help putting pressure on the quarterback and getting penetration into the backfield. While Andre Branch finished the year with six sacks and has shown flashes, defensive end is still a question for this team. If a player like Jadeveon Clowney falls to the third pick, Jacksonville won’t hesitate to snag him and help build their defense. Even if Clowney doesn’t fall, the Jaguars are still very likely to grab a defensive end that can take on multiple blockers and stuff the run.

3. Running back

The Jaguars offense has some nice pieces on the offensive line and at wide receiver, but this is still a group that is undergoing a major overhaul with needs all across the board. While fans may miss Maurice Jones-Drew the truth is he isn’t close to the top back he used to be from 2009-’11, and the Jaguars are more than happy to move on. Finding a quality running back will be key in the draft and while there isn’t a first-round talent, Jacksonville can find a player like Bishop Sankey in Round Three or wait even later and take a shot on someone like Charles Sims or Jeremy Hill. But Jacksonville needs to find a running back in this class to help give them a backfield for the future.

One Player Jacksonville Must Target

Teddy Bridgewater Quarterback, Louisville

Henne is a quality backup quarterback who was forced into the starting job because of Blaine Gabbert’s inability to play the position. The Jaguars signed Henne to have a veteran who can mentor and back up their rookie quarterback, even if it was to a two-year deal. 

While some NFL scouts might not like Bridgewater’s abilities, there are several draft writers including myself who believe he is an elite-level prospect who is absolutely worthy of the first overall pick. But with the Houston Texans looking at Blake Bortles and the St. Louis Rams committing to Sam Bradford, there is a very real chance Bridgewater could fall right into the Jaguars laps.

Bridgewater may not have the arm strength of Derek Carr or the athleticism of Manziel, he is not only the most pro-ready quarterback but offers the most all-around ability. He has solid arm strength with excellent touch on the ball, and offers the ability to move safeties with his eyes and help his wide receiver get open. Bridgewater shows tremendous awareness and agility in the pocket, while having composure at the line of scrimmage as he is calling out plays and reading the defense.

Bridgewater is ready to start immediately as a rookie and working with NFL coaches, he will only get better the moment he walks on to the practice field. While some may have concerns about Bridgewater’s “low-ceiling”, the reality is he has the potential to be a top-10 quarterback in three years.

One Player Jacksonville Should Retain

Will Blackmon, Cornerback

Henne was originally the target on this list, but then the Jaguars announced they signed him to a two-year deal. So Blackmon moves up to the top spot as the player the Jaguars should try and re-sign.

At 6’0” and 210 pounds, Blackmon offers the size that Bradley looks for in cornerbacks. While Blackmon isn’t overly physical, his size helps give him more of an even slate against taller wide receivers, and his knowledge of Bradley’s system is a major plus.

Blackmon won’t receive a lot of attention in a free agent market that is loaded at corner and the icing on the cake, is a 2014 draft class that is very deep at corner. This is all very good news for the Jaguars as Blackmon’s market will be smaller and put them in better position to sign him to a reasonable deal.

Players in Need of Extensions

Cecil Shorts, Wide Receiver

While Shorts has dealt with injuries in his career, he has shown more than enough potential to earn a new contract. Shorts is entering the final year of his contract and is set to make just $1.39 million in base salary this season.

Shorts posed 66 receptions this past season with 777 receiving yards in just 13 games, more than worth what he is being paid right now. If Jacksonville can bring in a quarterback lie Bridgewater, Short’s numbers will continue to improve and his price will follow.

Shorts isn’t an elite wide receiver or even number one wide receiver, but he can be a high-quality number two and should be paid just as much. While the Jaguars will likely wait a little more, bringing back Shorts should be a top priority.

Alan Ball, Cornerback

There weren’t many standouts from the Jaguars defense this season, but one of the players that stood out especially in the second half was Ball. The 28-year-old cornerback joined the Jaguars this past year and shined in a secondary that was very young and inexperienced.

Ball is set to make $1.35 million in 2014, and will join Shorts as an unrestricted free agent after the season. Ball’s play in the second half of the season was very impressive, as he showed impressive coverage skills and a nose for the football. Ball finished the year with two interceptions but even more impressive were his 14 pass deflections.

Ball will turn 29 later this month and is just in the midst of his prime years. Jacksonville needs as much help in the secondary as they can get, and locking up Ball to a multi-year extension should be a priority for the front office.

Offseason Outlook

David Caldwell and Gus Bradley head into their second offseason with the Jaguars, and while there was plenty of promise this past season, they know this team still needs a lot of work. But if Caldwell can find more free agent steals like Marks and Blackmon, they will take two steps in the right direction.

The Jaguars are sitting in outstanding position this offseason, setting up what could be a very eventful and busy time for their front office. Jacksonville has more than $50 million in cap space and with no notable players to re-sign; there will be plenty of money to spend on free agents.

Plenty of connections will be made between the Jaguars and several former Seattle Seahawks, where Bradley and Caldwell of course served just two years ago. Red Bryant would fit in nicely as a run-stuffing defensive lineman or even cornerbacks Brandon Browner or Walter Thurmond who would fit in perfectly for Bradley’s defense. The Jaguars could explore spending even more money on the big names in free agency with someone like Michael Johnson.

There is a lot of money to be spent, and the team has even been linked to Michael Vick, though that seems doubtful with Henne getting a new contract. They could also look to free agency to fill needs on the offensive line or at wide receiver. James Jones could be a great fit or even Hakeem Nicks on a deal with incentives worked in.

But the biggest test of the offseason for Jacksonville will be the draft and what they do with their 10 drafts picks, including the third overall pick. Jaguars need skill-position players everywhere on offense and the defense needs whatever help they can get. But they are also in great position at the third pick where they could land an elite talent like Clowney or Bridgewater.