Year two of the Caldwell-Bradley era saw the fruits of their labor during and after the 2014 NFL Draft. Selecting nine players, and signing 17 undrafted free agents, the Jaguars had one of, if not the best draft of all 32 teams who selected over 256 picks from Thursday to Saturday evening.
Looking both back and ahead at what the 2014 draft class will bring the Jaguars will be an interesting topic moving forward. Here’s how this year’s class initially grades out:
First Round, Third Pick: Blake Bortles, Quarterback, Central Florida
Bortles provided the first shocking moment of the 2014 NFL Draft when he was selected third overall by the Jagaurs. Many were lead to believe that Jacksonville had zeroed in on either wide receiver Sammy Watkins from Clemson, or the enticing LEO option Khalil Mack out of Buffalo.
Bortles provides the Jaguars a pocket-passing option under center with ideal size and a galaxy of potential. Caldwell said during his post-draft presser that both he and Bradley studied ahead to the 2015 class and felt that with the evolution of the spread-type offenses, that there wouldn’t be the prototypical pocket-passer they desired. Clearly they’re hinging their reputation, and the Jags future on Bortles and his mega upside.
Initial Grade: B+
Second Round, 39th Pick: Marqise Lee, Wide receiver, Southern California
With the fall from grace that was Justin Blackmon’s NFL career along with not much outside of Cecil Shorts, III on the roster, the Jaguars needed weapons for their new franchise signal-caller. What better way to help your new rookie quarterback blossom than to give him a few weapons? Lee has some drop issues, but cannot be left to shoulder the entire blame.
Lee is an athletic receiver who can separate and creat plays in space. Look for him to be an immediate impact player right off the bat in Jackonsville.
Initial Grade: A
Second Round, 61st Pick: Allen Robinson, wide receiver, Penn State
David Caldwell and Gus Bradley said they were ready to take Robinson at 39th overall had Lee gone off the board, so to say that it was a steal to get him at 61st would be a gross understatement. Robinson is a big, physical, athletic receiver who had 97 receptions as a freshman for the Nittany Lions. Robinson very well could be this year’s Keenan Allen.
Initial Grade: A+
Third Round, 93rd Pick: Brandon Linder, Offensive Lineman, Miami (FL)
Linder gives the Jaguars a versatile offensive lineman who can play early at the left-side guard position, and even compete at center if the team needs him to. He’ll battle early in camp to win a starting job and could be a great compliment to new Jaguar Zane Beadles.
Initial Grade: B
Fourth Round, 114th Pick: Aaron Colvin, Cornerback, Oklahoma
Had Colvin not suffered a torn ACL at January’s Reese’s Senior Bowl, he’d likely have been a late-first round pick. Colvin has a nose for the football and great athleticism. For the Jaguars to get him in the fourth round is a great value pick with a ton of upside. Something that you’ll see in the next pick they made.
Initial Grade: B+
Fourth Round, 144th Pick: Telvin Smith, Linebacker, Florida State
Telvin Smith is an athletic linebacker with range and instincts, but lacks ideal size. Had Smith weighed in about 20-25 lbs. heavier at the Combine, he would’ve been a lock in the Top-25. However, being that he’s basically an oversized safety, it caused his fall in the draft. Nonethleess, Jacksonville scored yet again in the middle of the draft with a solid special teams contributor and possible year-two starter.
Initial Grade: B
Fifth Round, 159th Pick: Chris Smith, Defensive End, Louisville
Bradley gets his future LEO stud in Chris Smith from Louisville. Smith has great size and could push Jason Babin as the second-string LEO option. Many had mid-to-late second round grades on Smith, but he likely fell due to his lack of scheme versatility, being that he’s strictly a 4-3 base defensive end.
Initial Grade: B-
Sixth Round, 205th Pick: Luke Bowanko, Center, Virginia
Bowanko will compete with Mike Brewster, Patrick Lewis and Jacques McClendon for the starting center role with the Jaguars. He’s an unlikely option to be a starter in 2014, being that many sixth round picks rarely start immediately, but it’s not unlikely to imagine that he could be the eventual long-term replacement for Mr. Jaguar himself, Mike Brewster.
Initial Grade: C+
Seventh Round, 222nd Pick: Storm Johnson, Running Back, Central Florida
Pairing your rookie franchise quarterback with his teammate from college is something that will only ease his growing pains in the NFL. Storm Johnson is a physical runner who can make plays out of the backfield in the receiving game.
Initial Grade: B+
As you can see, the Jaguars added a ton of talent during the annual three-day event in New York City. As Mike Shanahan famously said “anytime you are in a position to draft a franchise quarterback, you do not pass that opportunity up.” Looks here as though the Jaguars feel the same way, as they’ve officially morgtaged their future on Blake Bortles and his sky-high potential.
Overall Initial Grade: A-
Be sure to follow Chris on Twitter @insidethefilm, where he covers college football, recruiting, and the NFL Draft for eDraft.com & 247Sports.com