Jaguars Mailbag: Which Senior Bowl Prospects Could Be Day 2 Fits?
The offseason is in full swing for the Jacksonville Jaguars and, well, every other team not named the Kansas City Chiefs or Philadelphia Eagles.
As such is the kick-off of the all-star game circuit. Between the East-West Shrine Bowl and the Reese's Senior Bowl, the Jaguars and other front offices and scouting departments are able to do serious homework on how they can potentially improve their rosters this offseason.
In this week's mailbag, we take questions on Senior Bowl prospects who fit the Jaguars, attacking needs in free-agency as opposed to the NFL draft and more.
You can submit your questions every week by tweeting them to the Jaguar Report Twitter handle or by submitting them here.
Q: Is there any need on the team that could be solved with free agency? Or are the majority of needs going to have to be filled by the draft?
A: I think so. I think it would make sense for the Jaguars to add an experienced running back. Travis Etienne and Snoop Conner have a combined two seasons under their belt, and the Jaguars seemed to rely on JaMycal Hasty's battle-tested experience a good bit in 2022. With Hasty a free agent, it would make sense for a cheap veteran to land in Jacksonville as a RB2 or RB3.
I also think interior defensive line depth is a position you could see the Jaguars address. They are losing a lot of experience in free agency in Adam Gotsis and Corey Peters, so adding a veteran backup who could be a rotational piece against the run and be ready to play immediately makes sense.
Q: Do you think any of the Jags FA players take a pay cut to stay in Duval? and you think Dewey Wingard comes back?
A: I am not sure that is exactly the way I see things playing out in terms of a big-picture perspective. If two offers are close, I think most free agents the Jaguars have this year would opt to pick the Jaguars and return. But if one team severely outbids the Jaguars, it is hard to imagine many of their free agents would take a pay cut significant enough to classify as a notable one.
One player who may be signed for a relatively cheap deal by most standards would be defensive lineman Dawuane Smoot, however. There are a lot of reasons to believe Smoot would return to the Jaguars at a lower rate than he would have before his Achilies injury. With him set to hit this offseason rehabbing, it makes sense for him to return to a team and situation he is familiar with.
Q: Who would GM Shipley draft with the number one overall pick in a redraft of the 2022 NFL Draft? Are you satisfied with Walker's potential or are you more interested in Sauce's shutdown abilities?
A: This is a tough one because I truly do think there are a lot of options worth considering. Aidan Hutchinson wasn't as good as the numbers would suggest, but he was still one of the most productive and durable rookie pass-rushers. Ikem Ekwonu was a really encouraging rookie lineman. Sauce Gardner was obviously the best rookie in the class, and Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave had giant seasons.
In terms of redraft though, it is hard for me to say after one season that the Jaguars would instantly redo their pick. Walker played his best football down the stretch when he gained more experience, and there were plenty of flashes in enough big games to suggest he can grow and develop into the players the Jaguars need him to be to justify taking him No. 1.
Would Gardner make the Jaguars a better team in 2022? He would. He was one of the best cornerbacks in football and would have given the Jaguars probably the best young cornerback duo in the NFL in recent memory. Still, I would not officially say the Jaguars should have gone elsewhere at No. 1 until we see Walker after a full offseason of development from him.
Q: What do you think about drafting John Michael Schmitz in the 2nd round and moving him to guard? The Saints and Patriots have drafted centers and moved them to guard with success.
A: I think the Jaguars might be settled on their guard depth unless it is a can't-miss player in the top-50. I think John Michael Schmitz has a lot of traits and production that suggest he could handle a transition to guard in the NFL, but I do not think the Jaguars have the kind of identity to where they can take a project at guard. If Schmitz were to fail at guard, then you have a backup center and two players in Schmitz and Luke Fortner who can only play center.
Q: Do you think Baalke is more likely to spend a 1st on a big tight end Darnell Washington or a 3rd on a big receiver like AT Perry?
A: I think a third makes more sense. Baalke has never drafted a tight end in the top-50 in his eight seasons as a general manager; he took Vance McDonald at No. 55 in 2013. Otherwise, his tight ends have been Blake Bell (No. 117, 2015), Rory Anderson (No. 254, 2015) and Luke Farrell (No. 145, 2021). If the Jaguars bring back Evan Engram like they are expected to, I think you can take tight end off the first-round watch list. Perhaps Baalke surprises, but it would be out of character.
Q: If the Jags decided to trade up in first round, who are some guys you think that could be for?
A: I think Joey Porter Jr. and Devon Witherspoon are two names that obviously pop out. Each has top-15 talent and could be a long-term answer and blue-chip talent in the secondary across from Tyson Campbell. I think a few other interesting options would be Myles Murphy and Brian Branch; Murphy is a high-upside pass-rusher who could fit a number of schemes, while Branch is the best slot prospect in the draft.
Q: Assuming they re-sign Engram and Key, what direction does the draft go? Nickel is the obvious choice I would think, but IOL/DL wouldn’t be a surprise either.
A: I think cornerback overall makes a lot of sense. The Jaguars didn't love their cornerback depth entering 2022, so after an offseason where they are likely to subtract Shaquill Griffin and have Tre Herndon as a free agent, it is hard to say that opinion should change. Nickel makes the most immediate sense, but if the Jaguars see a long-term starter at outside cornerback they should consider him, at least based on Darious Williams' age and contract.
Otherwise, a front-seven player makes a lot of sense. Five of Baalke's 11 first-round picks have been front seven players, while he also has a first-round guard on his track record in Joshua Garnett. Cornerback or the trenches makes the most sense right now.
Q: Which small school players you are most interested to see at the Senior Bowl & do you think a FB, like North Dakota State's Hunter Luepke (who's injured, but was invited to Mobile & was often a game wrecker for the Bison) could be someone the Jaguars target as their RB2??
A: I have admittedly not seen Hunter Luepke play yet, but I will say this: adding a versatile talent who can block out of the backfield and also align as an H-back or an up-back would create a TON of issues for defenses. Doug Pederson is one of the best coaches in the NFL at utilizing his talent on offense to their strengths, and having a versatile threat like an athletic fullback would give him a lot of stuff to throw at defenses, especially in the running game.
Other small school guys who interest me: Sacramento State safety Marte Mapu, South Alabama wide receiver Jalen Wayne, and App. State running back Camerun Peoples.
Q: It seems like the Jaguars will draft young players in the first round and then older players later. So, which Senior Bowl prospects who aren't first-round picks seem like Baalke picks?
A: This is a fair point. The Jaguars went with an older draft class after taking Travon Walker last year, including taking several seniors and a few Senior Bowl attendees in Chad Muma, Luke Fortner and Gregory Junior.
So, non-first rounders who I think stand out in the process? Wisconsin defensive tackle Keeanu Benton is a personal favorite. Benton is an athletic force who also has the size to play nose tackle in a number of fronts, giving the Jaguars depth and upside. I also think Maryland offensive lineman Jaelyn Duncan is going to be someone who impresses the Jaguars with his versatility and power.
