Tag: Dave Caldwell

Best case scenario for Jaguars at No. 20: Javon Kinlaw surprisingly slides

With the NFL Draft set to kick off tonight, here’s the best case scenario for the Jaguars when they come back on the clock at 20 overall.

Earlier we took a look at the best-case scenario for the Jacksonville Jaguars at pick No. 9, however, the fun may not stop there for the team who will take the podium again 11 selections afterward (unless they make some moves).

For the Jaguars second pick at No. 20 overall, the best-case scenario would be if Javon Kinlaw is still on the board. The Jaguars have waved goodbye to a metric-ton of defensive line talent this off-season, with Calais Campbell and Marcell Dareus already gone and Yannick Ngkoue still looking to force a trade. The front office must use this draft to reinforce the front seven.

The first half of this draft is going to be dominated by offensive prospects, which is beneficial for those picking in the mid-to-late teens as elite defensive talent will still be available toward the back end of the class.

A receiver may not make an appearance in the top-10, and if that happens, four wideouts could be taken between 11-19. Jerry Jeudy, CeeDee Lamb, Henry Ruggs, and Justin Jefferson are all worth a top-20 pick and could hear their names called between the Cleveland Browns (No. 10) selection and the Jags’ second Day 1 selection. Not only could four receivers go before the Jaguars pick at 20, but there is the potential that other elite defensive prospects such as C.J Henderson, K’Lavon Chaisson, and Patrick Queen could push Kinlaw down the order further.

A fall to 20 would be devastating for a top-10 talent in Kinlaw, but for the Jaguars he would be a perfect replacement for the former “Mayor of Sacksonville” Calais Campbell. Kinlaw has shown an elite ability to establish pressure from the interior during his time with South Carolina and would fit in nicely next to a run-stuffer up front like Taven Bryan.

The Jaguars’ success in 2017 came from the team’s ability to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks and suffocating the offense. Adding a dominating presence on the inside will allow standout pass-rusher, Josh Allen, to take the next step in 2020.

Offensive tackle remains a need, but the drop-off in talent after the initial group is substantial enough that they shouldn’t be targeting Austin Jackson, Isaiah Wilson, or Ezra Cleveland in the first round. Therefore if someone of Kinlaw’s talent is on the clock at No. 20, Dave Caldwell will jump at the chance of drafting two top-ten ranked players.

Best case scenario for Jaguars at No. 9: Isaiah Simmons falls in their lap

With the 2020 NFL Draft later tonight, we look at the best case scenario for the Jacksonville Jaguars at ninth overall.

With two picks in the first round, and 12 in total, the Jacksonville Jaguars have the capital to leave as the ultimate winners of draft weekend. How does this come to pass? Simply put, a few players need to slide to the right spots.

The best case scenario for the Jaguars at No. 9 overall, would be if the teams ahead of them decide against selecting Isaiah Simmons.

All pre-draft buzz suggests that three quarterbacks will be taken before Jacksonville get to take the stage for pick No. 9, with Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert set to be top-10 picks. Couple this with a potential run on offensive tackles, and there’s a legitimate possibility that bonafide top-5 defensive talents may slide to the back end of the top-10.

Whilst players such as Derrick Brown, Jeff Okudah, and Isaiah Simmons are consensus blue-chip prospects going into this draft, the need for offensive tackles between picks No. 4 through No. 11 could cause the elite defenders to slide.

For instance, Giants general manager Dave Gettleman has selected a running back and quarterback in the top ten of the NFL draft in the previous two years in Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones. So the logical pick for the Giants is to draft a tackle at four to protect them both.

Alongside the Giants, the Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina Panthers, and Cardinals are all rumored to be looking at the offensive line. Meanwhile, teams such as the Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers could get jumpy and move up to try and provide some help for their franchise quarterbacks.

With so many different offensive prospects posturing to be selected in the top-10, Jacksonville could be left with a decision between some sensational defensive talent at No. 9. The Jaguars also have offensive line needs, but with Isaiah Simmons on the board it will be difficult to pass on a player who could provide an immediate upgrade at multiple positions on the defense. A self-diagnosed do-it-all star, Simmons has taken snaps at MIKE and off-ball linebacker, safety, nickel and used in blitz packages during his time at Clemson.

The Jaguars have invested in the linebacker spot heavily in the last 12 months, but the versatility of the Clemson Tiger would mean he would never has to leave the field. Ironically, it is the versatility that Simmons’ displays which could contribute to his draft-night slide. General managers league-wide will be wondering what to do with a player like Simmons, which could scare them away from taking him so early.

However, for a team so devoid of talent on both sides of the ball, adding a top-3 player in the draft at ninth overall would be awesome for the Jags. Caldwell couldn’t dream of a better scenario.

Ian Rapoport says a trade is ‘unlikely’ to happen for Yannick Ngakoue this weekend

With the 2020 NFL Draft in just a matter of hours, Ian Rapoport suggets that time could be running out on a potential Yannick Ngakoue trade.

More drama surrounding the Yannick Ngakoue situation has surfaced after NFL insider Ian Rapoport has come out and cast doubt over the Jacksonville Jaguars moving on from him. According to Rapoport, a trade for the 25-year-old pass-rusher is unlikely to happen this weekend as we head into the 2020 NFL Draft. 

 

Ngakoue has made it abundantly clear that he has no desire to stay in Jacksonville, coming to blows with co-owner Tony Khan on Twitter earlier this week. Khan was quick to respond, saying that the price hasn’t been right for the Jaguars to move on from their Pro-Bowl defensive end. That seems to be exactly what was enforced by Rapoport’s tweet Thursday morning.

The Jaguars aren’t new to trading their star players as former first-team All Pro Jalen Ramsey was traded to the Los Angeles Rams last season. General manager Dave Caldwell was robust in his negotiations and was able to orchestrate a phenomenal trade for his team.

With this experience so fresh in the memory, the Jaguars aren’t simply going to give Yannick Ngakoue away for less than he’s worth. Whilst they would like to increase the amount of draft capital they own this weekend, this front office won’t sell themselves short for the sake of making a deal.

Eagles’ Howie Roseman lands in the top-5 of NFL.com’s GM rankings

Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman was voted No. 4 in NFL.com’s GM rankings

The Philadelphia Eagles are one of the top organizations in all of the NFL, with a successful hierarchy that starts with owner Jeffrey Lurie and Executive VP and GM Howie Roseman.

Roseman has made a name for himself thanks to his salary cap wizardry and ability to cash-in during free agency.

Roseman’s reputation proceeds itself and his prowess for making things happen landed him in the top-5 of a recent NFL.com general manager ranking, as the Eagles top guy landed at No. 4 on the list.

Making the playoffs in back-to-back seasons despite being one of the most injury-plagued teams in football proves that Roseman is resourceful, if unlucky. The identity of the Eagles — strong up front on both sides of the ball — remains intact, as does the need for a productive young receiver and improvement in the secondary. For the first time in years, Philly has cap space (even after the savvy pickups of Darius Slay and Javon Hargrave) and a full assortment of draft picks. Don’t be shocked if the Eagles still have one more big move left in them.

Roseman bypassed giving huge money to Byron Jones and may have landed an even better player with the acquisition of Darius Slay. Add in the value of Carson Wentz’s and some shrewd signings during the free agency period, and you can see why Roseman is so highly thought of.

[lawrence-related id=632746,632711]

[vertical-gallery id=632330]

Report: Jaguars have had discussions to potentially trade RB Leonard Fournette

The Jaguars continue to ship assets as Adam Schefter reports they are open to trading Leonard Fournette.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have already ridded themselves of several veterans from their 2017-19 squad and with the draft coming up, others could follow. Of course, the name that most are aware of is disgruntled defensive end Yannick Ngakoue but it appears he may not be alone as Leonard Fournette’s name has also been discussed on the trade block.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the Jaguars are open to possibly shipping the former No. 4 overall pick, with multiple teams interested in the 25 year-old.

Fournette is approaching the final year of his rookie deal and is scheduled to make $4.16 million in 2020. That’s a figure he’ll make despite having had his guarantees voided by former front office executive Tom Coughlin following a string of disciplinary infringements.

This news concerning Fournette comes after he recently raised some eyebrows this week by publicly stating his desire for free agent Cam Newton to join the Jaguars. However, he later came out to clarify that his pitch for Newton was simply to better the team by adding competition.

Whilst he has struggled to build upon his impressive rookie season, last year Fournette managed to add a different dimension to his game, leading the team in receptions with 76. He also was able to garner 265 touches for 1,152 rushing yards (a career-high), and three touchdowns.

The Jaguars already own 12 picks in this year’s draft and have done their due diligence on the running back position, perhaps in preparation for life without their running back. If he is moved prior to the draft, Fournette would join the long list of players from the 2017 AFC Championship game to leave Jacksonville over the span of the last five months like A.J. Bouye, Calais Campbell, Jalen Ramsey, and perhaps Ngakoue.

Dave Caldwell on Jags’ abundance of draft picks: ‘We need to hit on all 12’

Dave Caldwell understands the urgency that needs to go into the 2020 NFL Draft because it could be his last as the Jags general manager.

While it’s very unlikely that the Jacksonville Jaguars will make all 12 of their 2020 draft selections, general manager Dave Caldwell will enter next week’s event with a mindset to hit on every selection made.

“This is the most draft capital we’ve had here,” Caldwell said to the media Thursday. “We need to hit on all 12; that’s our philosophy.”

Caldwell’s mindset isn’t shocking because he understands he has to put together a decent season while having a lot of holes on the Jags’ roster. While owner Shad Khan didn’t necessarily say Caldwell had to produce a playoff season, he did say 2019 was unacceptable and that he made his dissatisfaction clear. Basically, what this all means is the Jags are going to need a productive 2020 class just as they had in 2019.

While it’s very unlikely that the Jags will make all 12 selections, Caldwell needs to keep as many of them as possible and make them count. If he does, he can put a solid nucleus in place for the Jaguars and maybe hit around the .500 mark (or better) in the regular season.

On offense, the Jags could use some offensive line help although they seem fine with their starting unit. Adding an offensive tackle or guard early would certainly make the unit even stronger. They also could use a dance partner for D.J. Chark at receiver and another tight end because the group they have bring injury concerns.

On defense, they need a starting cornerback for sure after trading both Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye. They could also use a space-eater at defensive tackle and potentially a pass-rusher with Yannick Ngakoue likely to not play for them. Additionally, upgrades could be made at safety and depth at linebacker is a concern, too.

If the Jags maneuver in the draft, history says it will be in the second through seventh rounds. However, they are in a weird spot with the No. 9 overall pick and that could lead to them trading up for a player like Jeff Okudah, or trading back if their top guys are taken by the time they select.

“It really depends on the player or players who are there when you’re about ready to pick,” Caldwell said about maneuvering in the draft. “If a certain player falls to you, you’re going to exercise that pick regardless and it’s kind of a no-trade player. But if we’re sitting there at nine or 20 and we do like four or five different players and they’re still on the board … well, yeah, then that gives you an option to trade back.

“Conversely, if you’re sitting there at nine or 20 and there’s only one guy left and you’re at Pick No. 5, then you may have to use some of that ammo to go up and get the guy you want. I think you have to see what’s happening in front of you and when you get to your pick, who is there for you to trade back for.”

What may be more likely is the team moving up in the second and third rounds as they’ve done the past few years. They traded up in the second tackle Jawaan Taylor just last year and several others like Cam Robinson and Myles Jack before that. They also traded up to the back of the third last year to acquire linebacker Quincy Williams. That said, don’t be shocked if the trend continues next week.

[lawrence-related id=31445]

Dave Caldwell says Jags have no announcements to offer on Yannick Ngakoue

It appears the needle hasn’t moved far on Yannick Ngakoue’s chances to get out of Jacksonville. Last month the disgruntled defensive end made his desire to leave the Jaguars known by taking to social media to inform the football community that his …

It appears the needle hasn’t moved far on Yannick Ngakoue’s chances to get out of Jacksonville. Last month the disgruntled defensive end made his desire  to leave the Jaguars known by taking to social media to inform the football community that his “time was up” with the organization.

Fast-forward to two weeks later, and general manager Dave Caldwell had no new information to offer the media after speaking with them Wednesday about the upcoming draft.

“We’re a week away from the draft, and we’ve exercised a franchise tender,” Caldwell said. “He’s yet to sign it. Other than that, I don’t have a whole to add. Out of respect for him and his team and our team, I think it’s best that when I have news for you guys to let you guys know where we’re at.”

If there are any teams who truly want Ngakoue, it wouldn’t be surprising to see things heat up soon because we’re a week away from the draft. That was the same message that NFL insider Ian Rapoport had for us when we spoke with him many weeks ago.

“I think the main thing to do is look around in free agency and say, ‘Who didn’t pick up the edge rusher that they wanted?’ That’s what these trades [for star pass-rushers] are becoming,” said Rapoport. 

“That was the case with Frank Clark last year going from Seattle to the Chiefs. It was draft week, either Tuesday or Wednesday. It was a last ditch effort like, “Alright, lets get this done to eliminate a hole before the draft.” That’s what the Chiefs did, and ended up winning the Super Bowl. I think Frank Clark probably helped on that. So it’s really just whoever didn’t sign an edge-rusher.”

A draft-day trade shouldn’t be ruled out either. 

Caldwell’s lack of new news also could be a sign that Ngakoue may end up staying on the roster as it’s been stated that Jags owner Shad Khan would prefer to keep him. If Ngakoue escaped the franchise’s clutches, that wouldn’t be a good look on Khan’s part because it would give off the perceptions that players could just leave the organization as they wanted. That said, the cost for Ngakoue is probably a first-round pick and another top-3 round selection. 

In the end, they may get an offer like the one the Seattle Seahawks received for Frank Clark in 2019 from the Kansas City Chiefs, which was a first for the upcoming draft, a 2020 second-rounder, and they switched 2019 thirds. To expect anything better might cause the Jags to end up empty-handed, but Jags fans should certainly watch this situation with a close eye over the next seven days. 

Peter King on Jags’ draft outlook: ‘They really want to give Gardner Minshew a real shot’

Gardner Minshew II had an interesting year in 2019 and the Jags seeming doesn’t want to give up on his potential according to Peter King.

As of late, there have been many draft analysts slotting a quarterback to the Jags in the first round due to the uncertainty of what Gardner Minshew II could be. However, according to Peter King of NBC Sports, the team isn’t interested in taking a quarterback in Round 1 and wants to give the Mississippi Mustache a chance.

In his Football Morning in America post published Monday morning, he did a rundown of what he’s gathered about what certain teams could do in Round 1 and also singled out Isaiah Simmons as a potential option for the Jags. He also briefly mentioned the uncertainty behind Yannick Ngakoue:

Not a quarterback, I hear. “They really want to give Gardner Minshew a real shot,” one FOC (Friend of Caldwell) says. Defensive impact player like Swiss-Army-knifish Isaiah Simmons makes sense. Biggest question for Jags on draft weekend revolves around the latest really good cornerstone player who wants out, Yannick Ngakoue. Can Caldwell find a fair deal for the defensive end?

It makes sense that the Jags would want to give Minshew a chance after he went 6-6 as a starter and outperformed veteran Nick Foles when both were healthy. Adding offensive coordinator Jay Gruden and pairing him with their young signal-caller could also help the offense grow as Gruden has dealt with young quarterbacks through his tenure.

The perfect thing about Minshew is his contract. If he falls flat on his face in 2020, the Jags can move on easily and should be in position to get a quarterback in 2021. However, if he flourishes, his contract is so affordable to the point where the Jags could tune up the roster even more around him next season.

With 12 draft picks in this year’s draft the Jags could end up getting a solid left tackle like Andrew Thomas or Tristan Wirfs to improve the offensive line if they elect to pass on a defensive player like Simmons. Afterward, they could proceed to add pass-catchers as the draft offers a deep receivers class with names like Justin Jefferson, Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, and more.

Jags ranked last in Sports Illustrated’s new pre-draft power rankings

The Jags got no love from Sports Illustrated in their newest power rankings, coming in at the very last spot.

With the draft under two weeks away, power rankings from several different publications will be surfacing over the web over the next few days. Sports Illustrated recently posted some pre-draft rankings of their own this weekend and the Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t fare all that well in them. In fact, they came in at the very last spot due to all of the veterans they parted ways with this offseason.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars

It’s hard to believe the Jaguars were in the AFC championship game just two years ago. Trading DE Calais Campbell, CB A.J. Bouye and QB Nick Foles completed the restart, but head coach Doug Marrone and GM David Caldwell remain in place, for now.

The Jags will enter the draft needing to add more help around second-year quarterback Gardner Minshew II, which is another reason it’s easy to see why many aren’t high on them. However, the argument could be made that they still may be better than teams like the Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions depending on who you ask.

The good thing for the Jags is that they have a chance to drastically improve their roster based on how they utilize their plethora of 2020 draft picks. At the moment, they currently have 12 picks in all, which gives them the ability to maneuver throughout the draft and land some really elite players.

3 players Jaguars should draft with the No. 20 selection

The Jags’ No. 20 pick is kind of in no-man’s land, but there could be some solid prospects for them to take there.

The NFL Draft is quickly approaching, whether COVID-19 likes it or not. The NFL has held strong on its dates and has recently stated that video game company Electronic Arts will be hosting a virtual draft for the prospects and teams.

These are certainly different times.

What has stayed the same, however, is the Jags’ need for help on both sides of the ball. In the first round, most believe that Jacksonville will draft two of four key positions of need, those being offensive line, defensive line, wide receiver, and cornerback.

[lawrence-related id=30779]

Obviously, what they do with the ninth selection will affect pick No. 20, but both selections will be one of those four positions, so it’s important for fans to get accustomed to the players at those key positions.

Here are three players the Jaguars should draft with the 20th overall selection:

Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

CB Kristian Fulton, LSU

Kristian Fulton was one of the very first prospects that I did a spotlight on for the Jaguars, all the way back in October. He’s simply one of the best players at a position of need for Jacksonville. He’s silky smooth and is one of the more developed players at corner in this year’s draft. For those worried about their corners getting burned, that’s rarely the case for Fulton as he is as sticky as they come.

In 2019 much of the talk regarding Louisiana State’s defense was about freshman cornerback Derek Stingly Jr. and for good reason. That said, let’s not take away from Fulton’s spectacular final season, leading Louisiana State to a National Championship.

It’s uncertain of how high exactly Fulton will go but if he is there at No. 20, I would be “virtually” sprinting the card up to the podium to make this selection. It’s a no-brainer and one the Jaguars would surely not regret.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3