I'd like to start by talking about who didn't make this list. While Calais Campbell and Branden Albert both had players drafted at their positions I'm not including them because neither player has every played a down as a starter for the Jaguars.
Let's get to it. 1. Telvin Smith - Fans won't like this . . . Heck, I don't like this. But the fact of the matter is Telvin Smith is entering the last year of his contract. If the Jaguars elect not to extend him this offseason then he'll be an Unrestricted Free Agent come next March. He's clearly one of the best players on the Jaguars roster - An on field impact in the running game and sometimes in passing situations, a leader both vocally and by example - Telvin Smith will be missed if he departs Jacksonville after the 2017 season, but the Jaguars may have drafted his contingency plan in the fifth round. Am I saying the Jaguars want to let Telvin Smith walk? No, but I think their selection of Blair Brown was a "if Telvin walks at least we won't be screwed at weak side linebacker" type move. Brown projects to be an excellent special teamer as a rookie. He has the natural instincts to dominate in run defense at the next level. The Jaguars should do everything in their power to lock up Telvin Smith, one of the fastest linebackers in football, but if they are unable to come to terms with Smith at least they have a backup plan. 2. Aaron Colvin - Colvin has been a solid, yet unspectacular player since joining the Jaguars as a fourth round pick in 2014. Colvin was selected one round before the first player on our list. He certainly hasn't been as impactful as Telvin Smith, but he is a valuable piece as the team's starting nickel cornerback. Colvin has however missed 16 games in his first three seasons in the league - you know what they say: they best ability is availability - Colvin hasn't always been available for the Jaguars. There's no question Colvin will want to be paid like a starting CB and he might just be when he puts pen to paper on his next deal, but that may not be with the Jaguars. The Jags have a ton of capital invested in other cornerbacks and they drafted a guy in the seventh round that may be the fastest, most athletic player on the team. Jalen Myrick from Minnesota would have likely been a fourth or fifth round pick in a normal draft, but this one was LOADED with cornerback talent. The undersized defensive back runs a 4.28 40 yard dash and has a 37.5 inch vertical. In college he allowed an extremely low completion percentage and was regularly able to get his hand in the way of receivers and break up passes. He'll need to greatly improve to reach Aaron Colvin's level of play. But if Colvin's asking price is too rich for the Jaguars Myrick may be his replacement. 3. Marqise Lee - The Jaguars do it all receiver found health for the first time in his three year career in 2016. He played in every game and had career highs in just about every category. When given the opportunity Lee capitalized showing off his speed and leaping ability in 2016. He recorded some of the most spectacular catches that Jaguars fans saw in 2016 and also returned a kick for a TD. He, like Colvin and Smith, is entering the final year of his deal. The Jaguars fourth round pick may be his replacement. The Jaguars already invested a great deal into Allen Hurns and at the receiver position they have to deal with signing Allen Robinson and Marqise Lee either prior to the 2017 season or after. It's reasonable to believe that one of those two receivers will be the odd man out in terms of what the Jaguars are willing to offer. Robinson is the Jaguars true number one. The big bodied playmaker that can do it all, but Lee is very comparable in skill to the Jaguars fourth round pick Dede Westbrook. Westbrook will have to prove he can stay out of trouble off the field, but he could immediately have the type of impact that Marqise Lee did in 2016. Westbrook can score on any play. He's a dangerous return man and can take the lid off the defense from the slot. If Lee has another big season, he'll surely be looking for a nice pay day and a team might be willing to give it to him. That team might not be the Jaguars. There's a ton at play with these three situations, but don't be surprised to see one of these guys wearing different colors on Sundays in 2018. My hope would be that the Jaguars would bring back at the very least Telvin Smith, and Marqise Lee. Aaron Colvin would be nice too, but he could be the odd man out in a crowded defensive back room. |
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