Many felt that the Jaguars would draft a defensive end early in the 2011 draft to help bolster a pass rush that lacked the speed and strength necessary to slow down AFC South quarterbacks Matt Schaub and Peyton Manning. However, when the draft came to a close the Jaguars were without a single new defensive lineman added to their team. In fact, there wasn’t even a linebacker added to the team.

So the new assumption by many has been that they would address their pass rushing woes with veteran free agency, similar to the way they did in the 2010 offseason when they signed Aaron Kampman. But to find a defensive end that would have an “every downs” impact, the Jaguars would have to sign a certain type of elite player and couldn’t go bargain shopping.

For the Jaguars to acquire a player that could make a true impact right away in 2011, why not look at signing a completely healthy player that had a Pro Bowl year in his last season? Better yet, he did so by tallying 12.5 sacks while playing in the AFC South. Gene Smith could continue the improvement of the Jaguars roster by signing Titans DE Jason Babin.

This is my first attempt at a pre-free agency 2012 Mock Draft.  These are my own rankings of both players and team win/loss records.  If you have any feedback, that would be greatly appreciated.  So please, Mr. Commissioner, please lead us on.

Round One:

1. Washington // Andrew Luck, QB Stanford
2. Carolina // Quinton Coples, DE University of North Carolina
3. Cincinnati // Jerel Worthy, DT Michigan State
4. Tennessee // Alshon Jeffery, WR University of South Carolina
5. Oakland // Matt Barkley, QB University of Southern California
6. Denver // Dre Kirkpatrick, CB Alabama
7. Arizona // Matthew Kalil, OT University of Southern California
8. San Francisco // Stephon Gilmore, CB University of South Carolina
9. Minnesota // Johnathan Martin, OT Stanford
10. Miami // Landry “Lance” Jones, QB Oklahoma
11. Cleveland  // Vontaze Burflict, MLB Arizona State
12. Seattle // Marcus Forston, DT Miami (fl)
13. Buffalo // Nate Potter, OT/OG Boise State University
14. Detroit // Justin Blackmon, WR Oklahoma State University
15. Jacksonville // Manti Te’O, MLB Notre Dame
16. Kansas City // Tank Carder, ILB Texas Christian University
17. Houston // Riley Reiff, OT Iowa
18. New York Giants // Trent Richardson, RB Alabama
19. Chicago // Michael Floyd, WR Notre Dame
20. Tampa Bay // Alfonzo Dennard, CB Nebraska
21. Dallas // Jared Crick, DE Nebraska
22. New York Jets // Brandon Jenkins, OLB Florida State University
23. New England (from New Orleans) // Donte Paige-Moss, OLB University of North Carolina
24. Pittsburgh // Kerry Murphy, DT Alabama
25. St. Louis // LaMichael James, RB Oregon
26. San Diego // Devin Taylor, OLB University of South Carolina
27. Cleveland (from Atlanta) // Jeff Fuller, WR Texas A&M
28. Indianapolis // Jayron Hosley, CB Virginia Tech
29. Green Bay // Kelechi Osemele, OG Iowa State University
30. New England // Mohammed Sanu, WR Rutgers
31. Baltimore // Mark Barron, S Alabama
32. Philadelphia // Zach Brown, OLB University of North Carolina

With the Jaguars seemingly content with allowing Mike Sims-Walker to hit the free agent market, there have been questions raised about the quality of the 2011 receiving corps. Even with the addition of 4th round draft pick Cecil Shorts, there are still plenty of doubts about the current group of receivers.

Most concerning is the lack of size in the group that will likely start the 5’8 Mike Thomas, 6’0 Jason Hill and 6’0 Cecil Shorts. The 6’6 Marcedes Lewis provides a large target for the Jaguars passing offense, but at the wide receiver position the only ones still listed on the roster that are over 6’0 include special teamer Kassim Osgood, Mike Sims-Walker, the 6’1 Tiquan Underwood and the 6’2 Nate Hughes.

However, despite this lack of size it appears unlikely that the Jaguars will add more players to the roster through pro free agency, although they certainly could in undrafted free agency. Or maybe the Jaguars could address the position by adding a couple of players to their listed roster...that are actually already on their roster.

I was sent this article by a fan of TheJaggernaut, Matt Mochal. I thought his six page rant about the Jaguars was deserving of a guest post on the site. Enjoy!

This season brings up a lot of potential problems within the team. As many experts and columnists have been writing, Jack Del Rio is on the hot seat. Something that we all knew last year, but the team played well enough to keep him his job for another year.

The same experts have also questioned why the Jaguars would draft a developmental quarterback as well as trade another high pick to acquire that quarterback. Many questions have been raised by these writers, as a consequence of the draft.

“Does Wayne Weaver not want Jack del Rio to succeed this coming season?” Or, “Does Wayne want to use this as bulletin board material?” Or even the question, “Will Wayne bring back Jack regardless of the season results?” 

Among the positions that need upgrading most on the Jaguars defense is clearly the linebacker spot. The underacheiving Jaguars LB corps of last year doesn't look like it's any position to get better in 2011 with no linebackers added in the draft last month. Additionally, two of the three starters are scheduled to hit free agency in the summer with only Daryl Smith with years remaining on his contract.

It would be shocking if the Jaguars entered the 2011 season without having added at least one starting quality linebacker to their defense. Among the potential candidates to fill that void is the soon-to-be 28 year old (his birthday is in three days) Barrett Ruud.

The debate will rage on through the summer as Jaguars fans argue whether incumbent David Garrard or rookie first round draft pick Blaine Gabbert should start in the fall. The majority of fans would probably say that Garrard is the favorite for the job right now and that Gabbert can spend a season or two learning from the veteran and adjusting to the NFL level. Gene Smith, Jack Del Rio and other Jaguars personnel have even said as much.

It seems unlikely, though, that the Jaguars would keep Garrard and the $8 million he's due in 2011 just to sit on the bench if Gabbert were able to win the spot through training camp and preseason. When Gabbert wins the starting spot, Garrard is likely going to be wearing a different uniform shortly thereafter.

Why, then, wait for the inevitable and cut Garrard without receiving compensation through a trade? While certainly a risky move that would be the franchise in the hands of a rookie from the spread offense of Missouri, perhaps a certain amount of value would make the risk worthwhile.