The Miami Dolphins opted to fill their need at quarterback with the 15th overall pick in the Fan Mock Draft, selecting the strong-armed Ryan Mallett of Arkansas. We stay in the state of Florida for the 16th pick, as the Jacksonville Jaguars are on the clock.
The Jaguars surprised many with their play in 2010, holding the lead in the AFC South down the stretch of the season before fading at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts. But it was still seen as a season of overachieving for a roster filled with young players. David Garrard may not be the best quarterback in the league, but he's certainly capable of leading a winning team. But he is 33 years old, so the Jaguars have let it be known that they're actively looking for a quarterback of the future. Whether they'll find that player with the 16th overall pick remains to be seen, but it would be considered a reach to take someone like Christian Ponder, Colin Kaepernick or Andy Dalton here.
After spending first- and second-round picks on offensive tackles two years ago, the offensive line looks fortified enough, though Mike Pouncey could be an intriguing option for general manager Gene Smith. With Mike Sims-Walker on his way out of Jacksonville, wide receiver is another area the Jaguars will look to upgrade, but, again, there doesn't appear to be a player at the position worthwhile of the 16th overall pick.
So the likeliest scenario, if they remain at No. 16, is an addition to the defense. Defensive tackle is strong after the impressive rookie season of Tyson Alualu, one of the draft's biggest surprises last season. But the pass rush is still lagging far behind on the outside. In 2010, the Jaguars registered only 23 sacks, tied for 30th in the league, but it was still an improvement over their anemic performance in 2009, when all they could muster was a league-worst 14 sacks. Along those lines, Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan could definitely be intriguing, and he could learn the tricks of the trade from Aaron Kampman. Missouri's Aldon Smith is the more explosive pass-rush prospect, but it's unclear whether he would fit as a 4-3 defensive end.
The biggest hole on the Jaguars' roster is safety, where there was a perpetual turnstile in 2010, but there's no safety in this draft class worthy of being picked in the top half of the first round. Linebacker is another area that needs addressing, as Daryl Smith has been doing all the work for the Jags of late. UCLA's Akeem Ayers would likely slot in on the strong side in the Jaguars defense.
Cornerback hasn't been widely cited as one of the Jaguars' biggest needs, but Rashean Mathis has slipped a level from his previous Pro Bowl form and there's no true complement to him though Derek Cox is promising. If the Jaguars consider Jimmy Smith a viable shutdown cornerback, he could definitely be the pick, though it should be noted that Gene Smith has shied away from players with character concerns in his two drafts in charge for the Jaguars.
So where will the Jaguars go with the 16th pick? You make the call.
Needs: S, QB, WR, DE
All-Good: RB, OT
Previous PicksNo. 1 - Carolina: QB Cam Newton, Auburn
No. 2 - Denver: DT Marcell Dareus, Alabama
No. 3 - Buffalo: LB Von Miller, Texas A&M
No. 4 - Cincinnati: QB Blaine Gabbert, Missouri
No. 5 - Arizona: WR A.J. Green, Georgia
No. 6 - Cleveland: WR Julio Jones, Alabama
No. 7 - San Francisco: DE Da'Quan Bowers, Clemson
No. 8 - Tennessee: DT Nick Fairley, Auburn
No. 9 - Dallas: DE Cameron Jordan, California
No. 10 - Washington: QB Jake Locker, Washington
No. 11 - Houston: CB Patrick Peterson, LSU
No. 12 - Minnesota: DE Robert Quinn, North Carolina
No. 13 - Detroit: CB Prince Amukamara, Nebraska
No. 14 - St. Louis: DT Corey Liuget, Illinois
No. 15 - Miami: QB Ryan Mallett, Arkansas
