Many Jacksonville Jaguars fans and members of the media banged the drum for the Jaguars to target a big-time wide receiver in free agency. I even suggested they should take a look at someone like James Jones, but I knew it was highly unlikely. The fact of the matter is, the Jaguars like the guys they have, even if most people have no idea who they are.
The Jaguars offense is predicated on much more than just the wide receivers. The team has a passing threat in tight end Marcedes Lewis, who with the growth of the offensive line will be leaned on more as a pass receiver. Oft injured tight end Zach Miller is a potential match up nightmare if he can stay healthy and on the field. Running backs Maurice Jones-Drew and Rashad Jennings are both receiving threats out of the backfield.
While I lobbied that the team should have kept Mike Sims-Walker instead of letting him walk, the team is going to roll into 2011 and see what they have at the position currently. We know about Mike Thomas, who the team is very high on. The team feels like they found a gem on the scrap heap in Jason Hill, who was waived late last season by the San Francisco 49ers and claimed by the Jaguars on waivers. Rookie Cecil Shorts has also looked fantastic in training camp thus far.
On the back end of the roster, Jarrett Dillard has been a player the organization has been very high on, he's just been sidelined with leg injuries since his rookie year. After that you've got Kassim Osgood who's mostly used as a special teams ace, but he offers size and is often used as a runblocker on plays. There's also a couple of undrafted guys in Armon Binns and Jamar Newsome who've looked good in camp.
My feeling is the team is going to roll the dice with what they have at wide receiver this season, then if necessary target the position in the 2012 off-season, be it through the draft, free agency, or trade. They almost have to give players like Dillard a real chance before deciding to move on, he's only played 7 games in his 2-year NFL career. The guys they have, while unproven, when combined with the other pass catchers at tight end and running back should be good enough for 2011.
They weren't ever going to go after a Sidney Rice.