I wanted to call this "Rumors and Things I Think" because I don't want to make it sound like I'm reporting anything. I'm merely conveying things that I've heard but I haven't been able to verify the truth of them. Take this with a grain of salt, but if any of it comes true I will no doubt pretend like I reported it and I'm a genius. That's how it works... right?
Just kidding. I always look like a genius.
If Washington QB Jake Locker makes it past the Washington Redskins, the Jacksonville Jaguars could be in play to make a move for him. I've heard that he's their No. 1 QB from some people that I talk to, but in order to do so they'd have to jump to the 11th overall pick, ahead of the Minnesota Vikings. The Houston Texans hold the 11th overall pick, but some who cover the Texans feel the want to move back. Would they want to make a deal moving back with a team within their division looking to get a quarterback however, is the question.
If Jake Locker is gone before the 16th overall pick, the Jaguars would like to try to move down in the first round with a target on Colin Kaepernick. If they're stuck at 16 and he's available, it's very likely he's the pick.
There's a feeling the Miami Dolphins will look long and hard at Kaepernick at 15, and some believe their pick has come down to either Kaepernick or Florida offensive lineman Mike Pouncey.
If Locker and Kaepernick are gone by pick 16, the Jaguars would look to move back. If they're stuck, they'll look to draft the best available defensive end, with targets on Cameron Jordan, Adrian Clayborn, Muhammed Wilkerson, Cameron Heyward, and J.J. Watt. While I would think Ponder would be a logical pick in this situation as well, I haven't heard one way or another from anyone I trust if that would happen. I know I've been beating the switch to a 3-4 in the future drum, but everyone I talk to mentions the Jaguars are looking for a bigger defensive end rather than a smaller pass rusher (IE Kerrigan). All of those names fit in the LDE or 3-4 DE role.
If the Jaguars wind up with a defensive end in the first round, their target in the second round will be Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi. It's likely they'd have to manuever around to get him, depending on how the quarterbacks play out. Some teams see a "little bit of Brady" in Stanzi. That's not to say they think he'll be another Tom Brady, but that he has some of the qualities that make Brady a great NFL QB. The things I hear the most with Stanzi is "Matt Schaub clone".
Also worth noting, former Jaguars beat writer Michael Wright told me his WWGD (What Would Gene Do) quarteback pick would be Chirstian Ponder.
That's all I have right now. I'm sure I'll tweet more when I get more information. As I said, this is all conjecture as I haven't been able to verify any of it, but these are some of the things that I'm hearing from people who generally give me good information.
The first round of the 2011 NFL Draft starts at 8 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, April 28th and SB Nation has everything you need to prepare for it - NFL mock drafts, draft