2017 Jacksonville Jaguars offseason: Using Fanspeak’s ‘Ultimate GM’ feature

With 12 days until the beginning of free agency, it’s time for the first Jacksonville Jaguars “mock offseason” using the Ultimate GM feature in Fanspeak.com, which you should check out if you want to have some fun and project the offseason and complete mock drafts.

Just a quick note — these moves were made based on what I think the Jaguars should do, within reason, but not necessarily what they will do. Draft picks are based on simulation, some of which is bizarre.

Cap-clearing moves

• Branden Albert - Restructured contract from $8.9 million in 2017 to $6.5 million, saving $2.9 million.
• Davon House - Cut.
• Dan Skuta - Cut.
• Roy Miller - Cut.
• Jared Odrick - Cut. (Previous move.)

Who do I re-sign? Who do I let walk?

• Arrelious Benn - Re-signed for two years.
• Luke Joeckel - Offered one year, $4 million deal, rejected.
• Tyson Alualu - Re-signed for two years.
• Prince Amukamara - Offered three year, $12 million deal, rejected.
• Jonathan Cyprien - Let walk.

2017 NFL free agency

Projected cap after cuts/re-signings: $77,036,392.

Note: One of my main targets was going to be Kevin Zeitler, the guard from the Cincinnati Bengals, but in this simulation, he never hit the open market.

• Signed Melvin Ingram, EDGE, San Diego, to a five year, $65 million contract ($13 million per year).
• Signed A.J. Bouye, CB, Houston, to a five year, $62.5 million contract ($12.5 million per year).
• Signed Tony Jefferson, SS, Arizona, to a five year, $35 million contract ($7 million per year).
• Signed Ronald Leary, G, Dallas, to a five year, $42.5 million contract ($8.5 million per year).
• Signed Ryan Griffin, TE, Houston, to a four year, $18 million contract ($4.5 million per year).
• Offered Victor Cruz, WR, New York Giants, to a two year, $4 million contract ($2 million per year), which was rejected in favor of two year, $8 million contract with the Oakland Raiders.

2017 NFL Draft

1st round - 14th pick (TRADE w/ PHILADELPHIA): Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State

In an absolutely bizarre turn in events, Jonathan Allen (EDGE, Alabama) was drafted first overall to Cleveland, followed by his teammate Ryan Anderson (LB, Alabama) second overall to San Francisco. The “consensus” best player in the draft in Myles Garrett (EDGE, Texas A&M) finally was selected third overall by Chicago.

Philadelphia offered their 1st round pick (14th overall), 2nd round (43), 3rd round (74), and 4th round (108) picks to Jacksonville, and after accepting that trade, the Eagles drafted Christian McCaffrey (RB, Stanford).

Dalvin Cook, the Florida State running back who is currently considered as the best running back in the class, somehow fell to the 14th pick, and I had to select him. Cook ran for 4464 yards and 46 TDs, with an average of 6.5 yards per carry, during his three year college career.

2nd round - 35th pick: Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky

The Jaguars have recently been linked to the Western Kentucky tackle/guard and there was even a report that they would trade back into the first round to draft him. In Fanspeak, Lamp fell to the 35th pick and it seemed like the perfect pick. In this scenario, the Jaguars already filled a spot at guard with Ronald Leary, and Lamp can compete with A.J. Cann for the opposite spot.

2nd round - 43rd pick: Tim Williams, EDGE, Alabama

This is yet another steal, as Tim Williams is considered a first round talent. The EDGE rusher out of Alabama can play end or standing linebacker, and knows how to accumulate pressure and sacks — 20 sacks in three seasons. He has some shaky off the field issues with a gun charge and a marijuana issue, but both seem to be behind him as nothing has come from either case. As a pass rusher alone, Williams is special, and if he makes it this far, a team should have no issue in drafting him.

3rd round - 68th pick: Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss

After having a great Senior Bowl week, the Ole Miss TE Evan Engram is beginning to shoot up draft boards. Currently projected as a Day 2 pick, Engram is often compared to Jordan Reed as a receiving TE, with 2320 yards on 162 receptions and 15 touchdowns in his four year career at Ole Miss. In this situation, the Jaguars already signed a tight end in Ryan Griffin in free agency, but this pick gives Blake Bortles an extra option in the passing game that he could definitely utilize.

3rd round - 74th pick: Curtis Samuel, RB/WR, Ohio State

With this extra pick and several needs addressed, I went best player available and landed Samuel to give Blake Bortles another weapon and TJ Yeldon competition for a change of pace running back spot. Samuel is a freak in the back field and as a wide receiver, accumulating 2535 scrimmage yards and 24 touchdowns in three seasons.

4th round - 108th pick: Taylor Moton, OT, Western Michigan

Yet another steal by the looks of it, Moton has recently been projected to go as high as the end of the first round. He’s a strong, big right tackle standing at 6-5, 330 lbs, with 33 1/8 inch arms. Although the focus of the Western Michigan offense this past season was WR Corey Davis, Moton was a huge reason to their success, and although I doubt he falls this far, he’d be a great value pick at 108.

4th round - 117th pick: Kevin King, CB, Washington

Sidney Jones and Buddha Baker are receiving tons of hype coming from Washington’s secondary, but King is yet another solid prospect coming from UW. The corner opposite of Jones provides a tall, yet lanky, frame of 6-3, 192 lbs, that shuts down receivers winning on high balls. His closing speed is a concern which causes him to fall, but King could certainly compliment Jalen Ramsey and AJ Bouye well.

King intercepted six passes and defended another 22 in his four seasons as a Husky.

5th round - 149th pick: Cooper Rush, QB, Central Michigan

Rush has lost a lot of momentum during the draft cycle, as he was originally praised as a potential top 5 QB for this draft class. He had a mediocre East-West Shrine Game and has simply fallen down draft boards. However, he has a very high football IQ and ideal frame — 6-3, 230 lbs — and had solid college production: 12891 yards, 90 TDs, 55 INTs (a red flag), and a 62% completion rate.

If the Jaguars view the draft as a best place to find competition for Blake Bortles, Cooper Rush could be a guy they look at.

6th round - 188th pick: Jon Heck, OT, North Carolina

At this point, picks are a shot in the dark. The Jaguars desperately need help along the offensive line, especially needing to add depth. Heck, the 6-6, 300 lb right tackle out of North Carolina, as well as graduate of the local Bolles School just outside of downtown Jacksonville, started 48 games at UNC and was a major reason to their offensive success with Mitch Trubisky and Elijah Hood leading the pack.

7th round - 225th pick: Freddie Stevenson, FB, Florida State

The Jaguars are in desperate need of a fullback who can be a lead blocker in the run game, an extra pass protector, and someone to run in extremely short situations. Stevenson provides not only that but chemistry with 1st round pick Dalvin Cook, his teammate at FSU — it’s an ideal pick.

7th round - 243rd pick (via TRADE w/ MIAMI): Montae Nicholson, S, Michigan State

Another shot in the dark, after signing Tony Jefferson in free agency to play strong safety and Tashaun Gipson in 2016 to play free safety, Nicholson offers depth and length — 6-2, 220 lbs — to the safety position. He had four interceptions and four defended passes at Michigan State.

After free agency and the draft, the Jaguars are left with $49,286,392 in cap space after adjusting cap hits on every free agent contract, giving fans a feel for how the Jaguars’ cap would be totally fine even if they target several major free agents.

With this entire mock season, the Jaguars address all of their major needs, even in some bizarre and unlikely circumstances. But, in the NFL, anything is possible. What are your thoughts on this mock offseason?