:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53110433/621316940.0.jpg)
Super Bowl 51 is over. The New England Patriots mounted the biggest comeback in playoff history to knock off the Atlanta Falcons. The 2016 NFL season is in the books.
Now it’s time for the part of the year Jacksonville Jaguars fans are most familiar with — draft season!
Dan Kadar of MockingTheDraft.com and Matt Miller of BleacherReport.com are two names you need to familiarize yourself with because they’ll be dropping information, analysis, and mock drafts in plenty over the next two-and-a-half months.
The first post-Super Bowl mock draft has Kadar predicting the Jaguars go defense with the No. 4 overall pick and Miller thinking the Jaguars go offense.
Kadar’s prediction: Jonathan Allen
According to Kadar, the Jaguars will add premier talent to their defensive line — a good bet if you know anything about newly hired Executive VP of Operations Tom Coughlin, who loves building teams from the inside out. Strengthen the offensive and defensive lines and you’re setting yourself up for success, says Coughlin.
“The draft’s second-best player looks like he’ll be available for the Jaguars,” Kadar writes. “And he provides a versatile player up front.”
Miller’s prediction: Leonard Fournette
According to Miller, the Jaguars will build around struggling quarterback Blake Bortles. This also falls into Coughlin’s philosophy, albeit not as much as a Jonathan Allen pick. Help the quarterback and you help the team. And Bortles needs all the help he can get.
“The Jacksonville Jaguars have bigger needs than running back, but a team that's desperate to help quarterback Blake Bortles can do so by giving him a top-tier threat in the backfield,” Miller writes. “At 6'1" and 235 pounds, Fournette has top-tier speed to pull away from defenders, but he's also a powerful finisher and can operate well between the tackles. With T.J. Yeldon failing to deliver on the promise that made him a second-round draft pick in 2015, the Jaguars could use a dependable ball-carrier to relieve pressure on Bortles.”
What do you think? Will Kadar or Miller be right on draft night? Or will the Jaguars go in a different direction? Let us know in the comments below!