Jacksonville Jaguars

Jaguars seeking difference-maker with third pick in draft

Published Apr. 24, 2015 3:04 p.m. ET

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Except for still having the third pick in the first round, things couldn't be much different for the Jacksonville Jaguars heading into the NFL draft than they were a year ago.

Having brought in both a new offensive coordinator and a new quarterbacks coach since the beginning of the year to work with Blake Bortles, the quarterback position is just about the only area where the Jaguars are not looking to solidify themselves during the three-day process which starts Thursday night in Chicago.

General manager Dave Caldwell said Friday in a meeting with reporters that the team is focused in on as many as five different college prospects that, barring a trade, the Jaguars could choose at No. 3.

Both Caldwell and coach Gus Bradley frequently used the phrase "difference-maker" to describe their ideal selection not only in the first round but in any of the six to follow. Bradley defined a difference-maker as someone who can end up playing between eight to 10 years after being drafted.

By that standard of measurement, the Jaguars have only two such players on their active roster -- tight end Marcedes Lewis, a first-round pick in 2006, and kicker Josh Scobee, who was taken in the fifth round in 2004. Lewis, Scobee and defensive end Tyson Alualu are the Jaguars' only draft choices remaining prior to 2012.

The overwhelming majority of mock drafts have the Jaguars trying to improve their pass rush by taking either Dante Fowler Jr. of Florida or Leonard Williams of USC. While one projection has them trading the pick to the Cleveland Browns for the 12th and 19th selections in the first round, Caldwell said he has not received any calls from other teams seeking to perhaps move up.

"You have to be open-minded to all the possibilities," Bradley said. "But usually in those first five picks or so, you would hope you can get a difference-maker for whatever position he plays, a guy who you feel strongly can play in your organization for many years to come."

Fowler is an edge rusher capable of playing at both end and outside linebacker. Williams, who was thought until recent weeks to be headed to the Tennessee Titans at No. 2, is some 40 pounds heavier than Fowler and versatile enough to be used as either a tackle or end.

"Both are very flexible and can play multiple positions, especially Williams," Bradley said.

Of the 17 players drafted by the Jaguars since they hired Caldwell and Bradley in 2013, only cornerback Jeremy Harris and defensive end Chris Smith haven't started at least one game. They were particularly pleased last year with the progress of wide receiver Allen Robinson and guard Brandon Linder, who were acquired in trades which enabled the Jaguars to move up in the second and third rounds.

But Bortles struggled mightily in many of the 13 starts he made after taking over for Chad Henne, while 2013 first-round pick Luke Joeckel was often overwhelmed at left tackle on a line which gave up a franchise-record 71 sacks.

The Jaguars' coaching staff includes four new assistants on the offensive side -- offensive coordinator Greg Olson, quarterbacks coach Nathaniel Hackett, offensive line coach/assistant head coach Doug Marrone and running backs coach Kelly Skipper. Bradley said he is relying on their experience to provide more insights and opinions than he might have sought the previous two years.

Between Robinson, Marqise Lee and undrafted free agent Allen Hurns, the Jaguars had three rookie wide receivers who finished with at least 37 catches. But Caldwell isn't ruling out using another early draft pick on a player at the same position.

"This is one of the best receiving drafts I've seen in a long time," he said. "Everyone talks about last year's, and last year's was excellent too. But this year's may be equally as good."

Caldwell sounded far less sold on the idea of using a pick during the first two days on a running back, claiming the Jaguars could wait until the fourth or fifth round before going that route. Denard Robinson, a fifth-round selection in 2013 who played primarily at quarterback at Michigan, led them last season with 582 rushing yards in 13 games.

The Jaguars addressed their offensive line in free agency by signing Jermey Parnell and Stefen Wisniewski and attempted to strengthen their secondary by adding Davon House and Sergio Brown. But both areas could still stand to use as much competition as possible.

"I always felt if you could stack a couple years of good decisions in the draft and free agency, you could get good a lot faster," Caldwell said. "And I think that's the key."

You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.

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