Jaguars

2013 NFL Mock Draft: Jaguars seeking help on the lines

Prognosticators believe Jacksonville will look for help in the trenches with the No. 2 pick, but they disagree on which side.

By Craig Powers@TheCraigPowers Mar 7, 2013, 8:00am EST

When a team struggles through a season like the Jacksonville Jaguars, there are plenty of holes to fill. The best talent available in this draft is along the offensive and defensive lines, so the Jags are likely to grab some help there. Which side of the trenches they will address is up for debate.

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SB Nation's Matthew Fairburn believes Jacksonville will hope to improve the defense by drafting defensive end Barkevious Mingo out of LSU. Mingo is a speedy end who recorded a sub-4.6 40-yard dash at the combine. He tallied 4.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss as a junior. The numbers are far from eye-popping, but his potential is through the roof. Fairburn believes Mingo already fits perfectly in Jacksonville's defensive scheme:

The Jaguars could still go a number of directions with this pick. With the Chiefs trading for Alex Smith, West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith should be on the board. New general manager David Caldwell has praised Blaine Gabbert, though, and the pass rush is a pressing issue. Barkevious Mingo fits Gus Bradley's "LEO" position to a tee and could make an instant impact on a defense that desperately needs playmakers.

NFL.com's Gil Brandt agrees that Jacksonville will try and improve on defense through the draft, but predicts the Jags will grab Bjoern Werner out of Florida State.

ESPN's Todd McShay has a different line of thinking, and says that Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel will head to Jacksonville. Bucky Brooks agrees with the Joeckel selection, while Charles Davis and Daniel Jeremiah think the former Aggie will be off the board at No. 2. The pair believes that the Jags will instead grab OT Eric Fisher from Central Michigan.