The Jacksonville Jaguars are doing their due diligence. Especially when it comes to vetting potential first round draft picks for the upcoming Draft held April 27-29.
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According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, the Jaguars will host FSU running back Dalvin Cook, Ohio State defensive back Malik Hooker, Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen and Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson on Thursday. The team will follow up on Friday by hosting LSU running back Leonard Fournette, Alabama tight end OJ Howard, Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett and LSU safety Jamal Adams.
The Jaguars have the fourth pick in the draft. However, there could be part of plenty of trade talk leading up to the first day of the selection process.
The plan, as Rapoport explained on his Twitter and Snapchat accounts is for team officials to meet with these players. Then resume planning and preparing for the upcoming draft. Of all the players the Jaguars will visit with, it is believed Garrett will be the only untouchable as he is expected to be taken by the Cleveland Browns with the first overall selection. Should a team trade up for the top pick? That, itself, could reshuffle the draft board for several NFL teams.
Most mock draft boards have the Jacksonville Jaguars split on Fournette and Allen. Consequently both of whom could help make an immediate impact on the franchise. Fournette, however, would be an instant starter. Allen could be part of a defensive rotation in coordinator Todd Wash’s 4-3 system. He can play inside at tackle or could move outside to play rush end in passing situations.
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Last week, Watson was linked to the Jaguars on Bill Simmons’ website, The Ringer. The national title winning signal caller was chosen with the fourth pick in the draft. There have been other sites predicting the Jaguars, 3-13 last season, trading out of that slot (possibly with Cleveland) to take Howard with the 12th pick in the first round.
If running back is the choice by team general manager David Caldwell and executive vice president Tom Coughlin, Jacksonville will have to choose between the big, bruising style of Fournette or the break-away ability of Cook. Cook looked impressive at his Pro Day last Tuesday in Tallahassee.
Both Adams and Hooker would be a surprise pick as well. The Jacksonville Jaguars signed Barry Church in the offseason to play opposite Tashuan Gipson. Meanwhile, the team also added cornerback AJ Bouye to team with Jalen Ramsey in the secondary.