Previous Pick: Oakland Raiders

8. Jacksonville Jaguars

-B.J. Raji (DT/Boston College)

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What makes me enjoy watching Jaguars football games is their extraordinary physicality. They love to run the ball, and play tough defense. The defensive and offensive lines take precedence. That is why I believe they will look at Raji before any other player.

John Henderson and Marcus Stroud were once the most fearsome tackle duo in the league. Last season that pair split when Stroud went to the Bills, literally leaving a huge gap in the defensive line. Let’s face it, the Rob Meier experiment at DT didn’t go very well. So, now Jacksonville has the chance to correct that mistake.

B.J. Raji has the added bonus of being well-suited for a the nose tackle in the Jaguars new hybrid 3-4 defense. But if John Henderson is  good enough to play there, then Jacksonville may look in another direction.

-Malcolm Jenkins (DB/Ohio State)

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Besides Rashean Mathis, the Jags are thin at the cornerback spot. They just cut Drayton Florence, who was a massive bust. It appears the team may be searching for another big, physical cornerback to play opposite of Mathis.

Although I believe Malcolm Jenkins is better suited for safety, he seems to fit too well in with the Jaguars. The Ohio State graduate is fantastic against the run, and plays physically at the line of scrimmage. Plus, he has a very similar build to potential teammate Mathis.

I know Jenkins had a bad combine, but he is still a quality player who seems custom made for Jacksonville.

-Rey Maualuga (ILB/USC)

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Like Maualuga, Jack Del Rio is a former USC linebacker. He may insist on having the thunderous tackler playing the inside in his hybrid 3-4 scheme. Also, after dropping Mike Peterson, they may look for a fearsome presence in the middle. I agree this is a little high to choose a middle linebacker, but if the Jags believe Maualuga is a bonafide playmaker (which I think he is), then it isn’t a reach.

-Michael Oher (LT/Ole Miss)

I had been on the fence about the Jaguars selecting an offensive lineman here. But a fellow blogger  (The Ghostwriter) struck a chord with me.

The physical play of the Jacksonville run game and pass attack are predicated on a solid offensive line. Because of injuries and age, the Jaguars line finished 25th in sacks allowed (42). Therefore, they just might try to pick an offensive lineman.

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Michael Oher is a fantastic player but isn’t quite the value as Raji would be at number 8. I am inclined to think that the franchise might look to grab a tackle with their second round pick. But I figured i’d cover all the possibilities-and offensive lineman is one of them.

I’d have to say I originally thought I would place Andre Smith here because he strikes me as the type of player the Jags would love. But recent developments make that really hard to do.

Next on the clock : Green Bay Packers

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Previous Pick: Cleveland Browns

6. Cincinnati Bengals

-Eugene Monroe (LT/Virginia)

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Being a Lions fan, I completely sympathize with any loyal Bengal fan. Having to deal with Carson Palmer’s injuries, the collapse of the offensive line, and the utterly revolting season of Chad Johson. All their woes stemmed from the inconsistent play of the grossly overpaid offensive tackles (and guards). Finally, after seeing the need for change, Cincinnati decided to release RT Stacy Andrews to clear some cap space for a better suited draftee.

This is where Eugene Monroe comes in…. The Bengals have to find a way to protect Carson Palmer because Ryan Fitzpatrick is not a starting caliber quarterback in the NFL. Monroe should help to reduce the likelihood of repeating the 52 sacks allowed during 2008. He is one of the best linemen in America (1st  team All-American) and should be able to knock off Levi Jones by the end of training camp. Jones was a great player, but his career has been plagued by injuries. Eugene Monroe is an ideal pass blocker who will make a point of keeping Carson Palmer on his feet.

-B.J. Raji (DT/Boston College)

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Although a tackle seems like a no-brainer, things get complicated by the meager pass rush of the Bengals. Tied for 2nd worst in the league (17 sacks), Cincinnati would love to have a defensive lineman that can clog the middle and rush the passer. That man is B.J. Raji. Domata Peko and John Thornton are not going to strike fear into opposing offenses. Thornton is 32 years old, and Peko is not much of a pass rusher (0.5 sacks). B.J. Raji would help the entire defense by drawing those double teams in the middle of the line.

-Brian Orakpo (DE/Texas)

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Robert Gaithers and Antwan Odom didn’t pressure quarterbacks too much last season (5.5 sacks between the two of them). The Bengals have been seeking a stud defensive end for some time now with no luck. Odom had promise, but just hasn’t panned out. So they really should grab a guy in the draft to help them.

Orakpo would be asked to fulfill a familiar role in the Bengals defense. Instead of switching him to a rush linebacker, he would probably play right defensive end. He is a bit undersized, but his strength is far better than the majority of right ends.

All in all, I do think the most pressing need is to protect Palmer. The entire offense is built around him, and it seems foolish not to ensure he stays healthy.

Many fans would love to have a nasty linebacker in the middle like Rey Maualuga. But he probably is a better inside linebacker than a MLB in a 4-3 scheme. If for some reason, Cincinnatis swings a trade down to the middle of round 1, then Maualuga could be considered.

Next on the clock: Oakland Raiders

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Previous Pick: Kansas City Chiefs

4. Seattle Seahawks

- Michael Crabtree (WR/Texas Tech)

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The Seahawks suffered last year for many reasons. Most noticeably because they couldn’t get the offense going. Matt Hasselbeck was injured for the bulk of the season, and the receiving corps suffered the same fate. Deon Branch is a capable receiver when he is healthy, but Bobby Engram (36 years old) has seen his best days fade into the distance. If new coach Mora decides to go with offense first, I think Michael Crabtree is their man.

Crabtree is a big target who plays even bigger. There are faster players on the field, but few defenders quick enough to cover him can match his power and aggression.  Even though he failed to work out at the combine, his film speaks for itself. The Red Raider receiver racked up 40 touchdowns and 3,000 yards receiving over his two years of playing!

The Seahawks would be glad to have “Crab” since he is one of the very best players in the draft.

-Eugene Monroe (LT/Virginia)

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If Crabtree isn’t their man, then Seattle could go one of two ways: left tackle or defensive tackle. The o-line allowed an average number of sacks (36). But the anchor for the past decade, Walter Jones, is 35 years old.

Eugene Monroe could step in and play any position on the line reasonably well, where he could wait in the wings for Jones to retire.  Monroe is very athletically gifted, and is a student of the game.

If Jason Smith hasn’t been chosen by now, he could easily be considered right here. They might even wait until round 2 to select a talented tackle.

-B.J. Raji (DT/Boston College)

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In an attempt to get bigger on the defensive front, Seattle could look at B.J. Raji from Boston College. I’ve heard how the Seahawks want to hold up better against really physical teams like the Vikings. Selecting a big tackle would help that endeavor. However, the 4-3 defensive scheme that the Seahawks run doesn’t place as high a value on tackles as does the 3-4 defense. In that case, Seattle may look to grab a quality tackle in round 2.

Next on the clock: Cleveland Browns

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Previous Pick: St. Louis Rams

3. Kansas City Chiefs

-Aaron Curry (OLB/Wake Forest)

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If Scott Pioli takes a trick from Belichik’s hat, he may not choose a young linebacker so early. But the situation certainly seems ripe for a pick at linebacker if one is available.  Derrick Johnson has been inconsistent, and fellow linebacker Donnie Edwards was recently released. If you include the switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defensive scheme, it seems likely that Kansas City will grab a rush linebacker to help with their abysmal pass rush.

If Aaron Curry is still here at this pick, then the Chiefs should take him. Simply put, Curry can do everything a linebacker should do: rush the passer, stop the run, cover receivers, and provide leadership qualities.

-Brian Orakpo (DE/Texas)

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In the event that Curry is taken, the Chiefs might take a look at another intriguing player with great upside.  Nagurski award winner Brian Orakpo is as physically built as any player in the league.  At 6’3 and 263 lbs. Orakpo has the size and speed (4.70 sec) to put his hand down and rush the quarterback. Had it not been for injuries, he would have probably registered more than his 10.5 sacks for the season.

Therein lies Orakpo’s major issue: injuries.  Somehow the Texas defensive end can’t stay healthy for any long duration. During his junior year, he missed 4 games due to knee problems. This year, he suffered a knee injury against Texas Tech, having to sit out 1.5 games. And he even pulled a hamstring during the combine.

-B.J. Raji (DT/Boston College)

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Besides outside linebacker, the nose tackle can make or break a 3-4 defense. A big, strong space eater who can draw double and triple teams is the ideal player at this spot. Depending on whether the Chiefs think Glen Dorsey can hold the middle, they could go for a true nose tackle prospect.

In this draft, B.J. Raji is the most capable man for the job. Able to rush the passer and anchor in the run, he definitely cannot be single blocked, as was witnessed at the Senior Bowl.

Some teams may question him because of some behavior issues. But other than that, I like him very much.

Next on the clock: Seattle Seahawks

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