On the Clock: Jacksonville Jaguars

<p><em>Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky</em></p> <p><strong>Team needs</strong>: Receiver, defensive tackle, offensive tackle, defensive back</p> <p> <table border="0" cellspacing="4" cellpadding="0" width="203" align="right"> <tr> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td><img src="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2009/0408/nfl_a_raji1_sw_200.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td align="left"><font size="1" style="line-height: 1em">AP Photo/Michael Conroy</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td>&nbsp;</td> <td align="left"><font size="1" style="line-height: 1em"><strong>It's unlikely that Boston College defensive lineman B.J. Raji will still be on the board at No 8, but if he is, expect the Jaguars to jump.</strong></font></td> </tr> </table> <strong>Dream scenario</strong>: It's possible the Jaguars could have the best player at two need positions on the board when they draft at No. 8. <a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2009&id=24682">Michael Crabtree</a> of Texas Tech could be around, and while Jacksonville may be wary of first-round receivers based on past failures -- R. Jay Soward, <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=5534" target="_new">Reggie Williams</a>, <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=8436" target="_new">Matt Jones</a> -- it would be hard to resist a prime weapon for <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=3636" target="_new">David Garrard</a> considering the team's top receivers now are <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=2163" target="_new">Dennis Northcutt</a> and <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=10523" target="_new">Mike Walker</a>. Still, new general manager Gene Smith has talked a lot about starting to build by concentrating on the foundation, and Boston College defensive tackle <a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?id=24657&draftyear=2009" target="_blank">B.J. Raji</a> could do a lot to help the interior line. Paired with <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=3537" target="_new">John Henderson</a>, Raji could help return the team regain the identity it enjoyed with the Henderson-<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=2561" target="_new">Marcus Stroud</a> combo and help take attention away from second-year ends <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=11241" target="_new">Derrick Harvey</a> and <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=11286" target="_new">Quentin Groves</a>.</p> <p><strong>Plan B:</strong> The Jaguars have lots of holes and if they can't address one directly with No. 8, the way Smith has talked of building through the draft, it's hard to imagine he wouldn't want to bump back to gather extra picks. Maybe the Jaguars are really interested in USC quarterback <a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2009&id=24676">Mark Sanchez</a>. But they struggled to sign Harvey last season. It would surely be harder to strike a deal with a top 10 quarterback who they don't expect to start this year. Perhaps they want someone else who's interested to come up and get Sanchez here. The Jaguars <a href="/blogs/afcsouth/0-9-42/Trading-into-it-last-year--Jags-set-market-for-No--8.html" target="_blank">traded into this pick</a> last year, so teams will have a good sense of what it would take to to make a deal.</p> <p><strong>Scouts Inc. take</strong>: "After signing <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=1447" target="_new">Tra Thomas</a>, the Jaguars are now able to draft a project offensive tackle later in the draft as opposed to reaching in the first round for <a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2009&id=24678">Andre Smith</a> or <a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2009&id=23889">Michael Oher</a>. But, the Jaguars are not deficient in terms of glaring needs and wide receiver ranks right at the very top of that list. Michael Crabtree would be the ideal selection and in my opinion, as getting the best player in the draft at number eight would be a complete steal. Still, chances are that Crabtree doesn't make it that far. Is <a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2009&id=24673">Jeremy Maclin</a> worth that pick for Jacksonville? He certainly could be considering the position he plays and his big play ability, but overall, he isn't polished enough to come in an immediately be a go-to option. Two defensive players to keep an eye on are B.J. Raji, who is also unlikely to still be available but would be a tremendous get for the Jags, and <a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2009&id=23967">Malcolm Jenkins</a>, who could be exactly what Jacksonville needs to sure up their ailing and thin secondary. Mark Sanchez has been mentioned here, but I just don't see that happening." -- <strong>Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc.</strong></p> <p><strong>Who has final say</strong>: Jack Del Rio's desires will certainly be heard, but Smith made it clear when he took the post that he's got the final say on both draft picks and the roster.</p> <p><strong>On the Clock</strong>: <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=oak"></a><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=oak" target="_new">Oakland Raiders</a>.</p> <p><strong>Previous On the Clock</strong>: <a href="/blogs/nflnation/0-7-118/On-the-Clock--Green-Bay-Packers.html" target="_blank">Green Bay Packers</a>. The <a href="/blogs/nflnation?tag=on%20the%20clock" target="_blank">team-by-team series</a>.</p>

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