2014 DBN Mock Draft: Jacksonville Jaguars Select OLB Khalil Mack at No. 3

With the third pick in the 2014 Dawgs By Nature Community Mock Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select...

Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo

This selection and write-up was made by Bumblyjack:

Last season, Jacksonville's defense was 28th in yards allowed, 25th against the pass, and tied with Chicago for dead last in sacks. They desperately need an impact pass rusher if they want to effectively implement Gus Bradley's Seattle-style 4-3 under scheme. While they missed out on The Clowney, Khalil Mack looks to be an ideal fit for the Jags' LEO position and well worth this pick. The design of this defense (lining him up wider than many weak side ends) could allow Mack to be an every down player from day one, though the Chris Clemons signing enables Gus Bradley to ease him in at whatever pace seems best. Mack has the potential for a ten sack rookie season.

While I don't believe the story that Bradley and GM David Caldwell are completely happy with handing the offense over to Chad Henne, I do think that Mack is the best choice at this pick. There is speculation that they may love Derek Carr due to his success at the Senior Bowl working with the Jaguars' staff. I personally prefer Blake Bortles and he is the other player I was considering here. I would be happy with Bortles, but the drop off at edge rusher is very steep after the top six or seven. Mack, Barr, Ford, and Lawrence project to LEO. Clowney, Crichton, and Ealy would likely play left end in a more traditional front like Michael Bennett did in Seattle last year. All project as impact rushers in the Jaguars' defense (with the exception of maybe Ealy who lacks some ability to dip and bend around the corner) but they will very likely be gone before Jacksonville's second round pick. Others are available but they don't offer as much as pass rushers or have other limitations to their game (Van Noy, Attaochu, Marcus Smith, Murphy, Chris Smith, Jeffcoat, etc.). Chad Henne may be the guy for a year. His successor will either come outside the first round in this draft or in 2015.

The Jaguars' quarterback situation should be addressed here, but I wouldn't mind it in the least if they passed on the position at No. 3 overall. Mentally, I just view this Jaguars team as being so far behind that it's going to take a lot of good drafting (and luck) to get them back into contention -- that's why finding the right franchise quarterback, and not the next Blaine Gabbert, would seem important.

The Cleveland Browns are up next, led by Ryan216.

2014 DBN Community Mock Draft Results (so far)