Jaguars Mailbag: What Did We Learn in Free Agency?

In this week's mailbag, we take questions on Brandon Aiyuk, free agency, the No. 17 pick, and more.

Throughout the offseason, we will be taking questions on the biggest questions facing the Jacksonville Jaguars.

You can submit your questions every week by tweeting them to the Jaguar Report Twitter handle or by submitting them here.

This week we take questions on free agency, Brandon Aiyuk and more.

Q: Is Ennis Rakestraw the pick?

A: I'll call my shot and still sit on the fence: I think the pick will be either Terrion Arnold or Kool-Aid McKinstry. 

Q: Mitchell, Odunze, Fauga all available at 17. Where ya going?

A: I only see maybe Mitchell being there, but I would take Odunze. I would even trade up for Odunze. I think he is the second best wideout in the class.

Q: Could you see the Jaguars entertaining a trade up to 9 if Rome Odunze makes it there? It gives them the X they've been missing and I can see it happening if there's a run of QBs and a couple tackles. How steep would that price be?

A: I could. The Jaguars lost a No. 1 receiver in Calvin Ridley, and they know it. Odunze could be a No. 1 as early as his rookie year. I think doing the New Orleans Saints trade (swap firsts, throw in a third and a fourth) could get it done. I would offer a sixth, too, if that would get it over the goal line. 

Q: Apropos you're recent adventure, which Jaguar past or present do you think would give the best Best Man speech?

A: I will go with Abry Jones. He could hold court in a locker room.

Q: In your opinion, who is the worst CB the Jags could take, and how big of a miss do you think that guy would be between 1-5 (1 as in CJ Henderson and 5 is a serviceable DB)

A: Uhhhhhh, I guess from my early viewing I would say Nate Wiggins. I just think he is a poor fit for their scheme. With that said, I like him as a player in a vacuum, so toward a 5.

Q: Would a trade for Hassan Reddick (or other high profile pass rusher) make sense money/cap wise if Jags also bring back Josh Allen either on the franchise tag or long-term deal?

A: I simply don't see it because of what the Jaguars have shown us their priority on the edge is. They were looking at backup options last year, not starters. The only things that have changed since then were career-high sack marks being set by Travon Walker and Josh Allen. 

Q: Trade a 2nd and 6th for Sneed… providing his stock doesn't shoot up trade back for AD Mitchell while recouping some draft capital. Thoughts and what letter grade would you give these overall transactions?

A: It would fill both needs at receiver and cornerback, so I don't think anyone can knock it. The only issue would be having to make Sneed one of the highest paid defensive backs in NFL history. He is good, but he isn't market-setting good. I would give it a B+, probably. 

Q: Does backloading contracts and pushing money down the road concern you when Trevor’s extension kicks in?

A: No, because they still have a lot of players coming off the books in the next few years. I would be more concerned about their hit rate during the draft than I would about all of the void years they are doing, though it is worth raising an eyebrow at both.

Q: Do you think any more cuts come before the start of the season, and if so which players?

A: I don't think so. I think they have moved on from everyone they wanted to move on from. Now is about replacing.

Q: People will hate this but, is LB an overlooked need? NFL runs on nickel but seems like Jags do not have a 3rd off ball LB worthy of seeing the field.

A: Look at all of the Day 3 linebackers the Jaguars have seemingly been in contact with during the draft process. I think they take a linebacker in round four or round five. 

Q: Do you think the Jags are going to be able to convert third and 1 this year having only replaced one position on the OL? Do they honestly think Fortner was the only problem or can we expect them to address the OL early in the draft?

A: I think it fixes a lot of issues, but not all. They didn't block well as a unit last year, and their running backs didn't help them very often, either. I think they do better in this regard, but maybe not significantly. 

Q: Does the team feel comfortable moving forward with Zay Jones as WR3 (paying him a lot of money) or are they still looking to upgrade the room (possibly in the draft)?

A: We will see. It makes a lot of sense on paper to post-June 1st Jones and draft a rookie to play his role. I think there is a chance of that happening, but I wouldn't lock it in.

Q: How do you think the Jags right now stack up against the rest of the division? It seems as though every team has added or gotten better, but to varying degrees

A: I think it is still them and Houston at the top, with the Colts right behind them and the Titans a good bit away. If the Colts' had an obvious answer on the Anthony Richardson evaluation, I would probably make it a three-way tie. I don't think anyone is significantly better among the three.

Q: What’s the worst FA move an AFC South team has made so far?

A: I do not understand the Tony Pollard or Kenneth Murray additions. Like, even a little bit. Overall, I thought the AFC South had a nice week though. 

Q: What’s the next logical team things the Jags need to address prior to the draft?

A: I think signing a veteran edge rusher like Bud Dupree or Yannick Ngakoue would still make a lot of sense. I am a Trevis Gipson fan, but that rotation looks a lot better with a fourth guy added to it.

Q: Better WR fit, AD Mitchell or Brian Thomas at 17?

A: I will go with AD Mitchell. Brian Thomas is much faster than Gabe Davis in terms of 40 speed, but I am not sure how different their roles would be. I think Mitchell can give you a bit more in terms of versatility. 

Q: Do you think Jax will stay more multiple up front vs a true even/odd front?

A: Get ready to learn 4-2-5, buddy.

Q: Hi john. In case Mitchell and Arnold are gone, and Verse and McKinstry or other CB are still there, what do you think they do?

A: I think they would take the cornerback, in this scenario. 

Q: Do you think Travon will benefit from Nielsen’s new scheme with its emphasis on the d line? And also with him moving a shade more inside as compared to last year?

A: I think he might play more inside than he did under Mike Caldwell, but that is mostly because he never played any significant snaps inside. I think he will still major as an edge rusher, but I do think Nielsen's scheme and coaching will be a big boon for him.

Q: What are the legitimate odds of a trade for L'Jarius Sneed and would the price tag be a 1st or 2nd round pick? If the trade was made would it be likely that a tackle was taken (with the remaining 1st or 2nd) and the team would move on from Cam in order to clear space and have 2 tackles on rookie deals for the next 4 years?

A: I don't think any team is giving up a first for him. You just don't see many defensive backs get that kind of haul. If they were to trade for him -- and I do not think they are -- then yeah, I would imagine a trench player would be next on the docket. 

Q: Do you think Trent not giving up the first round pick for Aiyuk gives insight into who they’re planning to take with it? wanting to take someone who they don’t think will be there at 48? And if so do you think it would be receiver or something else

A: No. I do not think anything related to Brandon Aiyuk was anything more than kicking the tires. There is chatter around a lot of players with the Jaguars, and with all teams. Chatter without legs doesn't mean much. I don't think this had legs, and I don't think it means anything for No. 17. I think it was simply a great player being available and the Jaguars doing their due diligence, much like they do with a lot of players.

Q: In terms of an Aiyuk trade - besides giving up 17, what are the downsides long term? Would it not be a good thing to get an elite talent, free Zay's cap room, and possibly move on from Kirk next year (13.7M savings, roughly equal dead cap)? It feels much easier to draft and develop a Kirk replacement than it is to find a proven talent like Aiyuk. 

A: I don't think you can say besides giving up No. 17, because that is the downside here. The 49ers wouldn't look much different if they traded Aiyuk and replaced him with a cheap receiver deal, which is also an argument against the Jaguars making the move. Aiyuk is really, really good, but I do not know if giving up a first would make sense considering the rest of the long-term holes on the roster.

Q: Do you think the Jaguars are done at WR? And if they are, is it possible it ends up looking like the Marvin, Kirk, Zay room, but with higher upside because of Gabe’s size and big play ability? Thanks for great coverage on the jaguars!

A: As of today, I do. I think they look at the position during the first three rounds of the draft, but I think they can and/or will sell themselves on this as a Week 1 unit, especially since Evan Engram is more or less a receiver for them.