And with the #8 Pick in the Arrowhead Pride Mock Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars Select...

Florida WR Percy Harvin

DThomasReigns with the pick...

It is obvious that unless you traded into the top 10 of the draft, you have many holes to fill. The Jaguars are no different.

Holes:
OL - Check. An injury riddled OL last year severely impacted their running and passing games. They lost Khalif Barnes to the Raiders, but signed 34 year old Tra Thomas from the Eagles as a stopgap at LT.
RB - Check. I love Pocket Hercules, but he is not an every down back.
DL - Ch......

Wait. I really don't need to go any further. I had every intention of throwing in a few paragraphs of stats from their hugely disappointing 2008 season, observations on the general state of the team's direction, and a recounting of their offseason moves thus far. However, given who is already off the board, I only ask you one thing: Pretend the Jags are our team. Now, look at this:

Current Jacksonville Jaguars roster - Position, WR

Hughes, Nate
Walker, Mike
Williamson, Troy
Woods, D'Juan

This needs an immediate infusion of not only talent, but impact, fear-inducing, talent at the position. It isn't going to come from what is available on the free agent market, and it isn't going to come from the later rounds of the draft. To this point, Crabtree and Maclin are gone. Heyward-Bey is a height-weight-speed guy who really never performed up to his athletic ability at Maryland. Yes, this is a reach, but the run on WR's in this mock is on, and the Jags are desperate.

Curry, Raji, Jason Smith, Andre Smith, Monroe, Crabtree, and Maclin are gone. Stafford isn't an option this year, coaching jobs are on the line.

Harvin is a game breaker. He can take it all the way as a RB, WR, and kick returner. He has question marks concerning his strength and transition to the NFL game. Regardless of any of the legitimate concerns about him, he is versatile, dangerous, and the Jags best option to instantly provide a real threat at the WR position left at the #8 pick. He doesn't have to be the #1 guy immediately, he can line up in the slot or any other position designed to get him the ball quickly, allowing him to use his instincts and proven athleticism to change the game.

In the first seven picks of this mock, three LT's have been chosen. The only other real LT option at #8 is Michael Oher. It is too early for him to go at #8, and he would sit behind newly acquired LT Tra Thomas. HC Jack Del Rio has lost control over personnel and is on the hot seat. He has to spark the offense. The offensive line is stable enough to be serviceable, but QB David Garrard has absolutely no one to pass the ball. The Jags have to take their shot at an offensive game changer now...and so does Del Rio.

Jacksonville can get solid OL players in later rounds, they can get a solid compliment to Maurice Jones-Drew in later rounds, the can bolster the LB, DL, and secondary in later rounds.

Aside from 2007, the Jaguars offense hasn't been relevant since they had Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell at WR; they must fix it. They take the offensive threat they desperately need, and maybe Del Rio is still HC in 2010.

Previous pick: WR Jeremy Maclin

Read more: Scouting Report (Mocking the Draft), 2008 Review (Alligator Army)

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No more Matt Jones means the Jags are desperate for a receiving threat. I like the pick.