Picks: DE Derrick Harvey, DE Quentin Groves, LB Thomas Williams, CB Trae Williams, RB Chauncey Washington
Positives: Harvey and Groves
Negatives: Gave away took many draft picks.
Bottom line: C+. This is not a criticism of the players the Jaguars took. Harvey is one of the most dynamic pass rushers in the draft, capable of playing both outside and inside. He’s going to be a force. Groves is only a step or two behind. However, how quickly will these guys make it? The Jags are in position to compete for a title and there’s a good argument that they could have nabbed Dolphins DE Jason Taylor with some of those picks. It’s a pretty good bet that Taylor will have more sacks over the next two years than either Harvey or Groves. Maybe more than them combined.

Furthermore, The Times Union reported that the VP of Player Personel for the Jaguars, James “Shack” Harris, said on the pick, “In Harvey, we add an every-down end that has a quick first step. He has some pass-rush history with 11 sacks as a junior. This year, because Florida lost so many linemen, he was getting doubled a lot, and he still had 8.5sacks.”

Harvey said on getting picked by the Jaguars, “I was watching the draft with my family, and I saw the Jacksonville Jaguars come up, and I was like, ‘Oh, Jacksonville.’ I kind of figured they were going to pick me because they needed a defensive end.”

The Washington Post reported on their area-native’s happiness during the time of his pick when he was on the phone with Jags HC Jack Del Rio. “Coach, can you hold on a second so I can hear them call my name?” And Del Rio let him sink in the moment of cheers, screams, hugs and tears.

The Jags had to give up an awful lot to do it, but in the end, they felt that highly about DE Derrick Harvey of Florida that they made the move with the Ravens to move up to the 8 spot to take him.  Harvey is 6-foot-4, and 271 pounds, and last season at Florida had 8.5 sacks with 49 tackles and 17 tackles for losses.  Some think that the pick is a stretch, and considering the team gave up two #3 picks and a #4 pick to get him, he had better live up to the hype for a defense that needs to get better to hang around in the AFC South.

Here is a scouting report on Harvey from NFLdraftcountdown.com

Strengths:
Excellent athleticism…Good size with long arms and the frame to get bigger…Has a great motor…Very quick with a great first step…Plays faster than he times and has a burst to close…Great instincts and awareness…Has terrific range and does a good job in pursuit…Does a solid job against the run…Has decent strength and power…Offers some versatility…Plays with a nasty demeanor…Awfully productive.

Weaknesses:
Lacks elite speed…Could stand to bulk up a bit…Needs to add some more moves to his pass rush repertoire..Can get overpowered at the point of attack..Will have to improve his hand use…Struggles to shed blocks once massive offensive tackles are able to lock on…Must do a much better job of protecting his lower extremities.

Notes:
Was a 5-Star recruit coming out of high school…Redshirted in ‘04 and saw limited action as a backup in 2005…Started five games as a sophomore while playing in a rotation…Recorded 3 sacks against Ohio St. and was named Defensive MVP of the ‘07 Tostitos BCS National Championship Game…Only started 18 college games…Is not quite as fast or athletic as Jarvis Moss but might be a better pro prospect…A prototypical 43 defensive end and might be able to play outside linebacker in a 34 scheme as well..One of the premier pass rushers available for the 2008 NFL Draft.

Edgar Thompson, of The Palm Beach Post, reported that the Jacksonville Jaguars may not be interested in trading too much for Miami Dolphins DE Jason Taylor. As of now, a draft day trade doesn’t seem in the plans if the Jaguars are wanting to trade any of their second day picks. The Miami Dolphins and Bill Parcells know Taylor’s talent. Parcells has said he’s not trading Taylor, and Taylor’s expressed mixed feelings. All in all, Taylor hits 34 in September, and the defensive end still plays like an All-Pro worth a late Jags first round pick.

Del Rio said on the possibility of a trade with the Dolphins, “In the history of our league, rarely are talented players that still have a lot to offer, rarely are teams willing to part with those players.”

A reason why the Jaguars might not trade their first or second+ round pick for Taylor could be for the same reason that the Jaguars didn’t go after former Chiefs DE Jared Allen. Thompson reported that Jags HC Jack Del Rio cited that he wouldn’t want to take on that player and deal because it will disrupt team chemistry. Allen, now in Minnesota, gets $31 million guaranteed for his new contract with the Vikings.

Del Rio said on trading and paying for Allen, “You’re talking about making him the highest-paid guy in the history of the franchise. What message are you sending to your locker room in terms of the type of people you’re rewarding?”

WEEK 1 1:00PM Sunday, Sept. 7 Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tennessee Titans
WEEK 2 1:00PM Sunday, Sept. 14 Buffalo Bills @ Jacksonville Jaguars
WEEK 3 1:00PM Sunday, Sept. 21 Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts
WEEK 4 1:00PM Sunday, Sept. 28 Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars
WEEK 5 8:15PM Sunday, Oct. 5 Pittsburgh Steelers @ Jacksonville Jaguars
WEEK 6 4:05PM Sunday, Oct. 12 Jacksonville Jaguars @ Denver Broncos
WEEK 7 BYE
WEEK 8 4:05PM Sunday, Oct. 26 Cleveland Browns @ Jacksonville Jaguars
WEEK 9 1:00PM Sunday, Nov. 2 Jacksonville Jaguars @ Cincinnati Bengals
WEEK 10 1:00PM Sunday, Nov. 9 Jacksonville Jaguars @ Detroit Lions
WEEK 11 12:00PM Sunday, Nov. 16 Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts
WEEK 12 8:15PM Sunday, Nov. 23 Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars
WEEK 13 8:30PM Monday, Dec. 1 Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans
WEEK 14 1:00PM Sunday, Dec. 7 Jacksonville Jaguars @ Chicago Bears
WEEK 15 12:00PM Sunday, Dec. 14 Green Bay Packers @ Jacksonville Jaguars
WEEK 16 8:15PM Thursday, Dec. 18 Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars
WEEK 17 12:00PM Sunday, Dec. 28 Jacksonville Jaguars @ Baltimore Ravens