JACKSONVILLE – Jaguars.com readers/draftniks, rejoice. It's your time of year at last.
While the NFL Draft isn't quite upon us, it's getting a lot closer. We can almost smell it (yes, that's what that smell is) and if the draft is nearly nigh, that means it's kickoff time for what gradually and some might say unfortunately has become a jaguars.com rite of spring:
The reader mock draft.
The astute reader will note that the 2014 jaguars.com mock draft is debuting a few weeks later than last year's version, which debuted later than the first two versions. This isn't evidence of the senior writer's laziness; rather, with the real draft being held May 8-10 rather than late April this year, it seemed best to roll this thing out in mid-April rather than late March.
So, that's what we're doing.
As was the case last year, we're striving to keep the process as tight as possible. Instead of running it each weekday for a little more than six weeks, we're shooting once again to get this done in about three weeks, meaning it should wrap around April 30.
That means we'll once again select the first 10 selections of Round 1 over the first 10 days. After that, we'll go quickly, selecting picks 11-15 one day, 16-20 the next day, 21-26 the day after that and 27-32 the following day.
We'll then pick the first six selections of Round 2, closing it with the Jaguars' scheduled second-round selection, No. 39 overall. Perhaps it's ambitious to go so deep into Round 2; we'll see how it goes.
As always, the idea is to get a feel for what the readers are thinking about the draft – not just about the Jaguars' selection, but beyond. Also as always, the senior writer reserves the right to step in and veto the readers' pick.
That last part never really seems fair, but as we've said before …
Life isn't always fair.
Once again, this reader mock will essentially be the same as all other mocks. It will get more right than wrong – quite probably a lot more. The point, again like all other mock drafts, is to have fun and pass the days until draft day.
The way this works, for those new to the process:
The senior writer will offer up a possibility at the ensuing selection. The readers will then vote on the selection by commenting at the end of the story, with the option of voting for the senior writer's suggestion or offering a name of their own. And remember, no trades.
The "votes" will be tallied. Usually, the leading vote-getter gets the nod. Sometimes, the senior writer steps in because that's how he rolls.
Enough explanation. Time to get this thing started, and toward that end, we'll offer up Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel to the Houston Texans at No. 1. That's a guess, and perhaps not a good one. But it's probably as good as any, and it's sure to get the conversation started.
Have at it.
The Reader Mock Draft is presented by Turner Pest Control.
