With two selections in the first round and 11 choices overall, the Jacksonville Jaguars head into their fourth college draft with plenty of options when the 63rd NFL draft takes place Saturday and Sunday, April 18-19. The Jaguars have the ninth and 25th selections in the first round of the draft, the first time they have had two first-round picks since their inaugural draft in 1995.
The two-day selection process will begin at 12:00 noon on Saturday, April 18, with the first three rounds being completed that day. The remaining four rounds will begin at 11:00 a.m. Sunday, April 19.
"The basic thinking I have going into this draft is that with picks at No. 9, 25, 56 and 85, there are going to be four very solid football players for the Jaguars at the conclusion of the first day," said Jaguars head coach Tom Coughlin. "We have some positions of need that we've identified, and we're very much aware of the fact there are some outstanding football players in the areas where we will be picking. There's a never-ending battle between the value of a player and need. The draft has been driven by need in the last few years, and I don't see that changing."
On talk that the Jaguars might trade up in the draft, Coughlin said, "It's always a possibility, but the price has been very high up to this point. You have to be absolutely sure what you want to accomplish because it's going to be very costly to go up. On the other hand, trading down to get additional picks might be the thing to do, too. It all depends on what the value is."
In addition to the two first-round picks, the Jaguars have nine other choices. They will alternate with the Pittsburgh Steelers - with whom they tied with 11-5 records in 1997 - in each round.
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JAGUARS 1998 ROSTER SUMMARY CB Dave Thomas (Dallas '93)
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