Publish a few and you learn quickly that what comes your way is what the name suggests – a lot of mocking, with public ridicule thrown in, too.
If that wasn't clear before, versions 1.0 and 2.0 of the jaguars.com 2012 mock draft showed it, with the selections for the Jaguars in each effort drawing healthy and passionate combinations of ridicule, disbelief and my favorite, scorn.
To review:
*v 1.0 mocked Whitney Mercilus to the Jaguars at No. 7. A defensive end from the University of Illinois, Mercilus drew ridicule as a reach – i.e., someone few had heard of at the time. There were those who claimed I knew nothing about the draft. There were also a few who believed I selected Mercilus to curry favor from new Jaguars owner Shad Khan, a proud alumnus of Illinois. While hardly against currying, the truth is I didn't think of the Khan angle. I mocked him there to note that the Jaguars likely would want to trade the No. 7 selection, and if they did, a pass rusher such as Mercilus later in the round made sense. I also noted that by late April, he almost certainly wouldn't be the likely selection at 7. Two days before the draft, that appears to be case.
v 2.0 gave the Jaguars Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox. The uproar was expected and deafening. *A silly selection. Another Gene Smith reach. Another defensive tackle. *Oehser's an idiot. *The last may be true, but the closer we get to the real draft the less silly the idea of Cox appears. He's solidly in the Top 10 in most mocks, and there are those who believe he may be gone before the Jaguars get a chance to select.
With that, on to v 3.0 – the final version – and while the Jaguars' selection in this mock will be wildly popular in some circles, it's sure to draw ire in others. Such is the nature of mocking.
The selection: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
And before we cue the applause from the side of the room loving Blackmon's college production and tape – read: YouTube highlights – let's clarify that there are a couple of pretty critical reasons the selection might not happen.
First, is that Blackmon has to be there. The Vikings are reportedly considering him at No. 3, and the Rams are a possibility at No. 6. But the gut here is Minnesota sticks with Southern California left tackle Matt Kalil and that new Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher sticks to his history of liking to build around defensive tackles. That would send Cox to the Rams, leaving Blackmon there for the Jaguars. Then the question becomes is that who the Jaguars want? Even considering the need at receiver, it's no lock.
The Jaguars in recent weeks have been connected with cornerback Stephon Gilmore of South Carolina, Cox, South Carolina defensive end Melvin Ingram and in the last few days, you even see logical connections with Syracuse defensive end Chandler Jones. All make some degree of sense, all fit the Jaguars' profile, and with Jaguars General Gene Smith you know one thing for certain: he's going to pick who he believes is the best player.
Blackmon's popularity won't matter a bit.
Trading remains an option, too. It has been reported with equal certainty the Jaguars will be able to trade and that it will be impossible. Such is the nature of pre-draft buzz, but the team wants to do it, and the only time trade talk really matters is when a team is on the clock. If the phone is ringing, the Jaguars will be answering, and what they will be hearing is anyone's guess.
Still, every mock needs a pick, and for this mock – the last jaguars.com mock of 2012 – the pick is Blackmon.
While we cue the applause – and the ridicule – here's version 3.0 of the jaguars.com 2012 mock draft:
- Colts | Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
Comment: The Colts officially announced it this week. No surprise. It's been Luck to Indy for a long time.
- Redskins | Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
Comment: The first round should be off to a quick start
- Vikings | Matt Kalil, OT, Southern California
Comment: There's debate about Morris Claiborne or Kalil, but for now, it seems to be Kalil
- Browns | Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
Comment: QB Ryan Tannehill will get consideration, but Richardson safest bet here
- Buccaneers | Morris Claiborne, CB, Louisiana State
Comment: Don't see the Bucs passing on Richardson here if he's still on the board
- Rams | Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State
Comment: Rams could very well take Blackmon, but Jeff Fisher likes building around defensive line
- Jaguars | Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
Comment: Very tough to not take him if he's here
- Dolphins | Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
Comment: Very few aren't mocking him here. Can it be this obvious?
- Panthers | Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
Comment: He may not be here, but if he is, he wins out over Dontari Poe and Luke Kuechly
- Bills | Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
Comment: Riley Reiff and Kuechly make sense here, but the Bills need help offensively
- Chiefs | David DeCastro, G, Stanford
Comment: Chiefs choose DeCastro over Kuechly. Either way, there's a high probability of success
- Seahawks | Luke Kuechly, MLB, Boston College
Comment: Melvin Ingram is a possibility here, but Kuechly may be one of steals of draft
- Cardinals | Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina
Comment: Cardinals need offensive line help, but temptation for Ingram could be impossible to ignore
- Cowboys | Mark Barron, S, Alabama
Comment: All signs point to this being the Cowboys' pick if someone doesn't trade up to get him
- Eagles | Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
Comment: Talent like his only slides so far. This is about the right spot to gamble
- Jets | Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis
Comment: Mid first-round is where guys with talent who under produced at times often go
- Bengals | Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
Comment: They need defensive tackle, but they really need corner – and they have the No. 21 pick, too
- Chargers | Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse
Comment: Quickly emerging as perhaps the draft's best pass rusher. Could possibly go higher
- Bears | Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois
Comment: If he's available here, the fit is too good for the Bears to pass
- Titans | Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin
Comment: The Titans are believed to like Mercilus, so trading up an option, too
- Cincinnati | Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
Comment: Adding to an already improving young offense
- Browns | Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
Comment: Would be shocking if he fell this far, but every draft has a shock
- Lions | Andre Branch, DE, Clemson
Comment: Lions would probably like a corner, but the best at that position are off the board
- Steelers | Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
Comment: The Steelers need to get younger and better in a lot of areas. This is one of them
- Broncos | Michael Brockers, DT, Louisiana State
Comment: As good as the Broncos' defense was, it needs help in the middle. He fits
- Texans | Kevin Zeitler, G, Wisconsin
Comment: The Texans sustained losses on the line, and guards can contribute quickly
- Patriots | Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama
Comment: Still don't think he gets by the Patriots
- Packers | Shea McClellin, OLB/DE, Boise State
Comment: Packers need a pass rusher, and if used correctly, McClellin can be that
- Ravens | Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama
Comment: He could go anywhere in the 20s; with Ray Lewis nearing retirement, this makes sense here
- 49ers | Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford
Comment: As much as the offense needs tight ends, Fleener is too good a fit to not go here
- Patriots | Devon Still, DT, Penn State
Comment: If the Patriots address linebacker at No. 27, defensive line could be the choice here
- Giants | Cordy Glenn, OT, Georgia
Comment: Giants like tough offensive linemen with versatility
