JACKSONVILLE – We made it, at last.
At long, long last.
Was it always easy? Was it always pretty? Was it always correct?
No, no and almost definitely no, but most things aren't. It's darned sure true most NFL mock drafts aren't either, but nevertheless, the 2013 jaguars.com reader mock draft at last has reached its end, reaching it in the only place that seems appropriate.
That is, with the No.33 overall selection.
That's the first selection of the second round, and with the Jaguars possessing that pick, it seemed only logical to extend the usual one-round, 32-team format of our little corner of the mockiverse by one selection this year.
So, here were are, and anyone who has followed this mock from the beginning knows there's really no other way to start this final day than with a nice, sound criticism of the mock as a whole.
"This mock is horrible," David wrote, and while Michael Lee Ensing II didn't exactly disagree, the latter showed a better feel for what this effort is all about, adding, "but it's all for fun. Nobody thinks all this will happen but it's fun to mess around with."
Ah, perspective.
HectorO went as far as to call the entire process "comedic," citing the New York Giants' selection of Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o in the first round. This idea of Te'o to the Giants to HectorO was as ridiculous as a lot of picks in this, and other mock drafts, are to others for various reasons. Such is the debatable element of mock drafts.
Mike Eels helped us back on track by noting that although the selections late in the first round were at times a bit odd, those selections had the effect of leaving the Jaguars with some intriguing options at the top of the second round.
The option that seemed to appeal to most was trading down, and indeed, trading seems an ideal for the Jaguars early in the draft. This is a team in need of players at many positions, and with no clear-cut option at No. 2, it stands to reason the Jaguars would love to trade down from that spot.
That seems increasingly unlikely, but it seems far more of a possibility that the Jaguars would be able to trade out of No. 33. That wouldn't generate near the haul that a move down from No. 2 could draw, but first-year General Manager David Caldwell has indicated there would be interest. If other teams are interested, he almost certainly would be, too.
But in this reader mock draft, there are no trades. With the Jaguars locked in at No. 33, a final debate began.
There was sentiment in many directions, and with the Jaguars not having signed a right tackle in free agency, that position remained a point of emphasis among the mockers.
"A ton of zone blocking RT's available in this draft: Jordan Mills, Dallas Thomas, Kyle Long, David Bakhtiari, David Quessenberry, Reid Fragel, Tanner Hawkinson, Brennan Williams, Rick Wagner, Braden Brown, and many more as well," Austin Jarrett wrote.
Considering the length of Jarrett's list, there may not be "many" more available, and considering the length, it stands to reason you may be able to get a right tackle at the top of the third round.
With that in mind, we moved on, and while there was talk of defensive line in the form of Tank Carradine or Sylvester Williams, the debate quickly focused on quarterback and safety.
Some readers liked the idea of local favorite and former Florida State quarterback E.J. Manuel, whose stock has risen since the end of last season.
"E.J. Manuel... nothing like a little insurance on the QB situation," loghyc wrote.
Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib also got consideration. He seems likely to be gone to a team trading into the first round in the real draft, but with trades not an option here, he remains on the board.
Which brings us to the safety situation.
Through the first round, Kenny Vaccaro of Texas is the lone safety off the board. He went to the Rams at No. 22, and to the chagrin and embarrassment of some readers, that thus far has been it at the position.
No more.
There was sentiment for Florida safety Matt Elam, who could go late in the first round, but there was a bit more for another player who many project as a possible mid-first rounder.
"For purposes of this draft, Jags take Jonathan Cyprien," Litigious Quaker wrote. "Second best safety in the draft and a position of need. I think he will be gone in the first round, though.
"Cyprien!!!" PhaZe10 wrote.
OK!!!, and with that, the first 33 selections of the jaguars.com 2013 reader mock looks like:
1.Kansas City | Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
2.Jacksonville | Dion Jordan, DE/ LB, Oregon
3.Oakland | Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
4.Philadelphia | Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
5.Detroit | Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
6.Cleveland | Ziggy Ansah, DE, Brigham Young
7.Arizona | Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
8.Buffalo | Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
9.New York Jets | Barkevious Mingo, DE/LB, LSU
10.Tennessee | Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama
11.San Diego | Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina
- Miami | Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
- Tampa Bay | Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
- Carolina | Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
- New Orleans | Jarvis Jones, LB, Georgia
- St. Louis | Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
- Pittsburgh | Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
18, Dallas | Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
- New York Giants | Manti Te'o, LB, Notre Dame
- Chicago | Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia
21.Cincinnati | D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
- St. Louis | Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
- Minnesota | Keenan Allen, WR, California
- Indianapolis | Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State
- Minnesota | Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
- Green Bay Packers | Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama
- Houston | DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson
- Denver | Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State
- New England | Margus Hunt, DE, Southern Methodist
- Atlanta | Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
- San Francisco |Matt Elam, S, Florida
- Baltimore | Kevin Minter, ILB, Louisiana State
33, Jacksonville | Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International
And with that we come to the end, at last. Was it easy? Pretty? Correct? No, not always and maybe not often, but if we did this right, it mostly was a lot of fun – even with the criticism, biting and complaining. It was certainly fun from this end, and here's hoping it was for you.
Now, we can all get back to complaining about more important, less-entertaining things.
Have at it.
