2011 NFL Draft Team Needs: Jacksonville Jaguars

Entering the 2010 NFL season as an after thought in the AFC South, the Jacksonville Jaguars emerged as a contender in the division late in the season. The Jags were eventually upended by the Colts in week fifteen, but the season marked a major step forward for the franchise. Not only did starters emerge on both sides of the ball, but Jacksonville was able to avoid blackouts all season long.

With the attendance issues on the back burner, the football world can now focus on the admirable job general manager Gene Smith has done constructing this team. Building from the inside out, Smith has found a pair of bookend offensive tackles in Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton along with two stud interior defensive linemen in Tyson Alualu and Terrance Knighton. Meanwhile, veterans Maurice Jones-Drew, David Garrard, and Marcedes Lewis appear to be hitting their stride.

Of course, Jacksonville still has a ways to go in terms of building a consistent winner. The pass rush showed signs of life early in the season, but Aaron Kampman's knee injury put the Jags right back where they started, finishing second to last in the league in sacks. The lack of a consistent pass rush contributed to the disgraceful secondary that allowed 250 yards a game through the air. Those two areas will need to be addressed if Jacksonville is ever going to claim the division title over Peyton Manning.

1. Defensive Back - The Jaguars need help across the board in the secondary. Rashean Mathis is a capable corner, but Jacksonville needs to find a quality talent across from him. Derek Cox has had an up and down career thus far, and while it's too early to give up on him, GM Gene and company need to add some depth. In addition to corner, both safeties could be upgraded. Don Carey does not belong in any starting lineup and Courtney Greene is solid, but unspectacular. The Jaguars will need to address the secondary early and often during the 2011 NFL Draft.

2. Defensive End - As previously mentioned, Jacksonville has had issues with their pass rush for years. Early draft picks and money in free agency have been thrown at the position to no avail. Austen Lane and Larry Hart are promising prospects, and Aaron Kampman's recovery will go a long way towards helping this pass rush, but the Jags clearly need to find an every down defensive end. Ryan Kerrigan is a popular choice for the Jaguars in a lot mock drafts.

3. Developmental Quarterback - David Garrard is firmly in place as the Jaguars' starting quarterback. However, Jacksonville has not drafted a quarterback since Byron Leftwich. Gene Smith has made it known that his team has been ignoring the position for far too long and it will be addressed during this draft. Whether or not David Garrard is a reliable starter is not the issue. Either way the Jaguars need to start grooming his successor. Jacksonville could be hot on the trail of second tier guys like Jake Locker, Christian Ponder, and Andy Dalton.