The Jacksonville Jaguars spent early 2014 NFL Draft picks on wide receivers Marqise Lee and Allen Robison and signed surprising free agent success story Allen Hurns shortly after the draft, meaning the team already had an abundance of big, athletic playmakers at the pass-catching position under head coach Gus Bradley.
"Sources say the team is very excited about Robinson and envision him being their No. 1 receiver," reports Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com. "They say that the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder Robinson has the chance to be a special player in the NFL. They also told us that Lee has flashed at times, but injuries have held him back along with some homesickness for Los Angeles. Jacksonville also found a steal with undrafted free agent Allen Hurns who had 51 receptions for 677 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie. Jacksonville envisions that trio being their top three receivers in 2015."
Still, it seems, according to Campbell, that when their third-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft rolled around and former Arizona State wideout Jaelen Strong remained on the board, Bradley and GM David Caldwell came very close to again adding to their stable of pass-catchers.
"Ultimately, sources said the Jaguars felt that the offensive line needed more talent and competition. Thus, they took South Carolina guard A.J. Cann. Former Bronco Zane Beadles was a disappointment in his first season in Jacksonville, and the front office felt that Cann could push Beadles. Judging by the sounds of it, Jacksonville had Strong graded higher than Cann, but after Bortles took a beating in his first year, the offensive line need won out over taking another receiver," writes Campbell.
Considering the ample promise shown by Robison and Hurns last season and the expectation that another year will allow Lee to more fully integrate himself into the Jacksonville offense and ingratiate himself to Bortles, the decision not to draft Strong, enticing though it may have been, makes sense.
Especially considering Cann, whose ultimate NFL future may be center, is likely set for significant snaps from Day One at the left guard spot. At the very least, he should be able, as ESPN's Mike DiRocco suggests, give the disappointing Beadles a run for his money.
"The 6-foot-3, 318-pound Cann will start out at guard but eventually could transition to center. His better spot right now is at left guard because teams generally play their more athletic guard on the left side," writes DiRocco.
While Strong would have given the Jags a receiver group with a significant chance to become one of the league's elite, protecting Bortles and giving him ample time in the pocket, which should then help him, along with Robinson, Lee, Hurns and recent fifth-rounder Rashad Greene, develop further in the long-run, was probably the best play for a franchise that hasn't given its fans much to cheer about in recent seasons.
