OFF-SEASON THOUGHTS

I miss actual football, guys. I will admit that I did not even watch the Super Bowl because of the amount of pain Tom Brady and the New England Patriots gave me in the AFC Championship game more than a month ago. It's weird because the Jacksonville Jaguars were never supposed to get this far in January. By that time, Duval is at each other's throats arguing whether or not there needs to be a QB change or if the front office is incompetent and needed to be burned at the stake. That's not what happened.

In April, we are in this weird predicament where we actually are selecting in the back in each round of the NFL Draft instead of the front. How fucking crazy is that? However, it also means that it is more likely than not that the team won't be able to nab an automatic game changer in the first round like Jalen Ramsey and Leonard Fournette in the last two Draft Classes by the Jags. So why does this year's NFL Draft feel really important? This off-season will be a true test whether or not the Jags can maintain their 2017 Season for years to come.

The biggest off-season move for the Jaguars has to be the team re-signing QB Blake Bortles to a three year, $54 million contract. Whether you like him or not, he will be the number one guy, again, going into 2018. I personally love Blake Bortles as a person and if you ever talk shit about him to me on here, in-person, or on Twitter, I'll always defend that beautiful man. Here's an snippet from Void Magazine's Impromptu Interview (http://voidlive.com/impromptu-conversation-with-blake-bortles/) that made me, and hopefully y'all, fall in love with my QB even more:

Zach (The Interviewer): Full disclosure... I’m not the biggest sports fan, but I followed the last season closely. It was cool, to me, to see the city really unite behind the team this year.

Blake: This year was totally different. It was a totally different energy and you could tell that when people came up to talk to you out in public they were genuinely happy...

Z: … instead of being assholes?

B: Yeah haha. It was like, "Hey what’s up Blake, you suck." ... "Alright, sweet man."

Z: Do you deal with that s**t a lot?

B: You know what’s crazy is that it’s all online. The internet is the devil.

During the two days of the NFL's Legal Tampering Period, the team lost two of their most coveted Free Agents in WR Allen Robinson and CB Aaron Colvin. The one that stings the most losing Allen Robinson, especially after the season he had in 2015 where I legitimately thought he was a top ten wide out in the league. Even coming off the ACL Tear, I, and a majority of Jaguars fans, wanted the team to put the franchise tag or re-sign A-Rob to a big contract, but it just wasn't meant to be, as the Chicago Bears decided to give the former Pro Bowler a three year deal for $42 million. Aaron Colvin also got paid towards Tuesday evening, as our AFC South rivals, the Houston Texans, gave our former slot CB a four year contract worth $34 million. I legitimately hope the Texans are dumb and will put Aaron Colvin as an outside CB for their track record of horrible defensive backs in past few seasons.

When Dave Caldwell made comments to the media talking about having enough cap space re-signing both Robinson and Colvin, I hoped at least one of those guys were to be retained. None of that happened, however, but I cannot stay mad at both of those players, as they should always go get paid whenever their time comes. I wish them the best in their futures in the league, as long as it's not against the Jags, of course.

However, the trade-off for losing those guys might have made the team better overall. Signing 2017 All-Pro OG Andrew Norwell to the highest paid contract for an OG, as of February 13, 2018, is a huge addition to an already solid offensive line for a five year, $66.5 million contract. While re-signing WR Marqise Lee to a four year, $38 million deal made my stomach turn upside down, adding WR Donte Moncrief to a one-year prove it deal makes me think the front office would be satisfied with their wide receiving core, barring a cut to WR Allen Hurns.

After all of these moves around the league, and especially in Jacksonville, it gives a more clear view on what certain teams will do in the NFL Draft come April, and I got a mock draft for you all to enjoy. However, I'm gonna take the Charley Casserly approach to the analysis part of the article using a hint of cynicism and one-liners to explain why I chose a certain player to a team.

DTWDMAYOKING 2018 NFL MOCK DRAFT 1.0

1. Cleveland Browns – RB SHAQUON BARKLEY – PENN STATE

He's the best prospect in this year's draft, go get 'em, Brownies.

2. New York Giants *TRADE #1* Buffalo Bills – QB JOSH ALLEN - WYOMING

I want this to happen not only because this is the Bills thing to do, but I want to see @J_Nubz's tweets about it.

3. Indianapolis Colts – EDGE BRADLEY CHUBB – NORTH CAROLINA STATE

They need help everywhere, honestly. Just get the pass rusher in the draft and call it a day.

4. Cleveland Browns – S MINKAH FITZPATRICK - ALABAMA

Because Minkah Fitzpatrick and Jabrill Peppers as a S duo would be flames.

5. Denver Broncos – QB SAM DARNOLD – USC

Elway's gonna panic despite signing Case Keenum and select Blake Bortles lite.

6. New York Jets – CB DENZEL WARD – OHIO STATE

Wanna stop New England like it's 2009? Keep adding to that secondary.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – EDGE MARCUS DAVENPORT – UTSA

Their pass rush was as bad as Jameis Winston's "W" pre-game speech. Get a freak athlete in there.

8. Chicago Bears *TRADE #2* Miami Dolphins – OG QUENTON NELSON – NOTRE DAME

The Niners are gonna get jumped with a team that needs to not let Ryan Tannehill discombobulate in the pocket next season.

9. San Francisco 49ers *TRADE #3* Los Angeles Chargers – QB JOSH ROSEN - UCLA

Phillip Rivers is almost done and you get the LA kid back home in this blockbuster trade. It's a no-brainer.

10. Oakland Raiders – CB JOSH JACKSON – IOWA

Holy fuck, Jack Del Rio ruined y'all's defense too, huh?

11. Miami Dolphins *T2* Chicago Bears – ILB ROQUAN SMITH - GEORGIA

Chicago is a top contender for Off-Season Champions if they can manage this off.

12. Buffalo Bills *T1* New York Giants – QB BAKER MAYFIELD – OKLAHOMA

I selfishly want Baker to go to the other side of New York for the shits and giggles, as well as the dumb faces Eli makes towards him before he retires.

13. Washington Redskins – WR COURTLAND SUTTON – SMU

Someone for Alex Smith to throw to seven yards behind the line of scrimmage. (Notice me, @SullyFootball senpai)

14. Green Bay Packers *TRADE #4* Cleveland Browns – QB LAMAR JACKSON - LOUISVILLE

I legitimately feel like the Browns can be a wild card team if they can somehow shoot Hue Jackson into the Sun before training camp.

15. Arizona Cardinals – DT VITA VEA – WASHINGTON

They'll miss out on their preferred QB but will nab the best interior defensive lineman in the draft instead.

16. Baltimore Ravens – WR CALVIN RIDLEY – ALABAMA

Their WR void is as big as @lindseyyok's hatred for Matt Ryan.

17. Los Angeles Chargers *T3* San Francisco 49ers – EDGE HAROLD LANDRY – BOSTON COLLEGE

This pick should not matter since their QB is better than Joe Montana, Steve Young, and Tom Brady combined, according to the Niner Faithful.

18. Seattle Seahawks *TRADE #5* Carolina Panthers - S DERWIN JAMES – FLORIDA STATE

I really hope Derwin James doesn't drop it this far down, but the Panthers face Matt Ryan, Drew Brees, and Jameis Winston twice a year and should make a move if he does.

19. Dallas Cowboys – CB ISAIAH OLIVER – COLORADO

How many more non-NFL affiliated sponsors does Jerry Jones need to have before Roger Goodell actually care?

20. Detroit Lions – RB DERRIUS GUICE – LSU

How the fuck have the Lions not given Matthew Stafford a viable RB in the nine years he's been in the league? (I miss Jahvid Best)

21. Cincinnati Bengals – OT MIKE MCGLINCHEY – NOTRE DAME

A perennial 6-10 team with a perennial meh pick in the first round once again.

22. Buffalo Bills *T1* New York Giants – OT CONNOR WILLIAMS – TEXAS

I'm doing the Giants a favor here. You're welcome, Mayo Wife.

23. Los Angeles Rams – ILB TREMAINE EDMUNDS – VIRGINIA TECH

With Greg Olson as their QB Coach last season, does that mean Jared Goff decides to gain turnover-itis next season?

24. Carolina Panthers *T5* Seattle Seahawks – OG ISAIAH WYNN - GEORGIA

For God's sake, please don't kill Russell Wilson.

25. Tennessee Titans – CB MIKE HUGHES – UCF

Tennessee always seems to go unconventional and analytical with their first round picks, so here's another gem.

26. Atlanta Falcons *TRADE #6* New York Jets – QB MASON RUDOLPH - OKLAHOMA STATE

As much as I think having Teddy Bridgewater and Josh McCown would be serviceable at QB, they gotta appease the young QB demand from the fan base.

27. New Orleans Saints – TE MARK ANDREWS – OKLAHOMA

In a TE deep draft, the supposedly sure-fire number one TE Mark Andrews has fallen out of conversation for a while now, but I think the Saints are smart and will give Brees one more target.

28. Pittsburgh Steelers – S RONNIE HARRISON - ALABAMA

What's a Mike Mitchell?

29. Jacksonville Jaguars – TE MIKE GESICKI – PENN STATE

As much as I hate not putting Will Hernandez here, Mike Gesicki has been apparently scouted all-season long by a scout from the Jaguars organization, according to @zach_goodall. It'll fill a need and give the Jags an athletic receiving TE for the first time.

30. Minnesota Vikings – OG WILL HERNANDEZ – UTEP

The apparent winner of the Kirk Cousins Sweepstakes get richer with my favorite interior offensive lineman in this year's class.

31. New England Patriots – OT ORLANDO BROWN - OKLAHOMA

I'm more than certain Bill Belichick used Sith Powers to make Orlando Brown perform as bad as he did in the NFL Combine just to nab him for himself.

32. Philadelphia Eagles – OT KOLTON MILLER – UCLA

Shout-Out to @Jhickness9. Hope you like this pick.

SHOUT-OUTS

I want to give a shout-out of some of the people that I thought of when I was writing this whole thing from two in the morning.

Zach Goodall (@zach_goodall), Demetrius Harvey (@Demetrius82) and Christopher Thornton (@mistochristopho) have worked on the Locked on Jaguars website and podcast for quite some time now and they are guys that are on the real come-up when it comes to Jaguars and NFL News and Analysis. They are some of the best people you should follow on their site and on Twitter for their hard work and thoughts on football.

Laurie Fitzpatrick (@LaurieFitzptrck) has the best .gifs and film review out of anyone on Jaguars Twitter. I always find it convenient, as well as knowledgeable whenever she posts because I feel like I'm learning more about the players and schemes around today's NFL. She's one of the best.

Johnny Malone (@TheJohnnyMalone) for having me as an unofficial spokesperson for his Blake Bortles Brand t-shirts. Seriously, they're dope as hell.

Nubz (@J_Nubz) for his relentless and hilarious bashing of the Buffalo Bills on Twitter, especially during Day Two of the Legal Tampering Period of NFL Free Agency.

Finally, my Mayo Wife and fiance Bri, who may never take the time to read this article, but she really is my inspiration to keep doing what I'm doing. Whenever I'm upset at work or attending classes at UNF, she always finds a way to make me feel like a better man and making sure I continuously grow as a human being whether I'm studying for classes or continuing to find a topic to write the occasional Fan Post on Big Cat Country.

Thanks for reading, guys. #DTWD