2011 NFL Mock Draft: Jacksonville Jaguars Select Jabaal Sheard

With the 49th pick of Pride of Detroit's 2011 NFL Mock Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select Pittsburgh defensive end Jabaal Sheard. NorthLeft12 is serving as the Jaguars' general manager, and his reasoning for the pick is below.

The Jaguars' pick in the second round is another difficult selection based on the picks ahead of them. After a thorough review of the options here and what will likely be available later, the Jaguars select Jabaal Sheard, a DE from Pittsburgh. The other options that I considered are below.

The Jags appear to be letting their best WR (Mike Sims-Walker) go, so a No. 1 WR is definitely on the list. Titus Young and Randall Cobb are too much like Mike Thomas (their real best WR), and I just don't like Torrey Smith, which leaves Leonard Hankerson. Hankerson has a lot going for him and I think he is good value here, but he is too much like MSW. I just don't see the Jags replacing him with his clone. I'll pass.

When I reviewed the big board the best player left on it was a fellow Canadian, guard Danny Watkins. I think he will be an outstanding player in the NFL and a steal for whoever takes him, but the Jags need defense and his age (he will be 27 this year) made me pass.

The word from Jacksonville is that two out of the three LB starters will be let go and replacements must be found as the guys behind them are not even remotely close to starting caliber. Mason Foster, an OLB, is the only LB available who is remotely close to a second-round value. I really like him and believe he will do well in the NFL, but I think the Jags can get some later-round LBs or free agents to fill these spots. Pass.

The Jaguars' secondary is a mess. They need two safeties and at least one CB. But in my mind there is absolutely no one who left who is second-round quality. Curtis Brown is the closest, but I don't see him as worth a second-round pick. Pass.

The Jaguars invested heavily in the D-line the past couple of years, adding Terrance Knighton and Tyson Alualu on the interior and Aaron Kampman, Austen Lane and Jeremy Mincey on the outside. After a great start in 2010, Kampman went down with another serious knee injury and his return to 100 percent is doubtful. The D-line raised its sack total from a pathetic 14 in 2009 to 26 in 2010. More improvement is needed, though, and without Kampman another pass rusher is desperately needed. I go to the second-highest player left on my board and take Jabaal Sheard, a talented pass rusher from Pitt.

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Check out the 2011 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft tracker for a look at all of the picks.