JACKSONVILLE – And now, we rest.
At the very least, those of us who alternately trudged, sprinted, surged and staggered our way through the jaguars.com 2014 reader mock draft can pat ourselves on our collective backs and feel proud of a job well—
Well, proud of a job "done" at least.
Because as of today, we are indeed done, with an arduous three-plus weeks concluding in final frenzied week, all of which at last concluded with the Jaguars selecting at No. 39.
So, you ask … was it all worth it?
The mad rush to get through the latter half of the first round?
The fighting? The antagonism? The criticism?
Alas, these questions are in the end unanswerable. Ours is not to cast our eyes back with regret, but nay, instead to look forward with hope and wide-eyed optimism. What's done, as they say, is done – and if those plucky Chorus Liners wouldn't forget, couldn't regret what they did for love, we won't forget, can't regret what we did to get these 39 selections done.
OK, maybe we regret a few things …
But forget? Never, and it was with unforgettable love in our hearts and exhausted, cleansing relief in our souls that we got down to the matter of determining just who the reader/mockers selected at No. 39 overall.
The senior writer assumed the reader mockers would project a quarterback there and offered up Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. And while that choice got support among the readers, it wasn't near unanimous, with Vanderbilt wide receiver Jordan Matthews also getting his share of support. Reader/mocker GoJagsGo was "All-In" in this selection.
"Jordan Matthews," he wrote.
Aside from Matthews, the non-quarterback projections for the Jaguars weaved back and forth and to and fro, from Notre Dame defensive tackle Stephon Tuitt to Brigham Young linebacker Kyle Van Noy to Indiana wide receiver Cody Lattimore.
"Going with Cody Lattimer WR Indiana," reader/mocker Jordan wrote. "While I like Garoppolo, the need for a wide receiver and the value of a talent as good as Lattimer is too hard to pass up. Hand the card into the commish and be happy walking away from the first two rounds with to needs filled with great value selections."
But at No. 39, the lure of the quarterback was too strong, with early mention of Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, some solid support for Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron and even some talk of Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas.
And with his name being increasingly mentioned by analysts as a possible early second-round selection, it wasn't surprising that Louisiana State quarterback Zach Mettenberger was a popular reader/mock candidate at No. 39.
"Zach Mettenberger," reader/mocker jorjajag wrote, channeling his inner GoJagsGo.
And jorjajag wasn't alone.
"He played under (Louisiana State offensive coordinator) Cam Cameron who basically ran an NFL offense," reader/mocker Joe wrote of Mettenberger. "Having (Buffalo linebacker Khalil) Mack and Mett would be a good start to the draft."
But while that indeed could be a good start, in the end Mettenberger wasn't the selection at No. 39. That "honor" went to the Garoppolo, and while him being the senior writer's offering could anger some people … well, it's not like that's a new issue to this year's reader mock.
"I agree if Garoppolo is here, we take him," reader/mocker CDGoin wrote. "But if the draft is QB-heavy at the top, he may not be here."
Well, CD, in this one, he's here – and that means after 16 fun-filled days and 39 selections, the 2014 jaguars.com reader mock ultimately, finally and officially looks like:
- Houston | Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida
- St. Louis | Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
- Jacksonville | Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo
- Cleveland | Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
- Oakland | Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson
- Atlanta | Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
- Tampa Bay | Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M
- Minnesota | Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
- Buffalo | Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn
- Detroit | Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State
- Tennessee | Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA
- New York Giants | Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan
- St. Louis | Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama
- Chicago | Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh
- Pittsburgh | Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State
- Dallas | Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State
- Baltimore | Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame
- New York Jets | Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina
- Miami | Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama
- Arizona | Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State
- Green Bay | C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama
- Philadelphia | Odell Beckham, Jr., WR, Louisiana State
- Kansas City | Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech
- Cincinnati | Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State
- San Diego | Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State
- Cleveland | Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
- New Orleans | Dee Ford, DE, Auburn
- Carolina | Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State
- New England | Louis Nix III, DT, Notre Dame
- San Francisco | Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State
- Denver | Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville
- Seattle | Xavier Su'a-filo, G, UCLA
- Houston | Marqise Lee, WR, Southern California
- Washington | Morgan Moses, OT, Virginia
- Cleveland | Carlos Hyde, RB, Ohio State
- Oakland | Tom Savage, QB, Pittsburgh
- Atlanta | Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri
- Tampa Bay | Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota
- Jacksonville | Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Eastern Illinois
And you know what? Finally, mercifully, there's nothing more to say. Until next year, then …
Have at it.
This article is presented by Turner Pest Control.
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