JACKSONVILLE – On Day 3, the debate all but disappeared.
In sharp contrast to Day 2 of the jaguars.com 2013 reader mock draft – a day when at times it seemed everyone had a different opinion regarding the Jaguars' selection – Day 3 came off in relatively routine fashion.
There was a need, and what seems to be a pretty good player available.
That's usually the formula for what passes as a consensus in this little corner of the mock draft world, and for a change, that's what we just about got.
Not that things were unanimous, of course.
They never are in the draft world, and with 2013 being one of the most tightly-bunched draft classes in recent memory, there probably isn't going to be anything unanimous in this process. And with an elite offensive tackle still on the board with the Oakland Raiders on the clock, there was some thought in that direction.
That tackle? Eric Fisher, a left tackle from Central Michigan who some see as a possibility at No. 1 overall.
"I'm going with Eric Fisher here," J-School Corby wrote. "Makes too much sense."
Dakota Longbrake agreed, saying, "Fisher goes to the Raiders at No. 3. Easy pick."
Yet, apparently not easy enough, because for the most part, the readers on Day 3 weren't thinking offensive line to a team with a lot of needs everywhere on the roster.
And considering the team making the selection was Oakland, a team known in recent years for leaning toward the unconventional on draft day, there were readers leaning that way, too. With the Raiders also having a history of loving speedy wide receivers early, some readers figured the trend to continue.
"I say with the No. 3 selection the Oakland Raiders select (wait for it, wait for it) Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia," Shawn Clement wrote. "Oh boy ran a 4.25(-second) and a 4.34 40 yds."
Clement wasn't alone in his Austin selection, but he was alone enough that the Mountaineers burner didn't get to the nod in the reader mock. Neither did Brigham Young defensive end Ziggy Ansah or West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith, each of whom entered the conversation briefly on Day 3 only to fade quickly.
Part of the reason for that fade was much of the discussion remained on the Jaguars' selection the previous day. A few readers were still irritated with the senior writer's self-serving veto power, although that power has yet to be used in this year's event, and others remained irritated with the selection of Oregon defensive end/linebacker Dion Jordan to the Jaguars at No. 2.
There remains a pretty strong sentiment among readers for the Jaguars to select cornerback Dee Milliner. Despite that sentiment, Milliner got little support at No. 3, though there was some support for a defensive tackle from Utah whose stock in some circles has slipped since he missed the NFL Scouting Combine because of a medical concern.
"STAR Lotulleli!" Michael Clifton wrote of the Utah defensive tackle who once was considered a potential No. 1 overall selection, but who now seems destined for a spot lower in the Top 10.
The consensus pick for No. 3, as it turned out, is the player who has replaced Lotulelei atop the defensive tackle list on most mocks.
Sharrif Floyd, a defensive tackle from Florida, had gotten some support at No. 1 to the Kansas City Chiefs. He also was a popular choice at No. 2, and by Day 3, the feeling regarding Floyd had grown even stronger.
"Shariff Floyd is the pick for the Raiders," Jonathan Wesley Peters wrote, with hallraptor calling Floyd, "an absolute stud that you can plug and play on the Raider D-line."
Without apologies to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Alex Ryzewic wrote:
"With the third pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders select, Sharrif Floyd, Defensive Tackle, Florida."
And so it is, which means after three days the 2013 jaguars.com reader mock draft looks like:
1.Kansas City | Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
2.Jacksonville | Dion Jordan, DE/LB, Oregon
3.Oakland | Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
That brings the process to the Philadelphia Eagles, a team rebuilding after a long run of success under now Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid.
The Eagles, like most teams selecting this high, have a lot of needs, and with Fisher still on the board, he makes sense as perhaps the best available player. Smith makes some sense, too, but for today, we'll offer up Fisher as the Eagles' selection.
The guess is this selection will draw more debate than the Raiders, but we shall see.
Have at it.