By: Kipp Branch

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The AFC South Champions are now a Super Bowl contender. Let’s take a look at the Jags 2018 Draft.

Round 1: Taven Bryan, DT, Florida: With Calvin Ridley going to the Falcons, which nobody saw, the Jaguars selected Bryan out of Florida.

Bryan has Pro Bowl talent, but is raw. He will come in and get some reps in 2018 and will be a future starter at the position.

Try this on for size, Calais Campbell, Yannick Ngakoue, Dante Fowler, Malik Jackson, Marcell Dareus, Abry Jones, Dawaune Smoot, Eli Ankou, and now Taven Bryan opposing teams better get a back-up QB some reps during Jags week. This is a sick unit. The best defensive line position group in all of football. Grade: A as the rich get richer.

Round 2: DJ Chark, WR, LSU: Chark is a burner and will be a vertical threat in this offense.

With the addition of Chark the Jags have two receivers with 4.3 speed. Chark could win a starting job, he is that talented. LSU did not have a QB who could get him the ball consistently.

Chark joins Marquise Lee, Donte Moncrief, Keelan Cole, and Dede Westbrook in a solid receiving unit, even after losing the Allen’s to free agency. Grade: B+. Can Bortles get him the ball?

Round 3: Ronnie Harrison, S, Alabama: I think Harrison is the steal of the Jags draft. He will come in and contribute in 2018 and will be a full time starter in 2019.

He can play either safety spot. I love this pick. He joins a deep unit that includes Tashaun Gipson, Barry Church, and Cody Davis. Harrison will be a Pro Bowl safety one day. Grade A+. Great pick in the third round.

Round 4: Will Richardson, T, NC State: with this selection A. J. Cann is officially put on notice. Pick up your play or Richardson will take your spot at right guard.

If Richardson can come in and compete the OL unit becomes one of the better ones in the NFL. Grade: B+. You can never have enough offensive lineman. Two words here: Leonard Fournette.

Round 6: Tanner Lee, QB, Nebraska: I’m not sure about this pick, but Missouri QB Drew Lock would look great in a Jag uniform in 2019 if QB play struggles. Grade: C. Lee could push Cody Kessler, but who knows.

Round 7: The Jaguars selected outside linebacker Leon Jacobs out of Wisconsin and punter Logan Cooke out of Mississippi State. Jacobs will come in and push Blair Brown and will provide some depth. I like the pick. Grade: B.

Logan Cooke averaged 41.7 yards per kick at Mississippi State. Jags cut Brian Nortman so we will see if Cooke is the answer. Grade B. Anytime you use a draft pick on a kicker they better deliver.

Below are the Jaguars undrafted free agent signings:

Tony Adams, OL, NC State

Dee Delany, DB, Miami (FL)

Tre Herndon, DB, Vanderbilt

Michael Hughes, DT, UNLV

Reggie Hunter, LB, North Carolina

Darius Jackson, LB, Jacksonville State

Lyndon Johnson, DE, Cincinnati

Allen Lazard, WR, Iowa State

KC McDermott, OL, Miami (FL)

Quenton Meeks, CB, Stanford

Dorren Miller, WR, Carson-Newman

Andrew Motuapuaka, LB, Virginia Tech

C.J. Reavis, S, Marshall

Malik Zaire, QB, Florida

Two from this list have a great shot of playing next year. Lazard should crack the Jags receiving rotation as he has a big frame and could be a great red zone target.

Quenton Meeks will provide depth at corner for the best corner combo in the NFL.

Both Lazard and Meeks were listed in NFL Network Draft Analyst Mike Mayock’s Top 100 so getting these two UDFA’s is a real bargain.

Overall Grade: B+. This was a solid draft for Jacksonville. This team is ready to go to the Super Bowl.