The Leading Authority of the NFL Draft

Jacksonville Jaguars General Manager Gene Smith has been rather assertive in defending his usage of the 10th overall selection on Tyson Aluala, a move that even surprised the former Golden Bear.

“It came as a shock," Aluala said. "It’s just crazy how everything worked out. The Jaguars told me they were interested in me, but I never thought they would pick me in the top 10. I thought they would trade down if they wanted me.”

Smith then proceeded to take another defensive tackle, D’Anthony Smith, in the third round bringing even more question to his decision in the first.

However this is the continuation of a troubling trend with the Jacksonville Jaguars front office as this is the third year in a row that the Jags have spent their first two picks in the draft on the same position. Derrick Harvery and Quentin Grooves both are defensive ends. Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton are both offensive tackles. Tyson Aluala and D’Anthony Smith are both defensive tackles.

Once is a coincidence but three drafts in a row is a trend. Not only that but it became obvious that after year two of this method it didn’t work. Harvey and Grooves both lacked veteran leadership and mentors and they busted. Eben Britton is off to a horrible start and now this. Rookies need mentors, and starting two rookies together is like the blind leading the blind.

I said it before and I said it again, if the Jaguars were willing to reach that high in the first round they should have just taken Tim Tebow. Then again if they had probably would have taken Jimmy Clausen in the second.