With all the focus on top-rated QBs Jameis Winston of Florida State and Oregon’s Marcus Mariota and the first two picks in next week’s draft, one sometimes loses sight of the fact that there are actually 32 picks in the opening round. There are also some very good prospects on the board other than the two QBs. So it was a little surprising to hear Jacksonville G.M. Dave Caldwell say at his pre-draft media availability session that the Jaguars have yet to receive any calls asking about the availability of the third pick overall. Maybe he should send his number to the Jets who have the 6th pick and whose new general manager Mike Maccagnan said were going to reach out to every team ahead of them to find out what they’d looking for in compensation for their pick. Caldwell indicated though that the Jaguars are pretty happy with the options they would have themselves at #3 and suggested that he’d “rather get one really good player instead of two good players” and that “the price would have to be substantial” for Jacksonville to consider moving down. It is also interesting to note that while the Jaguars’ decision as to who to select with the 3rd pick would come down to a choice between USC DT Leonard Williams and Florida OLB Dante Fowler, there is a growing sense that Alabama WR Amari Cooper may also be increasingly part of the discussion … On the other hand, Oakland G.M. Reggie McKenzie, whose Raiders have the next pick after Jacksonville, was pretty open about the fact he has received calls from other teams regarding the 4th pick and that their “line was always open.” Interesting to note that while the consensus pick for the Raiders in most mock drafts these is Alabama’s Cooper, however, the Raiders are one of only two teams picking in the top 12 this year who did not bring Cooper in for an on-site site … For the record, Friday was the last day for teams to bring players to their facilities for on-site visits. However, teams can still work out players either at their college or in their hometown. One such late session that reportedly has been set for Monday has Washington working Kentucky OLB Bud Dupree whom we keep hearing has been moved up into the top 10 on a number of boards around the league … As noted, almost mercifully, there doesn’t appear to be much new this morning about any possible trades involving the first 2 picks in this year’s draft. However, there is a nice article in the Philadelphia papers on the Eagles draft process.
