JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - When asked what Jacksonville's top need is heading into the NFL draft, general manager Gene Smith was quick to respond.
``Talent,'' he said.
No doubt, the Jaguars are lacking it on both sides of the ball.
And that makes this week's three-day draft, which begins Thursday night, pivotal for a rebuilding franchise that has missed the playoffs 10 of the last 12 years. The Jaguars have the seventh pick in the first round, their fifth consecutive year with a top-10 selection.
What they do with it is anyone's guess.
The Jaguars, though, have made it clear they would like to trade down from No. 7 and acquire extra picks. They have been fielding calls for weeks about potential swaps, but no deal will be made until draft night.