With three weeks of training camp practices and two preseason games in the books, there have been positive reviews of all three of the top picks the Jaguars made in the 2012 NFL Draft. WR Justin Blackmon came on strong in the team's second preseason game after missing the first week of camp. Second-round pick Andre Branch and third-round pick P Bryan Anger have had their moments too. Overall, the Jaguars are feeling pretty good about their top selections.
Top pick: WR Justin Blackmon (first round, No. 5 overall) -- The Jaguars jumped up to No. 5 overall to grab the electric playmaker from Oklahoma State. After finishing dead last in passing yardage in 2011, upgrading the WR position was crucial. Blackmon got off to a rocky start after pleading guilty to aggravated DUI over the summer. He then held out for the first week of training camp, but the reviews since have been great. He got extensive work with the first-team offense last week in camp and caught four passes for 46 yards and a touchdown in his first preseason action against the New Orleans Saints Friday night. Grade: B -
No. 2 pick: DE Andre Branch (second round, No. 38 overall) -- Branch, a player many thought wouldn't last through the first round, has looked like a first-round value in training camp. He appears to be the front-runner to start opposite of veteran Jeremy Mincey at DE. He looked especially natural Friday night, getting half a sack to go along with two tackles. Grade: A -
No. 3 pick: P Bryan Anger (third round, No. 70 overall) -- Yes, critics will always say drafting a punter in the third round was too high. That debate will never end, but all Anger is doing is killing the ball in the preseason. He has 10 punts in two preseason games for an impressive 48.1 yards-per-punt average with a long of 62. The Jaguars only averaged 41.9 yards per punt in 2011. Grade: A
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