Credit: Justin Stewart/Titan Sized

There’s a little over two weeks left until the 2013 NFL Draft and teams around the AFC South are tidying up and bringing in future draftees for visits. News isn’t exactly pouring out right now, but here’s some of the better ones from the past few days:

• The guys over at Black and Teal released a 3-round mock draft the other day and have the Jacksonville Jaguars taking CB Dee Milliner with the 2nd overall pick, the Tennessee Titans taking WR Cordarrelle Patterson with the 10th pick, and (the surprise pick) the Houston Texans taking QB Matt Barkley. That’s definitely an mock.
• Are you a total babe? Well, I’ve always thought the Houston Texans had some of the most gorgeous cheerleaders in the NFL and they’re having their annual tryouts. 35 ladies will make the “final roster,” if you will.
• Toro Times looks at what the Texans have left in cap space and some of the vets they could still be looking to add to the roster before the draft. With just under $4 million, it might be a tough squeeze to add much more.
• I don’t mean to toot our own horn here, but Joshua Huffman wrote up a great piece the other day about the Titans trading back into the later end of the 1st round. He looks at pick values and what the Titans options are. It’s definitely worth the read.
• No one is really sure whether the big, secret free agent that Jim Isray was talking up on Twitter early in free agency was WR Darius Heyward-Bey or not, but I would hope not. The Indianapolis Colts got DHB for a good deal, and he’s got some upside, and having Andrew Luck throwing to him could be the thing that gets him over the hill. The Raiders certainly didn’t present the best scenario.

There’s a brief glimpse at what’s been going on around the AFC South this past week.

You can find me on Twitter @JustinLStewart

Wow… Things are getting weird in Jacksonville…. Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

Today we we’re going to do a little spying on the Jacksonville Jaguars as the 2013 NFL Draft nears. The Jaguars hold the 2nd overall pick and have been linked to everything from a CB, to a QB, to trading back. As a non-follower of the Jaguars, it’s nice to get a little perspective as to what’s going on behind the magic curtain. Today, Luke Sims, editor of Black and Teal, gives us an idea of what the Jags are thinking.

What positions are the Jaguars targeting in the first round of the draft?

The Jaguars are keen to either fill a major void at pass rusher with a DE/OLB hybrid type player or they are looking at an offensive tackle prospect that can play right tackle for a year before taking over at left tackle if Eugene Monroe can’t be retained.  Geno Smith or some other top ranked quarterback would be a popular pick but the team doesn’t seem sold that anyone is “the guy” to beat out Blaine Gabbert or Chad Henne.

Are there any players the front office seems to covet at this point?

The Jaguars are looking to trade out of the number two overall selection, so I don’t think there is anybody they really covet in the first round.  I think the team would be immensely pleased if USC quarterback Matt Barkley slipped into the second round, especially if the team is able to trade back and add another second rounder.

Did the Jaguars fill any major needs through free agency?  What were they?

Defensive tackle has had two of its top three players leave during free agency or get cut and the front office has filled them nicely.  Ex-Titan Sen’Derrick Marks was signed to be a rotation guy following the cutting of C.J. Mosley, and Roy Miller was brought in to start with Tyson Alualu following Terrance Knighton’s departure to the Denver Broncos.

What was the Jaguars best free agent signing?

Roy Miller is easily the team’s best free agent signing at this point.  He fills a need and is a starter who demands double teams.  Tyson Alualu, his counterpart, will be able to rush the passer more effectively because of the “tilt” stance that Miller uses.  He is an upgrade over departed starter, Knighton, and is a major loss for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  I’m shocked they let him walk.

Which needs still exist after free agency, heading into the draft?

The Jags have so many needs that it’d be easier to list positions that aren’t needs.  The team is extremely thin at cornerback, strong safety, outside linebacker, defensive end, left guard, right tackle, and fullback.  They also need depth at wide receiver and could arguably use a major upgrade at quarterback.  GM Dave Caldwell expects to fill these needs in the draft and college free agency, mostly.

And there it is. Thanks to Mr. Sims over at Black and Teal for giving us the inside scoop, though the picture of who they’re going to draft seems just a blurry as before.

If you’re up for another crazy mock draft like the one we did here at Titan Sized, be sure to pop over to Black and Teal where they just put up a 3-rounder. I feel pretty good about myself after looking at it, as it also has the Jaguars taking CB Dee Milliner, something I’ve been saying since the beginning of the season. They also have the Titans taking a guy I love… Check it out!

Nov.11, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Sen’Derrick Marks

Former Tennessee Titans DT Sen’Derrick Marks has signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on a one-year deal. Marks is a former second-round pick for the Titans that never quite lived up to the billing. While he has shown improvement over the past few years, he hasn’t shown enough to warrant the pick spent on him and the Titans have obviously moved on to what they perceive as greener fields with the signing of DT Sammie Hill during the first few days of free agency.

Marks is the 5th member of the Titans 2009 NFL Draft class that they let walk this year (RB Javon Ringer, LB Gerald McRath, TE Jared Cook, CB Ryan Mouton). The only member remaining of that class are 1st round WR Kenny Britt and 6th round CB Jason McCourty which was originally an 11 pick draft.

The Titans now have Jurrell Casey, Mike Martin, Sammie Hill, Karl Klug, and DaJohn Harris on the roster at the DT position.

They could still look to add more talent to the position during the upcoming 2013 NFL Draft, though it would most likely come somewhere in the mid to later rounds. Their biggest areas of need that they’ll be addressing early should be CB and OL, though with the players they were able to round up in free agency, they’ve left themselves plenty of room to take whomever they see fit.

We’re getting closer to the draft every day. Just a little more than 3 weeks and we’ll be hearing the words “With the 10th pick of the 2013 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans select….” That is, unless they trade back. Either way, you should be getting excited about the draft. It has all the makings of a doozy for the Titans.

You can find me on Twitter @JustinLStewart