NFL First Round Review: Jacksonville Jaguars

As we get ready for Super Bowl XLII, FanHouse is looking back at each team's 2007 first-round pick. Here's a look at the 21th pick in the draft, safety Reggie Nelson.


Who They Took: Reggie Nelson, S, Florida

Who Else They Were Rumored To Consider: Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame.

What We Said At The Time: "Even if Reggie Nelson was Jacksonville's second choice, he may turn out to be a pretty good choice. With Deon Grant running off to Seattle in the offseason, the Jags had a hole to fill at safety, and now it appears to be filled with a guy who has a lot of range and is a solid tackler."

What Nelson Did: Everything the Jaguars asked, basically. He stepped right into Deon Grant's old spot at free safety and ended up leading the team in interceptions with five and finishing third on the team in solo tackles with 58. He continued the demonstrate the excellent range and tackling he showed at Florida.

Looking into the Future: As long as Nelson stays healthy and keeps his nose clean, it's hard to imagine him not being the starter for the Jaguars for quite some time to come. The bigger question is who'll start next to him at strong safety. Veteran Sammy Knight filled in admirably after Gerald Sensabaugh went on IR, and his presence probably helped Nelson a lot, but what about next season? Does Knight stay, or does Sensabaugh return to the starting lineup?

Would They Do It All Over?: Jack Del Rio famously wanted Brady Quinn with the 21st pick, but he was voted down by James "Shack" Harris, who didn't think quarterback was the team's biggest need. As it turned out, David Garrard proved to be a quality QB, and the Jaguars' secondary would have been much worse without Nelson. So yeah, I don't think they have any regrets here.

Grade: A. The Jaguars filled a position of need with a very good player who may get even better in the next few years. What's not to like there?