2011 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft: Round 2, Pick 49

Our annual 2011 NFL Mock Draft, with picks made by each of SB Nation’s NFL team bloggers, is in full swing. The latest pick in to the podium: the Jacksonville Jaguars, at No. 49 overall.

Alfie Crow of BigCatCountry.com explains the choice, and our own Dan Kadar reacts to it, after the jump. Make sure you’re grading this pick for the Jaguars, and checking out Big Cat Country for all of your Jaguars needs.

Alfie Crow explains: While some feel the Jaguars’ selection of Christian Ponder at No. 16 might have been a reach, as the draft has fallen it was the only way the Jaguars were to come away with their quarterback of the future in this draft. In the second round however, while the Jaguars’ biggest needs are on the defensive side of the football, the pick of offensive lineman Ben Ijalana is purely a best available player pick on my draft board. One of the Jaguars’ needs is on the offensive line as well, and Ijalana can battle with third year right tackle Eben Britton, the loser kicking to the inside and playing guard. The interior line of the Jaguars is an area that needs to be addressed. Adding a player like Ijalana will strengthen the line as a whole. Brad Meester is 34 years old and Uche Nwaneri, who was just signed to a long-term deal in the 2010 season, has been crossed trained at the center position.

While I’m sure some will raise an eyebrow at the Jaguars’ first two picks in the draft on the offensive side of the football, the team has invested multiple draft picks into the defense (especially on the line) in the past two seasons, and will be very active in free agency, where the team can sign veteran players who will make an immediate impact on defense.

Dan Kadar reacts: This pick makes sense. After the first round players, the talent on defense really takes a hit. When your strategy is BPA, Ijalana sort of fits that notion. I still don’t know who the No. 1 receiver on this team would be. When Jon Baldwin is sitting out there, it makes sense to go after him. Mike Sims-Walker is probably not going to re-sign and Mike Thomas is at best a high-level No. 2. While Jacksonville is a run-first team, it wouldn’t make sense to draft Ponder and not give him weapons when they’re available. [Ben Ijalana Scouting Report]