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A pass-rushing defensive end and a play-making receiver are very clearly at the forefront of what the Jaguars need in order to improve.

But as we’ve talked about quarterback Blaine Gabbert’s rookie struggles, we talked about two big contributing factors -- his lack of playmakers and his insufficient protection.

They added Laurent Robinson and Lee Evans as free agent wideouts and are sure to draft one high. But there should be an offensive lineman coming in the early rounds, too.

Eben Britton’s return from a back issue should help and Will Rackley should be better in his second year. But it would be great if one or both could be challenged at right tackle and left guard, respectively. Neither is a sure thing at this point.

Brad Meester is in his 13th year and the team should have a succession plan at center in place too.

The Jaguars have long looked to be a big, physical team that can wear down an opponent. It makes sense with Maurice Jones-Drew in the backfield.

Mike Mularkey held over Jack Del Rio’s line coach, Andy Heck. Heck should have a bit more to work with after the draft.

Tennessee head coach Mike Munchak and defensive coordinator Jerry Gray put a bigger emphasis on bigger players.

Indications were they thought Jeff Fisher’s team had become too pass rush-centric, giving up some fundamentals of run-stopping in the process.

Trouble was, the Titans’ rush defense in 2011 was mediocre, giving up 4.5 yards per rush -- 22nd in the NFL. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the unit’s struggles were magnified when opponents ran up the middle.

On runs up the middle, Tennessee yielded 4.5 yards per carry (ranking 28th), gave up six runs of 20 yards or more (tied for 28th), gave up 52 first downs (32nd) and allowed 338 yards after contact (23rd).

Two rookies factored into the Titans run defense: tackle Jurrell Casey and middle linebacker Colin McCarthy. They'll get better and play more. The big run-stuffing tackle the Titans brought in, Shaun Smith, wasn’t very effective and lost playing time as the season went on.

The focus is on the pass rush, but in a draft likely to be defense-heavy, the Titans need to be sure to continue to address run defense, too.

Houston needs help on the right side of the offensive line. It needs another dynamic receiver. It needs depth at outside linebacker. It needs a corner, particularly if it doesn’t think second-year man Brandon Harris can replace departed veteran Jason Allen.

In 2011, in the first year of a 3-4 front under defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, the Texans did just fine with the nose tackles they had -- Shaun Cody and Earl Mitchell. Phillips predicted that.

But if you’re looking for a spot in the returning defensive lineup that can be upgraded, it’s Kareem Jackson’s cornerback spot (where the team is fiercely dedicated to the No. 20 pick from 2010) and its nose tackle, where the Cody-Mitchell tandem is not regarded as the strongest possible.

They combined to play just two-thirds of the team’s snaps (38.19 percent for Mitchell, 28.22 for Mitchell), with Antonio Smith kicking inside in the nickel package. Cody and Mitchell are asked to stuff the run and force more than one blocker to get at least a hand on them.

Even so, the Texans are allowed to get more than 50 tackles, two tackles for a loss and two sacks from their two primary nose tackles. Which is why they should draft one if they can.

This week as I spoke with some NFL personnel evaluators, I asked them about Andrew Luck.

I was struck by the contrasting opinions of two of them.

Neither has an argument against the Colts’ selection of Luck tonight with the No. 1 pick in the draft. But they feel differently about the reviews of Luck that have rolled in building up to tonight.

Here they are:

Critique One

"Indy gets a chance to take the best quarterback in Ryan Grigson’s first draft. What a gift. You don’t have to go through all the lumps with a guy who needs time. He’s the best player in a long time.

"Luck and (Robert Griffin III) are not even in the same league. Luck is so much better. Only the roster will hold him back. He’s a good enough player they can get him through it. I think he will have some success this year, some games where he looks pretty good. He’ll get hammered in some games.

"With a few pieces they can be a god team again, it won’t take too long. They get two of the top 34 here, next year they probably pick high again. The second year they need a home run in the first round and a real solid second. Those two drafts are the building blocks for six or seven years."

Critique Two

"I’m not buying he’s the best prospect since John Elway. I watched him a lot, not a ton, but a lot.

"Stanford was in jumbo half the time and half his passes were little flips to the fullback or somebody wide open. Play-action, boot, real retro, old-school stuff. Shootouts? He hasn’t really won, you can blame the field goal kicker or whatever.

"They ran 40 times -- power 30 times. They were in jumbo and they out-physicaled smaller teams. It was not so much, 'You’re the next Aaron Rodgers, go light them up.'

"I would not have a concern drafting him at No. 1, I think he’ll be good. He’s worthy. But the Elway and Peyton Manning comparisons? I don’t know if that buildup is too high for him. He won’t have the run game from Stanford. He’s smart, athletic and strong, but he’s got an average arm.

"In the NFL now you have to rip it. And I don’t see him attacking the field like some guys outside with comebacks and stops. He’s a touch passer, drop it down the chimney. At Stanford, he threw to a lot of guys who were wide open. Wide open."

The Colts say the removal of a gigantic Peyton Manning banner from Lucas Oil Stadium today had nothing to do with the draft. A large crane was in the area and able to do the job.

Sure, that’s possible.

The timing is fitting anyway. It doesn’t make sense for Manning to loom any longer.

Tomorrow, Andrew Luck gets drafted by the Colts.

Friday he’ll be in Indianapolis.

The Colts don’t have a lot to feature on big banners right now.

Put up a horseshoe or Chuck Pagano as the city gets to know its new coach.

Let Luck get to work inside the building, and in a year or two we’ll discuss if he’s ready to be larger than life yet.

The Jacksonville Jaguars registered just 31 sacks in 2011, tied for 25th in the league. According to ESPN Stats & Info, the Jags struggled to generate sacks from a four-man rush, averaging a sack once every 24.0 dropbacks, which ranked 26th in the NFL.

A better rush from four men is the obvious cure.

But the Jaguars have already done some work at cornerback, adding free-agent Aaron Ross. Let’s say they wind up deciding South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore is a better first-round pick than his college teammate, end Melvin Ingram.

With an upgraded mix of cornerbacks, Jaguars defensive coordinator Mel Tucker should be more comfortable sending a fifth rusher.

Rushing well with four is ideal, but it’s not always possible.

The Jags had 13 sacks when they rushed five or more last season.

If Jacksonville doesn’t feel like it can get a guy who will help the four-man rush at No. 7 or in the first round, then adding a corner who could help enable the team to blitz more than seven times a game isn’t a terrible alternative.

Three big new mocks have landed. Let’s dive into what Todd McShay and Scouts Inc. , Mel Kiper and Mike Mayock are thinking.

1) Indianapolis

McShay -- Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Kiper -- Luck

Mayock -- Luck

My thoughts: General manager Ryan Grigson has said out loud with reporters in range that Luck is the guy. Zero suspense or intrigue.

7) Jacksonville

McShay -- Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

Kiper -- Trade with Philadelphia. Eagles take Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State. At No. 15, Jaguars take Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina.

Mayock -- Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

My thoughts: In our live blogger mock draft on Monday, NFC East blogger Dan Graziano and I executed the exact same trade Kiper has, and made the same exact selections. If Blackmon is there, they have to take him, don’t they?

20) Tennessee

McShay -- Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Kiper -- Kirkpatrick

Mayock -- Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

My thoughts: I don’t see the Titans going receiver unless there is an unprecedented run on defenders ahead of them. Kirkpatrick could be the guy, but they’ll be sifting through D-line candidates.

26) Houston

McShay -- Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Kiper -- Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

Mayock -- Fleener

My thoughts: The idea of Fleener seems to be gaining popularity. I’d be a bit surprised considering the options they may have at receiver, outside backer and maybe even on the offensive line.

The Titans need a pass-rusher and a center. In a year they could really need a free safety. The right kind of receiver would be intriguing.

One spot we’ve not talked much about is linebacker. They spent a second-rounder on strongside linebacker Akeem Ayers last year, when they also found a dynamic middle linebacker in fourth-rounder Colin McCarthy.

Veteran Will Witherspoon is on the weak side. He has some big games, and some where he seems kind of invisible. The team can find a bigger guy who’s more of a playmaker for the spot, be it now or in 2013.

The depth is poor. Gerald McRath was a starter in 2010 and didn’t take advantage of the chance. He was only occasionally situational last season. Patrick Bailey and Tim Shaw can fill in for a bit, but they are primarily special-teamers.

I don’t think Tennessee will go linebacker at No. 20, but Alabama’s Dont'a Hightower or Alabama’s Courtney Upshaw could be in play.

More likely the Titans will tab someone a bit later like Cal’s Mychal Kendricks or someone further down like Utah State’s Bobby Wagner.

Reading the coverage ...

Houston Texans

General manager Rick Smith’s expecting a top pick who impacts the team, says Dale Robertson of the Houston Chronicle. Robertson interpreted Smith’s comments as suggesting offensive line or linebacker as the most likely first-round leanings.

Houston perspective on Andrew Luck, whose dad, Oliver Luck, was an Oilers quarterback, from John McClain of the Chronicle.

Kicker Neil Rackers left the Texans for Washington, says Mark Berman of Fox 26. Rackers said the Texans didn’t make a big push for him.

Indianapolis Colts

GM Ryan Grigson finally said publicly that Luck is the Colts’ man. Now can the quarterback pry No. 12 from Quan Cosby? Mike Chappell’s story from the Indianapolis Star.

Luck is ready for the NFL and the Colts, says Bob Kravitz of the Star in this video.

Indianapolis needs play-making linebackers and Chappell previews the position in this draft.

Chuck Pagano loves the enthusiasm at minicamp, says Chappell.

Jacksonville Jaguars

General manager Gene Smith has built a reputation as one of the staunchest NFL decision-makers with regard to character issues, says Gene Frenette.

Former Jaguars receivers coach Ted Monken went on to become offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State and tells Frenette why Justin Blackmon would be a great fit for the Jaguars. Odds seem slim that the receiver is still available at No. 7.

The Jaguars' draft strategy needs to change and produce some skill-position players who can help score points, says Nate Dunlevy of Bleacher Report.

Tennessee Titans

Every time the Titans pick, general manager Ruston Webster will be looking at a group of six players from the Titans' board, says Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.

Whatever cornerback the Titans add in whatever round, he’ll need to be a versatile player, says John Glennon of The Tennessean.

Once again, Matt Hasselbeck is ready to defend his job, says David Climer of The Tennessean.

Bob Sanders is long gone, and injury-prone Melvin Bullitt is not with the Indianapolis Colts anymore.

Indianapolis has a dire need at strong safety, where the Colts platooned David Caldwell and Joe Lefeged last season after Bullitt was lost early on with a shoulder injury.

Even with Tom Zbikowski added, they need an upgrade next to free safety Antoine Bethea, a strong player against both the pass and the run.

According to ESPN Stats and Info, the Colts defense was last in the NFL on throws more than10 air yards inside the numbers in three important categories: completion percentage (72.7), yards per attempt (16.1) and attempts per TD (7.9).

Better defense on short passes over the middle is an absolute necessity for the Colts if they are going to be more effective under first-year coach Chuck Pagano and defensive coordinator Greg Manusky.

Safety is thin in the draft, and strong safety is particularly thin. Possible candidates include South Carolina's Antonio Allen (fourth or fifth round projection), Alabama's DeQuan Menzie (fifth), Arkansas State's Kelcie McCray (fifth), LSU's Brandon Taylor (sixth).

Can one of those guys start on opening day? It'll probably take a good combination of scouting projecting and coaching to make it happen.

When he talked Tuesday about what the Texans need out of the upcoming draft, Houston general manager Rick Smith identified offensive line, receiver and linebacker.

And when he talked about areas of depth in the upcoming draft, he hit the same three spots.

“I think we talked about the wide receiver position, they have some depth there,” he said at Houston’s pre-draft press conference. “I think there is some depth along the offensive line. I think linebacker is another position (with depth). So there are a few positions that have a little bit more depth than maybe others. All in all, I think this is a quality draft.”

It’s convenient when needs and draft strengths intersect.

For the Texans’ sake, I hope that’s happening.

A couple other notes out of Smith’s conversation with the media:

More on linebacker need for a team heading into Year 2 of using a 3-4 defense: “One thing about this defense is you need linebackers. You need depth at linebacker. You need as many guys as you can find that can rush the passer that are athletic. It helps you on special teams. I do believe that our special teams units were improved last year and part of that is a function of a 3-4 defense as one of the byproducts of the system. We’ll continue to bolster those groups and continue to try to find players that fit that system and can come in and help us.”

On feeling any pull to draft for offense early because the team has drafted a defender first each of the past three years and in eight of the past nine: “We rank it the way that this year is, and I think if you’re influenced by anything that you’ve done in the past relative to that type of conversation, I think you might make a mistake because it might influence you in a way that you ought not to be influenced.”

On the possibility of re-signing kicker Neil Rackers, who’s visited Washington: “We’re very interested in bringing Neil back and talking to his representatives about bringing him back.”

We’re in the middle of a week in which we hear a bunch about players rising and falling on draft boards across the league.

But I don’t buy that there has been a ton of movement on draft boards this week as teams have concluded their pre-meetings.

General manager Ruston Webster said Tuesday at the Titans' pre-draft news conference that a guy here and there might move a round, tops. I suspect it’s the same way with most teams.

Teams talk of trusting their scouts who trust the film. They have debated players and might fiddle a little. They are stacking guys with the same or similar grades. But barring drastic new information, what would prompt a big swing?

Here's some simplistic thinking on where much of it comes from:

People with jobs that require them to try to put together the draft puzzle get an opinion on a player from one scouting person at the combine, then from another person at the end of March and then from a third at the end of April.

If scouting person A said second round, scouting person B said low-first round and scouting person C said mid-first round, then the player is rising.

If A said mid-first round, B said low-first round and C said second round, then the player is falling.

In fact, all three of these scouts or executives very likely have the same opinion of the player now as they did before. And if we’re counting on them to have a true sense of someone else’s board, it’s just another element of the process in which we are too gullible.

Not everything is so easily tracked.

What reporters and analysts learn, what people on the inside share and when they share it -- those are the variables that move more than draft grades at this late stage.

When a player goes earlier than expected on Thursday night, I bet the team that drafts him liked him most of the way -- if not all the way back to a regional scout’s earliest encounter, then certainly back to before the last round of meetings.

I can never imagine the former Colts regime allowing a TV camera in their draft room.

But Ryan Grigson is allowing NFL Network in. It's not like we'll see Indianapolis' board, but we'll see more than we've ever seen before. And Phillip B. Wilson says cell phones are now allowed in the locker room when the media visits.

Two small signs of a new openness that suggest we'll get to know the Colts better moving forward than we have in the past.

Without Andre Johnson for a good share of the season, the Texans' receivers were exposed in 2011.

While Arian Foster and other non-receivers may have been making plays, the Texans were one of just two teams in the NFL that didn’t have any 30-yard receptions from their receivers on throws that traveled fewer than 15 yards, according to ESPN Stats and Information.

On average, Houston receivers got 3.1 yards after the catch. That ranked 31st in the NFL. But that was offset in a big way by four non-wide receiver pass-catchers.

Foster averaged a league-best 12.0 per catch among players with at least 50 catches. Owen Daniels (5.6), Joel Dreessen (5.5) and Ben Tate (6.2) also did solid work after the catch.

Largely because of those four, the Texans ranked second overall in average YAC per reception, with 6.3 yards. New England was first at 6.5.

A healthy Johnson will help boost the receiver numbers in a big way.

The team’s next two best wideouts are Kevin Walter and Jacoby Jones.

Walter (3.5) is not a big YAC guy; he’s a reliable guy who will be in the right spot and do the right things. Jones (4.8) is explosive and should do quite a bit more in this department.

Whether the Texans add a receiver in the first round or wait until later, the guy who’s added to the group needs to be able to take passes from Matt Schaub and get some additional yards.

Reading the coverage ...

Houston Texans

An NFL Network list of the top Heisman Trophy winners in the NFL ranked Tim Tebow over Earl Campbell, says Nick Matthews of the Houston Chronicle.

Free-agent kicker Neil Rackers met with the Redskins, says John McClain of the Chronicle.

Texans TV rounded up a big gang for a thorough video discussion about what the Texans might do in the 2012 draft.

Indianapolis Colts

Rate the Colts' need of a receiver for Andrew Luck as high, says Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star.

Chappell’s looking forward to seeing Chuck Pagano lead a voluntary minicamp that kicks off today.

Luck will visit with David Letterman on draft day.

A trading card company has filed suit against Luck, says Matthews.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union sets up the Jaguars' draft room, running through who’s at the main table. Shad Khan has room for family members at the team’s primary table. I don’t know how many owners have family members with them in such a setting. But I know how many should: none.

More on how it’s likely to be difficult, or impossible, to trade out of No. 7, from Ganguli.

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com rates Melvin Ingram as the best pass-rusher in the draft. That’d make him ideal for the Jaguars if he’s there at No. 7.

Tennessee Titans

Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker are ready to compete for the Titans’ starting quarterback job, says Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.

The Tennessean’s multimedia draft preview looks at every possible pick at No. 20.

Wyatt reviews the Titans’ roster, position-by-position, with what they’ve got and what they need.