The signing of WR Torry Holt in April has proven to be a smart decision for new GM Gene Smith. After getting rid of Matt Jones, Jerry Porter and Reggie Williams — none of whom fit Smith's philosophy of building his team with high-character, hardworking players — Holt is making a strong impact on and off the field for the Jaguars. At age 33, the savvy veteran no longer possesses great run-after-the-catch ability, and there are questions on how much longer he will play after this season, but he is on pace for the ninth 1,000-yard receiving season of his storied career and provides a reliable target for QB David Garrard. In addition to his production on the field, word is Holt has been mentoring young receivers Mike Sims-Walker and rookie Mike Thomas with their route running, being the leader the group was lacking in recent seasons. The results have been very noticeable with Sims-Walker having a breakout year and Thomas making several crucial plays in crunch time.
PFW has launched its brand-new NFL Draft Newsletter series, with the first issue now ready for mailing. Produced by PFW's player personnel department under the direction of Nolan Nawrocki, the series consists of four information-packed issues. For more info or to subscribe — click here for PDF e-pub or here for print format.