The Jacksonville Jaguars' third NFL draft moved in usual Tom Coughlin fashion through four rounds.

Round 1: Defensive tackle Renaldo Wynn, Notre Dame. Safe pick.

Round 2: Safety Mike Logan, West Virginia. Safe pick.

Round 3: Linebacker James Hamilton, North Carolina. Safe pick.

Round 4: Defensive tackle Seth Payne, Cornell. Safe pick.

Then came Round 5, and for the first time in three drafts as Jaguars coach, Coughlin took a chance -- tight end Damon Jones, a chance that most likely ultimately will be how the Jaguars' 1997 draft is judged.

To understand the importance of Jones it is first necessary to understand what a departure he is from not only Coughlin's usual draft strategy, but from his coaching philosophy in general.

Jones is a talented player. The Jaguars had him third on their draft board. In a perfect world, he would have been a second-round draft choice.

Jones' world is not such a world.

The all-world talent who showed his pass-catching ability with a stellar Senior Bowl transferred from Michigan after a freshman season in which he twice ran into trouble. First, he and a friend set off a Molotov cocktail in a dorm. Then, he and some friends stole several 12-packs of beer from a package store.

He transferred to Southern Illinois, where he was suspended for a game after yelling at a referee. He later yelled with an assistant coach over playing time, an incident for which he was not suspended.

So, when Jones was available Sunday afternoon, Coughlin -- who has heavily emphasized character in two previous drafts and three free-agency periods -- had a choice: take the risk, or pass because of character.

This time, talent won out.

"The value at this point was so great that it was my responsibility to the franchise to be very thorough in investigating him,'' Coughlin said.

Coughlin had repeated conversations with Jones -- and conversations the tight end had with college scouting director Rick Reiprish and several members of the coaching staff -- convinced him Jones was worth the risk.

Coughlin will lessen that risk, he said, by closely monitoring Jones, and ensuring he is in a structured environment.

"I'll sit down and spend extra time talking with him about my expectation level, and again reviewing the things I think are weak points,'' Coughlin said. "Then, it will be a structured program. The one common thread with this young man was that he thrives in a structured environment. I think we can make progress along those lines.''

The main hole in the Jaguars' roster was a versatile tight end. Jones was a fifth-round selection, so if he busts, there's little risk, but this was such a departure for Coughlin -- and tight end such a great need -- that Jones will be one of the most watched fifth-round selections in the league. If he works, then the Jaguars' offense -- already one of the league's most dangerous -- is that much more productive. That makes him a very, very important pick.

And ultimately how the Jaguars' 1997 draft will be judged.

ROUND-BY-ROUND ANALYSIS

Round 1/21 -- Renaldo Wynn, DT, Notre Dame

Tom Coughlin's player of choice for the first round. Coughlin wanted a big, physical defensive tackle, and choosing far too late for Darrell Russell of Southern Cal, Wynn was the best option. There is a question regarding Wynn's size. He's 297 pounds, but beefed up recently, and was a linebacker in his first two years of college. If he can maintain the weight and be the run-stuffer Coughlin coveted, he's an excellent selection.

Round 2/50 -- Mike Logan, S, West Virginia

The Jaguars selected from West Virginia's secondary for a second consecutive year for this one. Last year, the Jaguars took CB Aaron Beasley in the third round, and he became a solid starter by season's end. Logan played CB in college, but will play safety for the Jaguars. He is said to be a confident, cocky player and a hitter, and his strength should solidify an increasingly physical secondary.

Round 3/79 -- James Hamilton, LB, North Carolina

Here, the Jaguars went the best athlete available rout. A primary objective of Coughlin's was to increase depth, and improve special teams. Hamilton is projected as a ferocious cover guy on special teams, and his presence is needed on a linebacking corps with little depth at outside linebacker. A bit of a reach, but if his athletic ability is what it's said to be, he should help.

Round 4/114 -- Seth Payne, DT, Cornell

The Jaguars wanted desperately to shore up the interior of the defense. That meant finding run-stuffing tackles. They took Wynn in Round 1, and thought they were done. When Payne became available, however, he was so high up their draft board they felt compelled to select him. If he pans out, he gives the Jaguars two young, run-stuffing tackles for the next four or five years. One problem -- level of competition. Payne played in the Ivy League, and played in no all-star games, so he's never played against big-time competition.

Round 5/147 -- Damon Jones, TE, Southern Illinois

The Jaguars' bold move of the draft. He is a superior, second-round talent with a risky, seventh-round background. If he gives them the pass-catching, game-breaking threat at the spot they so covet, he's a masterful pick. If not, tight end -- a problem area -- is a problem area for another year.

Round 6/184 -- Daimon Shelton, FB, California State-Sacramento

The Jaguars went for need in the late rounds. Coughlin said the team passed on several high-rated players here because they played positions the Jaguars didn't need. At fullback, Coughlin wanted a big, physical player who can block and run hard inside on third downs. A good pick here. If he works out, the Jaguars improve at another weak area. If not, Shelton gets cut, and the Jaguars try again next year.

Round 7/221 -- Jon Hesse, LB, Nebraska

Special teams, special teams, special teams. Every time a kick or punt was returned last year against the Jaguars was a nervous time for Coughlin. A primary concern in the draft was to improve those areas, and when Coughlin reached Round 7, he realized that except for Hamilton, he'd done little to address the area. Hesse was the Jaguars' highest-rated kick-covering linebacker in the entire draft. If he can cover kicks, he makes the team. If not, it's only a seventh-round selection.