Usually, the worst teams in the league need the most. The Jaguars are no different. However, what separates them from other lousy teams is, they don’t need a QB. They have Trevor Lawrence, and while he has underperformed thus far in his career, he has a world of talent.
Last season the Jags finished with a 4-13 record, ending up with the fifth pick in this year’s draft. They have a total of nine picks with five in the top 107. They were equally dismal on offense and defense. They only scored 320 pts while giving up 435. They ranked 26th in offense and 27th in defense.
The question for a team heading into the draft is to take the best player available or draft, based on need…with the goal, to achieve both. It will be interesting because neither, they, nor the Patriots, who are picking one spot ahead of them, need a QB. And there is a very good chance that Shaddeur Sanders will be available to each of them…and neither will take him.
But the Raiders probably will, and they have the sixth pick. So, the question is, will the Jaguars try to peddle the pick to a team also considering Sanders, knowing the Raiders are just waiting there. Then, will the Patriots try to do the same thing? It is definitely a game of 3D chess.
Or, will CB/WR Travis Hunter be there at no.4 for the Patriots, with the Jags moving up one spot to take him? I am most intrigued by Jacksonville’s first pick, because they most need help at DL, LB, and CB. Neither, Abdul Carter nor Hunter will most likely slide to them, and they’ll have to maneuver to get either one of them.
They do have WR Brian Thomas, but could use more help within their receiving core. And RB Travis Etienne is in the fourth year of his rookie deal, with a big decision ahead of them regarding his long-term future with the team. After back-to-back 1000-plus yd seasons, there was major regression last season.
It may be stretch at no.5, but if they decide to not move up to snag Carter or Hunter, they could take a flyer on RB Ashton Jeanty. The best that I can tell, the only reason there isn’t more chatter for him going this early is because he is a running back. But there is universal consensus that he is a special player, similar to Saquon Barkley.
With their no.36 pick they should have their choice of WRs Matthew Golden from Texas or Emeka Egbuka from Ohio St, or DE Alfred Collins from Texas. They can’t go wrong with any of these three. With their third-round pick at no.70, they could do far worse than taking RB Caleb Johnson. If they didn’t snag Jeanty earlier, Iowa’s RB is a fantastic consolation prize.
One of the team’s major needs is in their secondary, and waiting until no.88 isn’t a bad spot to target cornerbacks. There are three that should be available in this area. Dorian Strong from Virginia Tech, Quincy Riley, and Tommi Hill should be there for them. If not all three, at least will be. And they can’t go wrong with any of this triumvirate.
This is when the draft gets fun. They have two picks in the fourth round, at no.107 and 126. If they had an inclination to maneuver in the early rounds, a pick here could be valuable to include in a deal. One of the picks could move them from no.5 to 4, while both picks would surely move them up to the Giants no.3 pick.
Whichever way the team decides to go is intriguing to me. I always liked Lawrence as their QB, and this is an extremely important year for him, and his team.