Picking first overall for a second straight year, the Jaguars have been linked to a few players in a draft that does not appear to feature a surefire top talent. The perception around the league points the Jags to a trade, but no needle-moving offer may materialize.
An NFL scouting director informed SI.com’s Albert Breer “everyone knows” Jaguars GM Trent Baalke would prefer to trade down. Connected to either Aidan Hutchinson or fast-rising prospect Travon Walker at No. 1, the Jags still enter this draft as a team with several needs — despite their free agency binge. A move down the board would enable the rebuilding team to add more picks to address them.
However, a sufficient offer has not yet arrived. And a report earlier this offseason indicated teams have not shown much interest in moving up to No. 1. This draft may feature the least desirable top pick since 2013, a draft that saw one quarterback taken in Round 1 and the top 10 produce several busts. This may lead to Jacksonville sticking at No. 1. Breer and ESPN.com’s Todd McShay have Hutchinson going first overall, while NFL.com’s Peter Schrager mocks Walker to the Jags.
A Georgia defensive end capable of playing inside as well, Walker has been connected to the Jags at multiple junctures this offseason. Though, Hutchinson — the second-place Heisman finisher after a dominant senior season at Michigan — is viewed as the safer choice, with Walker’s production not in the same realm as the ex-Wolverine’s. Baalke is sensitive to the Jags’ current reputation, per Breer, who adds this may influence the veteran exec to play it safer at 1.
The team has also done extensive work on this draft’s top offensive tackles, despite having franchise-tagged Cam Robinson, Breer notes. It would surprise if the Jags tagged Robinson and still chose a tackle, but they have used first-round picks on defensive linemen in four of the past seven drafts. Regardless of how Jacksonville proceeds, this draft looks set to begin with more uncertainty than the drafts of the past several years.
If the Jags don’t get one of the LT’s, it’ll just waste another year for TL. He got crushed last year and brought in an older guard that can’t play a full season. Nor are they the biggest fan of their current LT by tagging him twice rather than locking him up.
Pathetic franchise.
And I’m not sure why they did that anyway. Robinson has been overrated since day one and he lucked out cuz the jags are a mess and gave him 2 franchise tags to get paid to do next to nothing. I say that cuz he’s either hurt or ineffective. Played 14 games last year and Lawrence was on his ass for most of it…
I didn’t see it, and the #s back me up.
TL was only sacked 3 more times than Mahomes who was sacked the least.
Burrow was sacked 20 more times , in perspective.
Jags o-line isn’t that bad. actually it’s pretty good.
Week 17 Lawrence was standing tall behind pockets that other teams fail to produce.
Nothing wrong with adding to the o-line group, but can succeed with the same unit next year.
TL just needed a better system and lots will change with Urban gone for good.
if they trade back, I think it will be to target one of the big recievers like London or Garret Wilson.
The numbers back you up… to an extent. He may not have been sacked much, but Lawrence was knocked down the 8th most of all QBs in the league, more than Joe Burrow. Being roughed up doesn’t just mean being sacked. He was also hurried 7th most of any QB, and threw the ball away a ton.
No matter how you look at it, he was under an immense amount of pressure all season.
they also ranked 30th in rushing attempts.
..coaching goes a long way.
That number 1 pick also carries a big salary. Why pay top dollar for a less than top dollar talent? That same $9 million/year will get you 3 players in the second round.
I agree but if no one wants it it’s worth next to nothing other than the player you pick. Can’t trade it to nobody without giving a good deal to take it off your hands, which isn’t the look the jags are going for at this point. if your paying that kind of cash,go with the surest guy on your board
depends.
if they’d be willing to trade back into the 20s & pick up another 1st next year etc. then I think there’s contenders who would love to add Hutchinson or Walker
That seems like their best move. Pick up an extra first, and maybe a couple 3rds or a 2nd. I could see teams like the Cowboys, Chiefs, Bills, or Packers being interested in that kind of move. I don’t think any of the teams in the top 10 will be itching to move up there.
You also get an extra year of control on a 1st round pick.
This may be the only year that no one else wants the #1 pick. You earned that pick Jags. Enjoy it. There’s a pretty good chance this inept franchise has it again next season, for the 3rd year in a row.
What’s the record for most consecutive #1 picks?
Actually, a few teams have had two consecutive years. Most recently, it has been the Browns in 2017-2018 (Garrett and Mayfield) and 1999-2000 (Tim Couch and Courtney Brown)
Good memory!
One of best group of defenders I can remember, weird it’s considered a weak draft cuz QBs suck
Sounds like there’s not much difference among the top talents, though.
I think it’s more that the Jags don’t really need D-line or o-line and would be taking it as a luxory.
pretty obvious they need a star WR , but taking one top 5 would be heinous.
if they needed a pass rusher or offensive tackle then they wouldn’t be looking into trading back and would want their preference at #1
seems like Hutch or Walker will go 1, and Jax settles for a 2nd tier receiver to kick off round 2
Oh I gotcha. That makes sense. Thanks for the explanation.
Unless they’re gonna take Pennies on the dollar, no one is trading for this pick.
If they could move down no more than five or six picks and pick up an extra second or third rounder, it would be worth it. I know it’s not the haul teams usually get, but the difference in talent is small enough that it would be worth it.
The problem for the Jags is every other team also knows the difference in talent is small. For every reason the Jags have for wanting to trade down, other teams share the same reasoning for not wanting to trade up.
Any offer is a good offer if you don’t want the pick…
I think the Jags are over thinking this. Just take Neal from Alabama, a 6-7 351 pound left tackle that is far superior to Robinson is a valuable commodity. These guys don’t grow on trees, plus they cost Terron Armstead money when they do become available.
Trading down makes sense if you have a GM with a track record of finding good talent in the mid rounds but do the Jags have that?
The Jaguars have 12 picks, tied for the most in the draft with the Chiefs.
The babbling skulls have run out of things to talk about.
The Jags don’t run the ball enough and hired a Coach who cannot call plays to save his Life. Doug “Frank Reich Won Me a Superbowl” Pederson. You don’t win in the NFL passing or attempting to pass on 60% of your plays. Unless your opponent does the same. 60% pass teams won 15% of their games last yr against teams that threw on under 60% of their plays. Running the ball less then 20 times is a blueprint for losing!!!!!! Does not matter who the QB is either. Tom Brady or Trevor “Martina” Lawrence. am I the only one who sees the resemblance between Lawrence and the HOF Tennis Player. Martina Navritolova. The Jags should trade the pick. They need more picks. I can’t stand Michigan or Harbaugh but I know Hutchinson is the Best Player in this Draft. I would shy away from guys who sat out their bowl games.
Jaguars will be firing Doug Pederson after one season. The guy is a horrible coach. he only won the Superbowl because Frank Reich. Pederson can’t call plays to save his life. He is in that mold of Pat Shurmur and all the rest of the pass happy bozos who fail year after year.
Andy Reid.
I have been back and forth thinking what I would do with this pick. After seeing what the Jags have done thus far, I think I would still go offensive line. I think Neal or Ekwonu is worth the draft slot and will help in the future more then the pass rushers. Cam Robinson wasn’t a LT to write home about. The offensive line was not bad in Jacksonville but he wasn’t good at all.
If a trade arises that would be my first choice.
I am also a Lions fan hoping to get Hutchinson. Not for the Michigan ties but more for being the best player in the class and filling a huge need.
Get one of the OTs to protect your young QB. Circle back in the 2nd to get a WR possibly. Unless they can trade and stay in the top 5-10 and pick up another draft asset they might as well protect the #1 overall investment from last year. The pass rush won’t help as much in a division that is going to run it down your throat 30+ times a game with Taylor & Henry.