JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The NFL draft is over and the Jaguars added nine players to their roster over the last three days. What were some of the better things to emerge from this draft for the Jaguars? Let’s take a look.
Overall: A-
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The skinny: Jacksonville landed a franchise quarterback, a running back who coach Urban Meyer hopes can become a Percy Harvin Lite, and three Day 2 picks who all have starter-caliber potential. The final day added two pieces on the defensive line that should add some depth to that unit. Sixth-round receiver Jalen Camp is physical and fast.
Best pick
Any draft that includes Trevor Lawrence is a home run. Start there. He’s a franchise quarterback and the most visible player who has ever slipped on a Jaguars jersey.
What we liked
Lawrence, obviously. RB Travis Etienne was a hellacious player at Clemson and has big play ability. He’s a mismatch lining up wide. The Day 2 selections of OT Walker Little and S Andre Cisco are potential high yield moves. The thing that immediately jumps out is the time that both have missed. Cisco tore an ACL two games into his 2020 season. Little opted out of 2020 after missing almost all of his 2019 year with a knee injury. So, yes, those are relevant concerns. But Cisco said he’s ahead of schedule in returning, and Little is healthy and ready to go. Cisco was a wrecking ball in the secondary at Syracuse. He had 13 interceptions in 24 career games. Those two are going to see significant time for the team. Could Little be the long-term answer at either tackle spot? He was a legitimate first-round prospect early in his career.
Question marks
Cornerback Tyson Campbell at No. 33 felt like a bit of a reach. I know the Jaguars want depth in remaking the secondary, but was he worth that high of a draft spot? The knock on Campbell is that he was very inconsistent at Georgia. And he wasn’t a guy who created many turnovers (just one career pick). A second-round player is expected to start at some point. Will Campbell be in the mix for a starting corner role eventually, or is he cut out more for a nickel role? … Teams can get creative the later the draft goes, but a fifth-round pick on a blocking TE in Luke Farrell? Jacksonville signed a blocking TE in free agency (Chris Manhertz). Right now, James O’Shaughnessy is the best receiving TE on the roster. Brevin Jordan of Miami was on the board and is a far better pass catcher than Farrell. Are the Jaguars planning on keeping their TEs on the line more in Darrell Bevell offense? Confusing that Jacksonville hasn’t addressed this position more unless there’s a trade brewing, or it is legitimately expecting something out of possibly signing Tim Tebow. Realistically, the Jaguars can’t go into training camp without addressing that position. Meyer even said during his post-draft media availability that the Jaguars didn’t see the quantity of tight ends in the draft that they wanted, and that position is his biggest concern.
Jaguars 2021 draft class
Round 1
1. QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
25. RB Travis Etienne, Clemson
Round 2
33. CB Tyson Campbell, Georgia
45. OT Walker Little, Stanford
Round 3
Round 4
106. DT Jay Tufele, Southern Cal
(trade from Rams) 121. Edge Jordan Smith, UAB
Round 5
145. TE Luke Farrell, Ohio State
170. Traded to Rams
Round 6
(trade from Rams) 209. WR Jalen Camp, Georgia Tech
Round 7
249. Traded to Rams