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Jaguars trading disappointing 1st-round pick CJ Henderson to Panthers

CJ Henderson celebrates after making an interception during the game against the Indianapolis Colts at TIAA Bank Field on September 13, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) (Sam Greenwood, 2020 Getty Images)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jaguars are moving on from another disappointing first-round draft pick.

The team is trading CJ Henderson to the Panthers for tight end Dan Arnold and a third-round pick. ESPN also reported Jacksonville will receive a third-rounder and send a fifth-round pick back to Carolina.

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Henderson was the ninth overall pick a season ago out of Florida. He played in eight games before going on injured reserve. Henderson had one career interception, in Week 1 of 2020. He played in two games this season. Henderson finished his Jaguars career with 44 tackles.

It’s another black eye on Jacksonville’s draft history.

Jacksonville has made 10 picks inside the top 10 over the last 11 seasons. Only two, Trevor Lawrence (2021) and Josh Allen )(2019) remain with the team.

And last year’s other first-rounder, K’Lavon Chaisson, remains an underwhelming presence on defense for the team.

Arnold is a fourth-year player who provides more help for a tight end position that is the league’s worst. He has 58 catches for 799 yards and seven career touchdowns.

He was a free agent in the offseason with signed a two-year, $6 million contract with Carolina. The Jaguars were in dire need of a tight end entering this season, but signed only Chris Manhertz, whose role is far more of a blocking tight end.

Jaguars draft misery

A look at Jaguars players who were drafted in the top 10 since 2011.

Year, No. Position, Player, What happened

2021: 1. QB Trevor Lawrence, starter

2020: 9. CB CJ Henderson, traded

2019: 7. DE Josh Allen, starter

2017: 4. RB Leonard Fournette, cut

2016: 5. CB Jalen Ramsey, traded

2015: 3. DE Dante Fowler, traded

2014: 3. QB Blake Bortles, cut

2013: 2. OT Luke Joeckel, released

2012: 5. WR Justin Blackmon, suspended and never returned to NFL

2011: 10. Blaine Gabbert, traded


About the Author
Justin Barney headshot

Justin Barney joined News4Jax in February 2019, but he’s been covering sports on the First Coast for more than 20 years.

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