With two first-round picks in their holster, the Jacksonville Jaguars find themselves at somewhat of a crossroads. With the loss of major players like AJ Bouye, Calais Campbell, and Jalen Ramsey the roster is a shadow of the one that found them in the AFC Championship game in 2017.
With Yannick Ngakoue wanting out, the team committing to playing two home games in London in 2020, and rumours of the team actively trying to trade oft-injured juggernaut Leonard Fournette it seems like the Jaguars are a team in turmoil.
So does the 2020 Draft represent hope or desperation for the Jacksonville Jaguars ?
With the 9th pick the Jacksonville Jaguars select
The loss of two top-quality corners in the space of the last 8 months leaves the Jaguars with a glaring hole at that position. If they stay in that spot they will almost certainly be taking CJ Henderson out of Florida.
There are options if the top if the draft falls massively their way, but it seems highly unlikely. If one of Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert were to drop to nine I think they will bite your hand off to get whoever it is.
The Jags have needed a franchise quarterback for many seasons. And while I never saw Nick Foles as that guy, trading him away certainly gives the impression they will need to address that position this year.
However, the hole at corner seems like the biggest need rather than reaching for Jordan Love at nine. While Love has great potential he isn’t a top 10 pick at the moment (check back in a year to see how well that comment ages).
If they stay in this pick Henderson seems to be the guy.
Jaguars trade up
There’s only one reason for the Jacksonville Jaguars to trade up from the number nine spot, and that’s to take Tagovailoa or Herbert. But with their holes, I think the value really isn’t there for them.
They would almost certainly have to jump into the top five, and that price would be extremely steep. More likely they pick at nine and then trade up from 20 if they really want Jordan Love.
How high would they realistically have to go? I see this more as a situation of someone trading ahead of them to get Love. Think New England or New Orleans. I’m convinced the market will be that hot for Love if I’m honest though.
Love is a lower-half of the first-round pick for me. There’s a small chance the Patriots jump them, but it’s not that high in my opinion. Love is a quarterback someone will take if he falls to them, not one you use extra draft capital to take.
If New England don’t jump them, I think the Jags take Jordan Love at 20.
On the slim chance the Patriots move up and take Love, I think they select Edge rusher Yetur Gross-Mato, and he is a great pick here for them.
They could potentially double up at corner and take Jaylon Johnson, or take Alabama safety Xavier McKinney. But I will stump for Gross-Matos as the pick if Love is gone.
The Jaguars made their run to the Championship game on the back of their defence and I think they will try the same thing again.
In that scenario be prepared for the Jags to address the QB position in the second, with Jacob Eason, or maybe in the fourth with Jake Fromm.
But in an ideal world I see the Jacksonville Jaguars walking away with Henderson and Love.
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