The Jacksonville Jaguars’ draft class has been reviewed by Sports Illustrated among their AFC peers, and it was ranked at No. 14 out of 16 teams. They are ahead of only the No. 15 Buffalo Bills and the No. 16 Tennessee Titans, with the Houston Texans ranked No. 10 and the Indianapolis Colts ranked No. 5.
Critics have pointed out that some of the Jaguars’ draft picks were selected ahead of where they were projected to go, which could be a cause for concern. However, Trent Baalke, general manager of the Jaguars, defended these selections by stating that he had no intention of picking Brian Thomas Jr., who was selected at No. 23, until he traded back in the draft to accumulate more picks.
The team felt confident in their decision and believed they were getting a valuable player for their roster. Critics have also questioned the selections of a kick returner/running back and a kicker in the later rounds of the draft when there was less talent available.
Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, there is logic behind the Jaguars’ selections. By making strategic moves to address key needs and utilizing their draft picks wisely, they hope that their draft class will pay off in the long run.
