2017 NFL Draft: Jacksonville Jaguars gamble on Dede Westbrook in Round 4

Dede Westbrook does not play a position of need, but the Jacksonville Jaguars struck out for a value pick in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Most likely the best available player at the start of the fourth round, Dede Westbrook finds a new home with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2017 NFL Draft. It was a value pick in the fourth round, getting a player who is capable of being a second-rounder but falls due to character concerns.

Those character concerns likely caused Westbrook to slide but the Jaguars are willing to take a chance on him. If they can give him a stable place to put down some roots and grow, he could become one of the more impressive players on a talented offense.

That alone is worth this pick. It’s a gamble, but it’s an important gamble. The Jags already have Allen Hurns, Marqise Lee, and Allen Robinson heading up the wide receiving corps, but in the NFL it is always about the next man up and Westbrook could grow into being in the rotation and stepping up if someone falters.

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Bottom line, getting a talented wide receiver who can make an impact and has high upside in the fourth round is about one thing: value. That is what teams look for in the fourth round and beyond and the Jaguars are wise to stick with their big board and pick the next best available player instead of forcing a fit into a hole.

This pick could set the tone for the rest of the draft. Look for the Jaguars to continue to grab the best player available and get tremendous value in these later rounds.