The Jacksonville Jaguars Draft History and Comments: 2006 NFL Draft pt 1
The Jacksonville Jaguars Draft History and Comments: 2006 first round selection
Marcedes Lewis. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
In the nineteenth article in “The Jacksonville Jaguars Draft History and Comments” series, we will continue to review a particular Jaguar draft class, until we have reviewed all 19 of their drafts. Today we will review the 2006 draft. We have previously examined:
- The 1995 Expansion Draft
- The 1995 NFL Draft pt 1
- The 1995 NFL Draft pt 2
- The 1996 NFL Draft
- The 1997 NFL Draft
- The 1998 NFL Draft
- The 1999 NFL Draft
- The 2000 NFL Draft
- The 2001 NFL Draft pt 1
- The 2001 NFL Draft pt 2
- The 2002 NFL Draft pt 1
- The 2002 NFL Draft pt 2
- The 2003 NFL Draft pt 1
- The 2003 NFL Draft pt 2
- The 2004 NFL Draft pt 1
- The 2004 NFL Draft pt 2
- The 2005 NFL Draft pt 1
- The 2005 NFL Draft pt 2
The Jaguars took advantage of the easiest schedule in the NFL to a 12-4 record, yet they still didn’t win the AFC South. This earned the Jags the 28th pick. The Jags had only six draft picks. I will go over each selection and say something concerning the player, if deserving. I will also bring up any missed opportunity where the Jags, with hindsight on my side, could have made a better selection. I will also bring up anything interesting related to the draft…Jaguar or not. ”
Round One/Pick #21 – Marcedes Lewis, TE, UCLA – The Jags were very happy with TE Kyle Brady and had been for awhile. They also realized he was starting his 12th year in the league and they needed to prepare a replacement. They went with an almost carbon copy (Brady – 6-6, 278 lbs/Lewis – 6-6, 272 lbs). Lewis didn’t end up being what the Jags anticipated. Looking for a big target with deceptive speed to help on 3rd downs and red zone plays, Lewis ended up being more of a source of strong blocking in the running game then a game-changing receiver. He shocked the world in 2010 (a contract year) with career highs in receptions, yards, and TDs. He then, after a short holdout and a franchise tag, signed a large contract that had him the highest paid TE in football for a couple of days. He hasn’t come back to earth since signing that contact as much as he has crashed. His salary is ridiculous compared to his production and hopefully he will earn his keep in 2014. Would I have picked differently? – Very much so! Just to name a few…#22 C Nick Mangold, #33 LB DeMeco Ryans, #42 S Danieal Manning, #43 S Roman Harper, #52 WR Greg Jennings, & #57 WR Devin Hester. I would have loved any of these guys!
Other round one info – Three QBs were selected in the 1st round. There were 17 future Pro Bowlers selected in the 1st round. After having DE Mario Williams becoming one of the few defensive players drafted #1 in a NFL draft, the 1st round ended up very defensive with 19 selected overall. Though the 10-2 Ohio State team led all others with five players selected in the 1st round, the 8-5 Florida State team had four players selected in the first 19 picks, all on defense. This 1st round was significant because there were two Heisman Trophy winners (Reggie Bush & Matt Leinart) selected. Oh…these were different times, with four RBs drafted in the 1st.
Round Two/Pick #60 – Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, UCLA – This selection was surprising in so many ways. First of all, Fred Taylor was a solid, though sometimes brittle, NFL starting RB. Second, MoJo was a wee man at 5-7 and didn’t get a ton of publicity here on the east coast. I like to think the Jags office remembered how interesting it was for the opposing team’s defense when you had the power of Fred Taylor, combined with the speed and ball catching abilities of Tavian Banks. Tavian was a precursor to Jones-Drew who’s career was cut short by injury. The beauty of Maurice was he thought the entire league was stupid and placed the biggest chip you’ve ever seen on his shoulder. He went so far to claim the number 32, the number of teams that snubbed him. He has gone on to be one of, if not the best, RB in Jags history. He even led the entire NFL in rushing for the 2011 season. MoJo will be in the Ring of Honor one day. Would I have picked differently? – Absolutely not!!!
Other round two info – There were two QBs selected. Eight Pro Bowlers were picked. Though it’s questionable that a potential Hall of Famer was selected in the 1st, the odds are better that #57 Devin Hester could get the call one day for his amazing return statistics. Offensive players made a comeback with 18 selected in the round.
Round Three/Pick #80 – Clint Ingram, LB, Oklahoma – A pick that looked great on paper. Clint was an outstanding player and tackling machine for the Sooners. He proceeded to be the same for the Jags, accumulating 194 tackles in 4 years. But he also missed 8 games per injury, had only 5.5 sacks, and really didn’t add any other significant stats. After suffering a knee injury his last year with the Jags, he was allowed to leave via free agency but never played another down elsewhere. What made this a poor pick is that the Jags traded their 4th round pick to the Cowboys to move up 12 selections to make this pick. That makes this close to a horrible pick. Would I have picked differently? – Well first of all, I wouldn’t have sacrificed a fourth rounder to make this selection. Also, I would have taken the player selected at #92, our original draft position. The Cowboys selected Jason Hatcher, who is still playing and just went to the Pro Bowl last year.
Other round three info – Only two QBs selected in this round. Hatcher was the only Pro Bowler selected. The split was pretty even with 17 offensive players to 16 defensive players selected. After having four players selected in the top 19, A FSU player wasn’t picked again until #95, with WR Willie Reid going to the Steelers.
THE JAGUARS TRADED AWAY THEIR FOURTH ROUND SELECTION
Other round four info – Brad Smith, #103 to the Jets, was the only QB selected in the fourth round. Seven Pro Bowlers were picked in the round. The first special teamer, PK Stephen Gostkowski, was selected #118 in the fourth round. He would go on to the Pro Bowl. More than one third of the players selected came from the Big Ten Conference. Offense is the way to go this draft with 19 selected in the fourth, while 16 were defensive. Current Jaguar CB Will Blackmon was selected #115 by the Packers. The city of Jacksonville native Leon Washington was selected #117 by the Jets. In a great bargain pick, the Broncos selected WR Brandon Marshall with the #119 pick.
Please return as I continue reviewing the Jaguars 2006 NFL Draft from the fifth round on.
See ya again in 2006!
Michael Mcdonald.
Follow me on Twitter @gumbussy. Don’t knock it till you try it!!!