The Jacksonville Jaguars Draft History and Comments: 2006 NFL Draft pt 2
2006 Jacksonville Jaguars Undrafted Free Agent fullback Montell Owens, Mandatory Credit: Rob Foldy-USA TODAY Sports
In the twentieth 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 finish up the 2006 draft. Sorry for the delay. 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 2006 NFL Draft pt 1
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 Five/Pick #160 – Brent Hawkins , DE, Illinois St. – The Jags must have felt they got a steal with Hawkins in the 5th round. They may have actually. He came in after finishing second in the NCAA with 17 sacks and was a MVP at the 2006 Hula Bowl. In 2006, Hawkins became the first Jaguar rookie EVER to record a sack two games in a row (I know…SAD!), before an injured groin ended his season after six games. He came back the next year and was a serviceable reserve and special teams player. Hawkins was cut prior to the 2008 season and never played another NFL down. Some CFL time followed, but was he worthy of a 5th rounder? Considering some of the Jags prior 5th round selections, they’ve done MUCH worse! Would I have picked differently? – About five good to great starters were selected after this pick, but the best would be two-time Pro Bowl SS Antoine Bethea, taken #207 by the Colts. Bethea is still currently playing, projected to start for the 49ers.
Other round five info – A quarterback’s name was called only twice in the 5th round. Neither threw an pass in a NFL game. There was one player who earned Pro Bowl status taken in the round. The 5th went pretty even with 19 defensive and 17 offensive players selected. RB Jerome Harrison was selected #145 by the Browns. He had an uneven career that peaked in 2009 when he broke Jim Brown’s single game rushing record with 286 yards. He played off and on a few more years before being diagnosed with a brain tumor. The tumor was removed and was benign, but there was complications. As of 2012, Harrison was still fighting the effects and could eventually become a quadriplegic. Say a prayer for him, his wife, and two children when you get a chance.
Round Six – The Jags had no pick in the sixth round
Other round six info – Two QBs were selected in the sixth round. One, (#194 Bruce Gradkowski), is still under contract as a backup QB with the Steelers. There were two Pro Bowlers selected in this round. Another even round with 19 offensive and 18 defensive players selected. The first PK (#188 Kurt Smith) and punter (#203 Sam Koch) of the draft were also taken. The Packers selected DT Johnny Jolly at #183. Jolly was a reserve before getting the starting DT job in 2007. Unfortunately, Jolly went on to be arrested with huge amounts of liquid codeine twice, go to jail, and was suspended by the league. After three years out, Jolly reapplied for the NFL and was re-signed by the Packers in 2013. If he recovers from a serious back injury, he could play again this year.
Round Seven/Pick #213 – James Wyche, DE, Syracuse / Pick #236 – Dee Webb, DB, Florida – Once again, the Jags started out the 7th going for another DE. Another flawed DE who spent most of his time on the practice squad and injured reserve. Long story short…Five years in the league. One career tackle and nothing else. Let’s move on. Dee Webb was a defensive back from the Gators. Must have looked great on paper. Played one year. He put up 17 tackles and one INT. Then he was gone. From the Jags and the NFL. Well, actually, he came back to Jacksonville in 2010. He played one year for the Arena Football League’s Jacksonville Sharks. As of this article, Webb is still a member of the AFL Orlando Predators. He appears to be a good football player, just not a pro. Would I have picked differently? – Easily. Cortland Finnegan, selected #215 by the Titans. Has the rep for being kind of a jerk (allegedly), but has been a Pro Bowler and is still currently in the league. I also kind of like the selection of the Saints at #252. There they took WR Marques Colston, one of the most consistent WRs in football.
Other round seven info – One QB was selected in the final round, making a total of 13 selected overall in the 2006 draft. The 7th yielded only 1 Pro Bowler, for a total of 37 drafted in the entire draft. Beginning in the 5th round, there were 15 WRs selected. Marques Colston has caught 607 passes and 63 TDs for his career. The other 14 have caught 313 passes for 18 TDs…COMBINED!
UFA selections of note – Jaguars signed Brian Iwuh (6 years, 115 tackles) & Montell Owens (Still currently playing, 2 Pro Bowls). Also undrafted and notable were eventual Pro Bowlers Brent Grimes, Miles Austin, Matt Prater, Tramon Williams, and Donald Penn.
2006 Draft Summary and Grade –
Round 1 (B-) / Round 2 (A+) / Round 3 (D – Because it included the trade of our 4th round pick) / Round 4 (NO PICK) / Round 5 (c-) / Round 6 (NO PICK) / Round 7 (D-)/ UFA (B-). Totaling their entire draft, the Jaguars’ 2006 NFL draft scored a (C+). Considering the strong first two picks, this score was an extreme underachievement.
I will be back soon with the 2007 draft.
See ya in 2007!
Michael Mcdonald
Follow me on Twitter @gumbussy.