What are the chances the Jacksonville Jaguars decide to trade-up in the 2018 draft?
By Billy Long
Could the Jacksonville Jaguars have some cards up their sleeve when the NFL draft rolls around?
The Jacksonville Jaguars find themselves in unfamiliar territory. After an AFC runner-up 2017 season, the team will be picking 29th in the upcoming draft. It’s a far cry from consecutive years of picking in the top five after finishing way below .500.
Jacksonville rose quickly to the ranks of the elite, and are one of the most talented teams in the league. With that, a home run selection in the draft could push the team to the highest of peaks in the next few years.
Could the Jaguars decide to make a splash by trading up from pick 29 in the first round?
The most pressing needs the Jaguars have to address is tight end, offensive line, and quarterback. But would a player that fills a void be worth trading up for this year?
At tight end, the crop is plentiful this season. With guys like Hayden Hurst, Dallas Goedert, and Mark Andrews just at the top of the heap, there’s no way Jacksonville would have to trade up to take a pass catching tight end. If that’s the direction the team wants to go in round one, a talented prospect will be there at 29.
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The same goes for the offensive line. Trading up for an offensive lineman would be the ultimate dud move, and is completely unnecessary. Whether it’s an offensive tackle like Orlando Brown or Connor Williams, or much more importantly a guard like Will Hernandez or Billy Price, if the Jaguars want to shore up the offensive line, road-graders will still be available at the end of the round.
The only foreseeable option for trading up in the first round would to snatch up a quarterback. We will know well before April 26th if Jacksonville will have to take a QB early in the draft. If the Jaguars pass on going after Kirk Cousins, or simply can’t reel him in, the priority takes center stage.
Even still, trading up to take a quarterback would only happen if the team absolutely falls in love with one of the top three or four prospects at the position. A guy like Josh Rosen, potentially. But Jacksonville would really have to be all-in that the guy is the no doubt answer for the future. That’s because there’s a chance that Mason Rudolph and Lamar Jackson will both be on the board at 29, and almost a certainty that at least one will be. The two possess traits that can translate successfully to the next level, with each, if taken, sitting behind Blake Bortles and not getting thrown in the fire right away.
Given the depth in the draft at tight end and offensive line, and at least one of the Rudolph/Jackson pair being available, it would be a shock if the Jacksonville Jaguars don’t stay put at pick 29 in the first round of the draft.