Will the Jaguars grab a QB in the first round of the Draft?
By David Levin
The Jacksonville Jaguars most pressing need on offense is under center, but will the team take a quarterback in the first round of the NFL Draft?
The Jacksonville Jaguars front office will look back on the 2018 season and realize nothing will get better for this football team until they upgrade the quarterback position. It may look the same for a short time after the new year, with both Blake Bortles and Cody Kessler on the roster, but changes are coming, potentially sweeping changes to the position, the front office, and the coaching staff.
The three-year, $54-million contract the team gave Bortles this offseason will be talked about for years to come as one of the worst decisions in franchise history because it did not yield the results the franchise thought it would.
If Jacksonville is going to compete once again for a playoff berth and take a step toward the Super Bowl, they must address the “need” through free agency with a veteran signal caller, and a rookie to groom for the near future.
"“Quarterback should be the Jaguars’ No. 1 priority, regardless of whether the front office or coaching staff changes,” writes Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com. “Blake Bortles’ tenure is over, and Cody Kessler clearly isn’t the long-term answer. Landing the quarterback Jacksonville wants might take some maneuvering, though.”"
More from Jacksonville Jaguars News
- Jacksonville Jaguars should welcome Derrick Henry into the kingdom
- Jaguars Rumors: Trent Baalke seems to be getting respect now
- Jaguars News: This division rival might be making a big move
- Former Jacksonville Jaguars S Johnathan Cyprien: “New Profession, Same Standards”
- Jacksonville Jaguars TE Evan Engram officially gets the franchise tag: 3 takeaways
When you look at the quarterbacks expected to be available in the 2019 NFL Draft, none are considered game-changers at the moment. That could all change after the Combine and their individual Pro Day workouts. This is a Draft that is dominated by defensive linemen and wide receivers, two positions that may be addressed by the team looking to get younger and better in a hurry. But make no mistake, this franchise must invest an early pick in a quarterback.
"“It’s not expected to be a great quarterback class, which means there could be several teams competing to move up to land the same signal-caller,” DiRocco added."
If the Draft were held today, the Jaguars would pick seventh overall, not a great place to be if other teams want to find their Patrick Mahomes or Deshaun Watson of the future. Given the team’s history of taking quarterbacks in the first round – Byron Leftwich, Blaine Gabbert, and Bortles – this is a team that may wait until Round 2 to make the pick.
Oregon’s Justin Herbert has not declared for the Draft yet. Dwayne Haskins of Ohio State is intriguing. Drew Locke has some consistency issues. North Carolina State’s Ryan Finley and Will Grier of West Virginia could be there at the top of the second round. Jacksonville needs offensive line help as well and another pass rusher should they cut valuable yet high-priced veterans this offseason.
Another fly in the ointment might be who coaches this team next season. If the Jaguars cut ties with Doug Marrone and bring in another coach, how will his approach affect the selection of the next passer in this offense? The Jaguars may look to keep Marrone and find a more dynamic offensive coordinator.
Next. The Jaguars may move on from Blake Borltes in 2019. dark
No matter what this team decides to do with the coaching staff or the roster for the future, if they cannot find a quarterback to lead this team moving forward, the 2019 season may look a lot like this one, with or without the injury issues the team has suffered through most of the year.