The Jaguars can change the fortunes of their franchise

The recent trade of Jalen Ramsey by the Jaguars may have turned the team’s fortunes for the future around.

The Jaguars have been in the NFL doldrums for many years.  A lack of talent has been an issue with this franchise. The trade of Jalen Ramsey last week gives the team an opportunity to get a number of quality players through the NFL Draft.

Many Jaguars fans are upset at the loss of the disgruntled cornerback. I am very sorry to see him go but this chronically below-average team just doesn’t need a soap opera day after day. I wish him well as he joins Dante Fowler and Blake Bortles on the Los Angeles Rams.

It was a wise decision to trade him to the other side of the country.  The Jalen news will dry up quickly.

The Jaguars have nine draft picks in both the 2020 and 2021 drafts. This could change the face of the franchise for years to come. The deal last week will give the front office the opportunity to acquire talent through the Draft and possibly through trades for proven veterans.

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It is of critical importance that the Jaguars use this good fortune wisely.

"As Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com wrote, “Using these picks correctly, whether taking players or packaging the picks to move up, could set the franchise up for a run of sustained success that hasn’t happened since the late 1990s.”"

DiRocco wasn’t the only one who weighed in on the trade, as Nick Villano of FanSided.com viewed the deal as a success for Jacksonville moving forward.

"“Looking at the Jaguars’ side of things, they get to add a pick to add to a team that desperately needs more talent. With Nick Foles signed for three more seasons, and Gardner Minshew looking like a serviceable player, their quarterback position is as solidified as it has been since Byron Leftwich was good,” Villano writes.“Leonard Fournette probably wasn’t the right pick for them at the time, but he’s still an outstanding offensive player. Now, they just need to solidify some positions and they can once again compete in the AFC South.”"

As of now, it will be Tom Coughlin, Vice President of Football Operations, and David Caldwell, the Jaguars’ general manager, who will be in charge of this haul. If their past track record of drafts are any indication of the future, this might not be worthy of a celebration.

As we look back we see Luke Joeckel, Bortles, Fowler, Ramsey, Fournette, Taven Bryan, and Josh Allen.  Allen, Bryan, and Fournette are still on the team. Allen and Fournette have extensive playing time while Bryan has shown improved play the past two weeks. Draft choices are not an exact science.  For example, Joeckel was considered a can’t miss choice and he was never successful at either tackle or guard on the Jaguars offensive line.

The Jaguars have an opportunity to change their draft failures of the past with the picks they received from the Rams. They must take advantage of these picks to help build the team’s future.