Jacksonville Jaguars: It’s the offense’s turn on Draft Night

Will the Jacksonville Jaguars use the second and third rounds of the NFL Draft to address needs on the offensive side of the ball?

After watching the Jacksonville Jaguars add key pieces to the young defense on the first night of the NFL draft, what will the team do with two picks on the second night knowing they still have needs on the offensive side of the ball?

Bringing in cornerback C.J. Henderson and outside linebacker/pass rusher K’Lavon Chaisson we’re solid moves. Both players should compete for playing time immediately, however as I listen to my friends and read comments from fans on social media, they would have liked to have seen at least one playmaker chosen to help quarterback Gardner Minshew.

And as I told another NFL writer this morning, the Jaguars obviously believe they have deeper problems defensively than they do with their passing attack or running game. After listening to both general manager David Caldwell and head coach Doug Marrone this off-season, they feel more confident about their offensive line then most of the local and national media do. So what happens tonight is anybody’s guess.

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What I do know is that if the team selects another defensive player with their first pick at No. 42 42, there may be a bit of angst amongst the team’s fanbase.

There are still plenty of playmakers on the board as Marrone made it a point to discuss the team’s need last week when he met with the local media via Zoom. But it’s also a case where the Jacksonville Jaguars cannot let the draft come to them and moving up in the second round is a real possibility. Especially if they want to draft somebody like Denzel Mims of Baylor or possibly Chase Claypool of Notre Dame.

Because of the depth at wide receiver in this draft, the selection of a left tackle might be more pressing in the second round. Still, it’s a mystery to everyone but a select few in the front office.

I also have to wonder how much influence new offensive coordinator Jay Gruden has in the selection process. What has he discussed with the front office as to what he wants to see in the way of talent added to this roster?

The Jaguars have 10 selections over the next two days, of which I do not believe they use all of them for themselves. Caldwell has done well to maneuver up the draft board especially in the second round in recent years and I expect him to do that again this year, possibly adding a second second-round pick.

Also, will they address any potential trade talk for Yannick Ngakoue or Leonard Fournette tonight, or are those two players who will be part of this roster once play begins later this month?

The Jacksonville Jaguars have a lot of work left to do but have taken the first step through the Draft to help a young roster get even better. I cannot wait to see whether they move the chess pieces as Caldwell talked about last week. The Jaguars need to hit on all 12 of the selections. So far it seems like they have started swinging for the fences.