Jacksonville Jaguars: CBS Sports poses 2 scenarios with 1st overall pick

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ draft strategy isn’t set in stone.

Now that the Jacksonville Jaguars officially hold the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, it’s believed they will use it to take Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrance, who is arguably the prospect in the process. However, there may be an alternative route they could take.

Although drafting Lawrence looks like the soundest decision for the team’s brass, they could also trade the selection for a haul of draft picks, and Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports wrote about both scenarios. He points out that this isn’t unheard of and brings up the fact the Tennessee Titans traded the first overall pick and two additional late-round selections for two firsts, two seconds, and two third-round selections in 2016.

On the other hand, Trapasso acknowledges that passing up Lawrence wouldn’t be the wisest thing to do and adds that the ‘Jags’ already have a plethora of draft picks, so it wouldn’t make much sense for them to take that route.

There’s no need for the Jacksonville Jaguars to take an alternate path.

Parting ways with top draft selections in exchange for a plethora of picks happens from time to time, but those hauls have had mixed results. Moreover, it’s not a surefire to get better and it’s uncertain if acquiring more choices and leaving Lawrance on the board would be in the Jaguars’ best interest.

Back in 2016, the Los Angeles Rams used the first overall pick, the one got from the Titans, on Jared Goff, who has had an uneven career so far. In 2012, the Washington Football Team also traded a robust amount of pick in exchange for the second overall, which they used on quarterback Robert Griffin III, who had an electrifying rookie season but hasn’t done much after that.

Keep in mind that this Jacksonville team has a healthy amount of cap space to acquire talent via free agency, so there is no need for them to have an excessive amount of draft picks. They already have four selections in the first two rounds of the Player Selection Meeting, so it’s not as if they need to get more.

When it comes to the NFL, you should always expect the unexpected, and anything can happen at any given time. Nevertheless, don’t bet the ‘Jaguars’ on pulling a curveball and trade the first overall selection for a haul.