Could the Jacksonville Jaguars pass up the chance to take Trevor Lawerence and take a different path in the draft?
The Jacksonville Jaguars have been pretty busy this offseason. They moved on from Doug Marrone and brought in Urban Meyer to be their head coach. They also gave the general manager job to Trent Baalke after holding it on an interim basis last year.
Also, Meyer is already assembling his coaching staff and the team and will soon be able to focus on the free agency period and the draft, which is going to be one of the most important ones, if not the most important, in franchise history.
The former Florida and Ohio State coach acknowledged in his introductory press conference that choosing the right player with the first overall pick in 2021’s draft will be one of the most important decisions he’ll make in his life. Taking the right player will help the Jaguars get out of the cellar quickly while making the wrong choice would set the team back for years.
The ‘Jags’ are expected to use the top pick to take Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawerence, who is arguably the best prospect in this draft class, but what if they don’t? After all, there are many routes they can take in the process and although there’s a 99 percent change they choose the 2020 ACC Player of the Year, they could opt to take a different approach. Here are three alternative scenarios with the first overall pick.
1. The Jacksonville Jaguars could opt to take Justin Fields.
There’s no doubt Trevor Lawerence is the best prospect in this year’s quarterback class. Nevertheless, Justin Fields of Ohio State has also played at a high level throughout his collegiate career and is considered to be a top draft choice as well.
If Lawerence is the better quarterback, why would the Jaguars consider passing him up in favor of Gields? The former could be more talented, but the latter could end up being a better fit for the team Urban Meyer is trying to build. When asked about the first overall selection, the head coach mentioned Lawerence’s, Fields’, and Zach Wilson’s names and at this point of the process, it would be premature to discard any options.
Darrell Bevell is expected to be Jacksonville’s new offensive coordinator and he will surely have a voice in the process too. The former Detroit Lions interim head coach will be in charge of working with whoever the ‘Jags’ end up choosing.
To be clear, this is not a ‘Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf’ kind of situation, where everyone agrees both are elite prospects, but the consensus is divided. Nevertheless, Jacksonville could end up choosing Fields if they think he can help them turn into a perennial playoff team.
2. The Jacksonville Jaguars could also draft the best left tackle prospect.
Owner Shahid Khan recently talked about the importance of having a franchise quarterback. Urban Meyer also said that the NFL, college, and high school are all quarterback leagues. However, the team has two first-round selections and they could use the first one to take Oregon left tackle Penei Sewell.
Even though the 2019 Outland award winner opted out of the 2020 season due to health concerns, his draft stock hasn’t taken a hit and will likely be a top 5 selection in this year’s draft. The Jaguars allowed 44 sacks last season and could use an upgrade at left tackle.
Cam Robinson is set to become a free agent and it’s uncertain whether the organization wants to bring him back. There will likely be a high demand for the Alabama product in the open market and may demand retail compensation for his services. Jacksonville has plenty of cap space but they may be better off spending it in other areas. Drafting Sewell would give them a long-term solution at the left tackle position and would ensure whoever plays quarterback in Jacksonville has optimal protection.
The Jaguars would still need to draft a quarterback, but they could use their second first-round selection, the 25th overall, to take one. They could also pursue Dak Prescott if he becomes available. He was playing at a high level before suffering a season-ending ankle fracture.
3. The Jacksonville Jaguars could also trade for Deshaun Watson.
If the Jaguars’ brass isn’t comfortable with any of the top quarterback prospects in this year’s class, they could always pursue a trade for Deshaun Watson of the Houston Texans. As good as Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields were at the collegiate level, it’s uncertain if they will be able to make the transition to the NFL, which is a common concern.
Meanwhile, Watson has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL since the Texans drafted him in 2017. Last season, he was 382-of-544 for 4,823 yards, 33 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Moreover, he did so in spite of not having a solid surrounding cast.
Watson doesn’t want to play a snap for the Texans again is looking for his way out. The New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins are his top destinations, per Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, but the Jaguars could make a bid for the three-time Pro Bowler. Houston would surely want more than just the first overall pick. This wouldn’t present a constraint, as Jacksonville has an extra second-round selection this year and could also offer their 2021 first-round pick.
The ‘Jags’ have enough cap space and draft picks to acquire Watson without hindering their ability to fortify the rest of their roster. This scenario may not be at the top of the team’s brass list, but they should at least discuss it. It’s not often that you can trade for a franchise quarterback but it will be possible this offseason.