Jaguars must trade up to draft TE Kyle Pitts, no matter the cost

The Jacksonville Jaguars should follow the Atlanta Falcons’ blueprint.

Hop into the DeLorean and revisit the 2011 NFL Draft. The Atlanta Falcons made a trade to move from 27th overall to sixth overall with the Cleveland Browns to take Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones. Atlanta sent their first-round pick (27th overall), a second-round pick (59th), a fourth-round pick (124th), and also their first and fourth-round selections the following year to the Browns for the sixth overall pick in 2021.

At the time, the Falcons were criticized for trading so many picks away for one player, but it was the right move in retrospect. Moreover, Cleveland selected defensive tackle Phil Taylor, wide receiver Greg Little, and fullback Owen Marecic in 2011 and quarterback Brandon Weeden in 2012.

The moral of the story is that picks are overvalued. It’s not about how many a team possess, but what they do with them. Atlanta has zero regrets with trading up for a future first-ballot Hall of Famer in Julio Jones, as he helped them have one of the most dynamic offenses throughout the entire 2010s.

That is what Kyle Pitts can be for the Jaguars. Head coach Urban Meyer and general manager Trent Baalke should be on the phone with the Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals, and Miami Dolphins about what it will take to get into those spots. The 25th, 33rd, 45th overall in 2021 and a first or second in 2022 would not only be enough to make the move, but it would be undoubtedly worth the investment.

The Jaguars would still have six picks left for 2021’s draft, which is enough to find more critical contributors for the roster. The only way Pitts fails in the league is by injury or by him not caring enough. Jacksonville must find a way to get him to Jacksonville.