Jaguars 2021 NFL Draft: Winners and losers from Day 1

Jacksonville Jaguars’ winners after Day 1 of 2021’s draft.

1) The Jaguars’ running back room.

Individually, James Robinson will see his numbers decrease in 2021 due to the addition of Carlos Hyde in free agency and Travis Etienne in the draft. However, the Jaguars’ running back room looks in significantly better shape than it did in 2020.

Last season, Robinson was playing at a high level but as soon as he suffered an ankle injury, the Jaguars’ rushing attack struggled to find its footing. The team’s brass surely expects the sophomore running back to stay healthy but if he needs to miss games, the team will have two replacements in Hyde and Etienne. Moreover, a dominating running game will help take some pressure off Trevor Lawrence, so Etienne’s addition will not just benefit Jacksonville’s running back unit.

2) Jaguars’ fans

This may sound silly, but Jaguars fans are tired of being disappointed year after year. The team made the AFC Championship in 2017 but other than that, the bright spots have been far and few between in the last decade. However, this year feels different. The hire of head coach Urban Meyer, a proven winner at the college level, has revitalized the franchise and the fan base.

Meyer’s presence, in conjunction with the addition of Lawrence and Etienne, should help turn things around quickly. The Jaguars’ brass took questionable decisions in previous years, and although the head coach will have his fair share of misses during his tenure in Jacksonville, the Jags are taking the right steps towards winning games on a consistent basis and becoming something they haven’t been before, relevant.