The Jacksonville Jaguars should explore trade options for the number one overall pick.
The Jaguars and their general manager, Trent Baalke, will have the opportunity to reload their roster in April’s NFL draft. Unfortunately, having the first overall selection appears to be more of a burden as there’s a lack of generational talent in this year’s crops. There’s no Khalil Mack or Joe Burrow. Granted, there are about five defensive players and two to three offensive tackles that would instantly enhance the Jaguars.
Still, if Baalke could swing a deal and load up on draft capital, why wouldn’t he? Well, let’s take a look at some plausible scenarios in which some teams come ringing on his cellular phone.
The Jaguars swing a deal with the Washington Football Team.
The Washington Football Team needs a quarterback and acquiring a first-round choice allows them to have their pick of the litter. For the purpose of this scenario, imagine that Washington’s management falls in love with Kenny Pickett from Pitt. Would they be willing to give up four picks, including a second-rounder next year?
Well, their quarterback play since 2020 has been mediocre at best, with names such as Alex Smith, Dwayne Haskins, and Kyle Allen. Taylor Heinicke had a solid season, tossing 20 touchdown passes, but is he the long-term answer at the position?
Conversely, Baalke and the Jaguars would be in excellent shape with the 11th overall choice on Draft Day. They could end up helping Trevor Lawrence by picking a tackle such as Charles Cross from Mississippi State or Northern Iowa’s Trevor Penning, and helping him with his pass protection. Alternatively, the Jaguars could draft DeMarvin Leal and establish a foundational piece on their defensive line.
What if the Jaguars could move down five spots in the 2022 NFL Draft?
The Carolina Panthers are another team with questions at quarterback, but they also need to rebuild their offensive line. It was nice seeing Cam Newton back in a Panthers’ uniform, but that was more of a nostalgia trip born out of necessity than a long-term solution.
It also appears that Carolina might not be happy with Sam Darnold, especially considering he’s guaranteed $18.9 million for this upcoming season. The benefit of acquiring the first pick would be that they could draft a quarterback like Pickett, or get themselves a tackle, or heck, keep building their defense with Kayvon Thibodeaux.
As for the Jaguars, by moving down a few slots to number six, they give themselves some more flexibility minus the pressure of picking first. Two realistic options by then could be Ikem Ekwonu, the swing offensive tackle and guard that could shore up the Jaguars’ left side. The other option is explosive defensive end David Ojabo, from Michigan, who would address the deficiencies in the pass-rushing department.
Would Jaguars GM Trent Baalke answer the call from John Elway?
The Denver Broncos have been abominable in trying to replace John Elway. Minus some productive years with Jake Plummer and Peyton Manning’s Super Bowl run, there’s a lot of less-than-memorable quarterback play. At some point, they have to get it right. Why not Pickett or Matt Corral from Ole Miss? Another route is Elway and co. getting themselves arguably the best offensive tackle, Alabama’s Evan Neal.
By acquiring the ninth pick, the Jaguars put themselves in a position to draft Purdue’s George Karlaftis. The defensive end has star written all over him and would provide Jacksonville with the versatility to play in any defensive system, whether it be 4-3 or 3-4 as Fan Nation pointed out. The Jaguars will have their coaching staff in place by then, so knowing if Karlaftis will be a fit is a likelihood.
Whether Baalke will entertain offers is not certain, but it’s a possibility given the talent that’s available within the first ten picks. The Jaguars will have plenty of options at number one but they can have even more if they trade down a few spots. Would they be willing to give up the chance to draft Neal or Thibodeau in order to hoard more draft picks and in turn acquire more difference-makers?