5 bold predictions for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2022 NFL Draft

4. The Jaguars will draft a running back in the third or four round.

The Jaguars raised a few eyebrows when they selected Travis Etienne 25th overall last year but it was a good (but not great) decision in retrospect. The former Clemson Tiger missed his rookie campaign after suffering a Lisfranc injury in the preseason but should be back for training camp. This is great news for a Jacksonville team that will be without James Robinson, who also sustained a serious injury near the end of the 2021 season.

Etienne will most likely get a big workload in training camp and early in the 2022 season while Robinson recovers but the Jags need to add depth to their running back room. While taking one in the second round seems unlikely, they could use one of their third-round picks or the one they have in the fourth to draft a running back.

Baalke told the media Friday that even though this isn’t necessarily a deep draft at running back, there wil be quality depth in the middle rounds. By then, Kenneth Walker III and Breece Hall, the top two prospects at the position, will be gone but Cincinnati’s Jerome Ford, Georgia’s Zamir White, and Rachaad White of Arizona State will still be on board.

You could make the case that running back isn’t as big a need as other positions but Baalke said that the Jags will take the best player available regardless of the position. If they can add another running back that will make their offense better, why shouldn’t they?