Jaguars 2022 NFL Draft: Will GM Trent Baalke trade up on Day 2?

The Jacksonville Jaguars came out of the first day of the 2022 NFL Draft with a couple of difference-makers on defense. First, they selected Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker with the top pick and later jumped back into the first round and took Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd with the 27th pick. They currently don’t have a pick in the second round but could they trade up and get one?

The downside of taking Lloyd at No. 27 is that the Jags had to trade their second-round pick, along with two other selections, to return to the first round. They hold picks No. 65 and 70 but they’re both are until the third round. By the time Jacksonville is on the clock again, many of their remaining players on their big board will be gone, so trading moving up might be a realistic possibility.

Most of the players that were projected to be late-round picks were indeed chosen at that portion of the draft. Center Tyler Linderbaum went to the Baltimore Ravens at No. 25 and the Green Bay Packers chose Devonte Wyatt with the 28th overall pick. Nevertheless, there are still plenty of talented prospects available and the Jags might want to get into the second-round fun.

Who would the Jaguars target if they jump back into Round 2?

The Jaguars took care of a couple of needs on defense when they drafted Walker and Lloyd in the first round and while general manager Trent Baalke has previously said that he won’t mind making a room stronger, it’s time the team’s brass invest a few picks on the offense.

Tyler Shatley and Ben Bart are set to start at center and left guard, respectively but the Jags could trade up for an interior offensive lineman. Similarly, their wide receiver room could use a boost even though they signed Christian Kirk and Zay Jones in free agency. Georgia’s George Pickens and Purdue’s David Bell are still available and Jacksonville might need to get back into the second round to draft either one.

The  Jaguars have three selections in the sixth round and two in the seventh. They could use a few of them, along with one of their third-round picks, to put a package together to get back into the second round. Of course, it only makes sense to trade up if there’s a prospect the Jaguars like. Otherwise, they should stay put and wait until Round 3.

The Jaguars had a pretty good first round. They showed they aren’t afraid to trade up to land a player and it will be interesting to see if they will once again do it on Day 2.