Grading Jaguars 7-pick haul in talent-filled 2022 NFL Draft

Grading Jaguars 2022 NFL Draft: Round 1, No. 27 pick – Devin Lloyd, LB.

Linebacker wasn’t at the top of the Jaguars’ to-do list ahead of the draft but it was definitely in need of a boost. Not wanting to run the risk of missing out on Utah’s Devin Lloyd, they jumped back into the first round and selected Utah’s Devin Llyod with the 27th overall pick.

To pull off the trade, the Jaguars sent picks 30, 106, and 180 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. All things considered, it wasn’t a hefty price to move up six spots when you take into account that the Jags had 12 selections at their disposal. Jacksonville let Damian Wilson walk away this offseason and they also released long-time mainstay Myles Jack. Needing to revamp their linebacker corps, they signed Foyesade Oluokun in free agency and later drafted Lloyd to line up next to him.

Lloyd will most likely be a Day 1 starter. The California native was a three-year starter for the Utes. Last season, he appeared in 14 games and logged 111 total tackles, 22 tackles for a loss, seven sacks, one forced fumble, four interceptions, and six passes defensed. He gives defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell a player that can stop the run, drop in coverage and blitz.

During the pre-draft process, Lloyd was among the top-ranked linebacker prospects, so it was a bit shocking to see the Jaguars have a shot a landing him. They realized that they couldn’t pass up the chance to add an immediate starter to their defense, so they wasted no time calling the Bucs about trading back into the first round. Future favors the bold, and bold, the Jags were when they targeted Lloyd.

Grade: A