4 things we learned about the Jaguars during the 2022 NFL Draft

The Jaguars prioritized their defense as much as their offense.

Getting Trevor Lawrence a better supporting cast was arguably the organization’s top priority in the offseason but their on-field woes in 2021 went beyond the quarterback position. The Jaguars are coming off a season in which they won only three games and ranked near the cellar in most offensive and defensive categories, so both sides of the ball were in dire need of upgrades.

The Jags did a good job of getting Lawrence weapons in free agency but they also spent a significant amount of resources on the defense. In particular, they invested five draft picks on that side of the ball and didn’t invest a single one on a tight end or a wide receiver (more on that later). Instead of using taking an offensive tackle at No. 1, they went with Travon Walker. Similarly, they took two linebackers and two cornerbacks, showing that they were focused on making sure they get better at stopping opposing offenses in 2022.

Last season, Jacksonville’s defense ranked 20th in yards allowed but was 28th in points. They had a few building blocks such as outside linebacker Josh Allen and cornerbacks Shaquill Griffin and Tyson Campbell. However, the brain trust recognized that they needed to pressure the quarterback more often, and create more big plays.

There’s no doubt that scoring points is essential to winning football games but having the ability to stop teams from doing so also helps. The Jaguars knew it and acted accordingly in the draft.