5 players the Jaguars might regret passing on in the 2022 NFL Draft

No. 3 player the Jaguars might regret passing on: George Pickens, WR

Wide receiver was arguably the Jaguars’ biggest need after the 2021 season and they addressed it in free agency with the signings of Christian Kirk and Zay Jones instead of waiting until the draft. The team’s brass gave both players big contracts and they are expected to take on feature roles in 2022.

Having bolstered their wide receiver corps in free agency, the Jaguars’ brass chose not to use a single draft pick on the position but looking back, maybe they should have. There was a run for wide receivers in the middle of the first round but there were still several available in the second round, including George Pickens, who went to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 52.

The truth is that the Jaguars had several options with the No. 33 overall pick and it’s hard to criticize their decision to trade up for Devin Lloyd. On the other hand, there were many prospects available in the second round that have the potential to turn into building blocks. Pickens, who has the size and athleticism to thrive in the pros, was one of them.

The former Georgia Bulldog suffered an ACL injury early in 2021 but was able to return towards the end of the season. Teams might have passed on him because of injury concerns but he’s been removed from injury for more than a year and has had plenty of time to recover. Ultimately, the Jags had already devoted so many resources to their wide receiver room that it might not have made sense to draft yet another wideout. Still, they might come to regret letting Pickens go to Pittsburgh if he becomes a difference-maker.