3 mistakes the Jaguars must avoid at all cost in the 2024 NFL Draft

1. The Jaguars must avoid making luxury picks early in the draft

The Jags will enter the draft with a handful of needs, but they are also stacked at a handful of positions. Quarterback comes to mind, but also tight end, and safety also fit the bill. The front office should avoid these positions in the first three rounds.

Trevor Lawrence is firmly entrenched as the starting quarterback and Jacksonville just traded for Mac Jones. C.J. Beathard is still around too, so using a draft pick at the position, even in the later rounds seems unnecessary.

On the other hand, the Jaguars also have lots of depth at tight end. Evan Engrams remains at the top of the depth chart but 2023 second-round pick Brenton Strange should get more playing time. Behind them are Josiah Deguara and Luke Farrell a pair of vested veterans who will deliver if called upon. There's also Josh Pederson, who spent most of 2023 in the practice squad but was promoted to the active roster a few times last season.

The Jags also enjoy depth at linebacker. Veteran linebacker Foyesade Oluokun is back after getting a new deal. Devin Lloyd will start next to him next season and Chad Muma can step in their place if needed. Sophomore Ventrell Miller is also back after suffering an ACL injury, so it wouldn't make much sense to invest another pick in the position until Day 3, and that's only if they've already taken care of other needs.

Another position the Jaguars should skip early on is running back. This year's crop isn't particularly great, and even if it were, their backfield is set. Travis Etienne is the starter while Tank Bigsby will compete for the top backup job. That leaves one potential spot open but the team's brass could easily add a quality prospect in Rounds 5, 6, or 7.

This is to say that the Jaguars should play it safe, address their needs, and avoid making any "surprise" selections early in the draft.

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