4 takes on the Jaguars 2022 season that didn't age well

Things I was wrong about No. 2: The Jags would shock the world and beat the Chiefs in the playoffs

Not all of my misses are of the pessimistic variety. By the time the AFC Divisional playoff game against the Chiefs rolled around, I was just as drunk on the Jags as anyone else, and in spite of my analytic side telling me Kansas City would be a tough out, I thought the Jags were going to get it done.

"I don't know why - I'm usually pretty objective... But, for some reason my gut tells me we're about to pound the Chiefs"

- Jeff Tice, Optimist

Alas, the Jags' carriage finally turned into a pumpkin. They put up a good fight, but in the end, it would have taken a nearly perfect effort by the Jaguars to take down the World Champs, and they didn't have it that day. Still, I much prefer this variety of being wrong. At least I was erring on the side of optimism. It's a better way to live.

Things I was wrong about No. 1: The Jags would not use all of their picks in the 2023 NFL Draft

Now, this one I was absolutely certain about. I can't remember the last time I felt so good going into a draft with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Coming off an exhilarating season, the team seemed to have a solid roster in need of just a few additions.

With nine picks entering the draft including a number of later-round picks, I was pretty sure the Jags would be trading up for additional mid-round picks on day two and early on day three. When they traded back in the first round to acquire even more late-round picks, I became steadfast in my belief that Trent Baalke was amassing ammunition to trade up.

But, as the draft wore on, other teams kept making trades, and the Jaguars kept not making trades, I began to get nervous. The Jags certainly had needs and room for improvement going into the draft, but there was no way, in my mind, nine or more rookies were going to make the team.

"Just about the only way I get mad at this draft is if the Jags take 12 total players"

- Jeff Tice in a message to his colleagues

And then, they actually picked 13, including eight from the fifth through seventh round. Inconceivable. I was pretty salty after the draft because I was certain we had wasted our firepower on a bunch of guys who have almost no shot to make the team.

Privately, I may have said Baalke had mismanaged the draft. Later it was revealed that Baalke attempted to trade up on numerous occasions. Fans will never know why he was unable to do so with a number of teams making trades, but at least we know he tried. At least we know there was a method to his madness, and they too understood that there isn't room on this roster for nine new rookies, much less 13.

Now here we are with almost two full draft classes' worth of rookies ready to join the 2023 Jaguars. If the Baalke hits on even half that many rookies, it would be considered one of the NFL's all time great drafts.

But, that kind of thinking is a little overly optimistic, don't you think? I mean, I'm pretty sure there just aren't that many roster spots up for grabs.

Right?