5 NFL Draft picks the Jacksonville Jaguars gave up on too soon

The Jacksonville Jaguars have generally done a good job of moving on from players at the right time instead of holding onto them longer than they should. For instance, they traded cornerback C.J. Henderson less than two years after drafting him ninth overall in 2020. Similarly, they let wide receiver D.J. Chark walk in free agency and brought in Christian Kirk to replace him.

Things worked out even though Chark was a fan favorite and general manager Trent Baalke got lots of flak for giving Kirk a top-market contract. That said, there have been times when the Jags have moved on too soon from players who could've had a huge impact. Here are five who come to mind.

5. Brandon Marshall, LB - Round 5, 2012

Not to be confused with the same receiver with the same name, Brandon Marshall was a fifth-round pick by the Jags in 2012. However, it was with the Denver Broncos where he got notoriety. Heck, he didn't even make the 53-man roster in his rookie season. He ultimately got signed but only appeared in five games.

Marshall was waived before the start of the 2013 season and was quickly claimed by Denver. While he spent most of his first year in Mile High on the sidelines, he seized a starting job in 2014. He went on to play six productive seasons for the Broncos and was a key cog on the team that won Super Bowl 50.

Unfortunately, injuries derailed Marshall's career. He tried to latch onto the Las Vegas (then Oakland) Raiders in 2019 but didn't crack it. All in all, the former Nevada Wolf Pack logged 416 total tackles, 21 passes defensed, five forced fumbles, and two interceptions for Denver. The Jaguars could've most definitely used that kind of production from the linebacker position.

Imagine playing Marshall alongside Paul Posluszny and Telvin Smith in 2015-2016. Maybe, just maybe, the Jaguars wouldn't have drafted Myles Jack if they had kept him around. That's the kind of impact Marshall would've had if he had stayed.