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

2. Allen Robinson - Round 2, 2014

Since their inception, the Jaguars have drafted only two receivers who've had 1,000 yards in a season. One was DJ Chark Jr. Allen Robinson was the other. Coincidentally, neither one signed a second contract in Jacksonville. Robinson, in particular, showed promise early on but he missed the 2017 season with a torn ACL.

Instead of bringing him back on a one-year deal, the Jags let Robinson walk. He quickly latched onto the Chicago Bears and went on to have three productive seasons. He then joined the Los Angeles Rams, where he wasn't nearly as effective. Still, Robinson had a productive run even after leaving Jacksonville. Meanwhile, the Jags struggled to find a dependable replacement for years.

1. Jalen Ramsey - Round 1, 2016

By now, you may have picked up a theme. The Jaguars, under general manager Dave Caldwell, had trouble re-signing their core players. More often than not they looked for cheaper alternatives or tried to trade them for future assets. In retrospect, that was a pretty bad approach to roster building.

Instead of rewarding their playmakers, Jacksonville sent them packing when they asked for a salary bump. That was the case with cornerback Jalen Ramsey. You can say what you want about him but that dude could and can still pay. A first-round pick in 2016, the former Florida Seminola had established himself as one of the best, if not the best, cornerbacks in the league.

Like most players in his position, Ramsey wanted a top-market contract, the issue is that the Jaguars weren't interested in giving it to him. Their relationship deteriorated in 2019 and he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams midseason. While Jacksonville got two first-rounders and a fourth-round selection in the deal, they couldn't do much with them.

Meanwhile, Ramsey went on to win a Super Bowl with the Rams. He was later traded to the Miami Dolphins, but he still remains among the top cornerbacks in the NFL.

Here are more stories from Black & Teal: