Dreadful draft streak makes the Jaguars the owners of a dubious distinction

The NFL Draft is far from an inexact science. Despite the fact that clubs devote significant resources to evaluating prospects coming out of the collegiate ranks, the success rate isn't great. Having said that, the best teams in the league routinely hit on most of their picks while the worst miss on them. It's fair to say that the Jacksonville Jaguars fall in the latter category. In fact, they have one of the worst track records dating back to 2001.

LoyaltyStars made a study of every first-round pick in the NFL since 2001 and up until 2020. They focus on whether players got a second contract with the team that drafted them, and guess which team had the highest number of players who didn't achieve the feat? If you saw the headline and said the Jags, you're right. They lead the pack with 10.

Here are the 10 players the Jaguars drafted that either didn't sign a second contract or left once their rookie deal expired:

• Byron Leftwich, 2003
• Reggie Williams, 2004
• Matt Jones, 2005
• Derrick Harvey, 2008
• Blaine Gabbert, 2011
• Justin Blackmon, 2012
• Luke Joeckel, 2013
• Taven Bryan, 2018
• C.J. Henderson, 2020
• K'Lavon Chaisson, 2020

Not every bust is the same, though. Although Blaine Gabbert flopped in Duval, he's gone on to carve a niche as a backup. All things considered, he might be the best of the bunch.

Justin Blackmon flashed game-making potential but got suspended indefinitely for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. Similarly, fellow wide receiver Matt Jones dealt with substance abuse during his short career. On the other hand, other players the Jaguars drafted were simply not good.

Whether it's defensive tackle Taven Bryan, or left tackle Luke Joeckel, Jacksonville struggled to find franchise cornerstones for most of the 2010s and early in 2020. Heck, they had two first-round picks in 2020 and still couldn't select a good player. That year, they took cornerback CJ Henderson and edge rusher K'Lavon Chaisson. Both were unremarkable during their respective stints in Jacksonville.

If it makes you feel better, though, the Jags aren't the only team who drafted 10 first-round busts. The Cleveland Browns and the New York Jets also share the dubious distinction.

The Jaguars have improved but still have a long way to go

The silver lining is that the Jacksonville Jaguars have done a better job of identifying talent in the draft in recent years. Apart from Trevor Lawrence, who would've been the top overall pick in 2021 regardless of who held the selection, general manager Trent Baalke has found a handful of keepers.

Running back Travis Etienne has been one of the team's most productive players. After missing his rookie season with a Lisfranc injury, he quickly made James Robinson expendable. Right tackle Anton Harrison, for his part, is having somewhat of a sophomore slump but did enough in his rookie campaign to make you think he can be a long-term mainstay. Ditto linebacker Devin Lloyd.

The former Utah Ute has experienced ups and downs throughout his short career but has the talent to solidify his place as a core contributor on defense. On the other hand, it's early but wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. has displayed immense upside in his rookie season.

Right now, the Jaguars' most polarizing player the Jaguars have drafted since 2021 is probably edge rusher Travon Walker. The former Georgia Bulldog was the first overall selection in 2022 and had a quiet rookie campaign. He made strides in his sophomore campaign but has yet to live up to his draft billing.

The fact that Aidan Hutchison, who went to the Detroit Lions one pick later, is one of the best edge rushers in the NFL right now, has brought to question the organization's decision to roll with Walker.

Ultimately, the Jaguars have improved but must continue to get better in the draft if they truly want to become perennial contenders.

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