Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Entering a new era with Urban Meyer as head coach, here’s how the Jacksonville Jaguars can cash in on a bevy of picks in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have fallen quickly since reaching the AFC Championship Game after the 2017 season, but there is hope. They earned the No. 1 pick in April’s draft, among 11 picks they’ll have, Urban Meyer is coming in as the new head coach and they currently have the most cap space in the league. A rebuild may happen quickly.
Via trades that offloaded some expensive veterans (Yannick Ngakoue, Jalen Ramsey, Calais Campbell), the Jaguars have two picks in each of first two rounds of April’s draft and extra picks further down the board. Sometimes the key is having a lot of opportunities in the draft, with inevitable misses, so the Jaguars are well-positioned to re-stock the cupboard with cheaper young talent. Meyer’s work as a college football analyst for FOX over the last couple years will also be beneficial as they evaluate incoming draft talent.
The Jaguars’ selection with the No. 1 pick appears obvious, but after that it could be much more interesting for them with multiple directions they can go. Here is a full seven-round mock for Jacksonville.
Jacksonville Jaguars 7-Round 2021 Mock Draft
Round 1
1
Trevor Lawrence
QB Clemson
Lawrence has been destined to be drafted first overall, and here he is for the Jaguars. As of this writing he’s set to have a throwing session on Friday (Feb. 12), then have surgery on his non-throwing shoulder rather than participate in Clemson’s Pro Day in March. Having the surgery as early as possible assures he’ll be ready for training camp.
For most draft analysts it’s Lawrence then everyone else in this year’s quarterback class. ESPN’s Todd McShay said he thinks Meyer would not have taken the Jacksonville job if not for the opportunity to take a “once in a lifetime” quarterback prospect like him.
25
Christian Darrisaw
OT Virginia Tech
After drafting your franchise quarterback, it makes sense to bolster his protection. Darrisaw is in the first-round conversation after a particular good final two seasons for the Hokies, so much so that some early mocks have him going off the board well before the Jaguars’ second first-round turn. But I’ve got him falling to them.
Pro Football Focus credited Darrisaw with zero pressures allowed in six of the nine games he played this season. He is also strong in the run game, helping Virginia Tech to the 10th-best rushing attack in FBS last season.