After Trevor Lawrence, how do the Jaguars Build?

With the exception of the AFC Championship appearance in 2017, the Jaguars have had losing seasons every year since 2007. They hit rock bottom with a 1-15 mark in 2020.  After such a dreadful season, the team needs help across the board. Let’s take a look at the first few selections in a mock draft 2021.

Round 1: Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (Quarterback)

This pick is a lock. The Jaguars know that Lawrence immediately brings positive attention to the team as a player with star potential.  He’s far and away the best quarterback coming out of the draft.  Urban Meyer would not have taken the head coaching job if he wasn’t certain that Lawrence would be selected.

The numbers on Lawrence are mind-boggling. In 36 collegiate starts, he is 34-2 with his only losses coming in the College Football Playoffs.  Lawrence had a 90-to-17 touchdown-to-interception ratio for his collegiate career, threw for over 10,000 yards and rushed for nearly 1,000. In addition, he led Clemson to a National Championship as a freshman.

Round 1:  Christian Barmore, Alabama (Defensive Tackle)

Although he comes in without a lot of experience, Barmore is big on raw talent that can be easily worked with to developed into the type of player a team needs. He was a redshirt sophomore and only started one season. Barmore stepped up in the biggest of games, recording 15 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble in the SEC Championship and two playoff games. 

The Jaguars counted on Taven Bryan to be a big difference maker in the middle of the defensive line, but turned out to be a huge disappointment.  Therefore, the team could really use a great interior defensive lineman and Barmore could fit that description.

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Round 2: Rondale Moore, Perdue (Wide Receiver)

After coaching superior teams at the collegiate level, Urban Meyer knows how important speed is at the skill positions. Therefore, adding a player such as Rondale Moore makes sense. The wide receiver position isn’t as pressing a need for the Jaguars as other positions with the likes of DJ Chark, Collin Johnson, and Laviska Shenault on the roster. However, Moore could clearly play the slot and add depth.

At 5’ 9”, Moore doesn’t have the size NFL scouts look for in a first-round selection, but Moore possesses the elusiveness that the Jaguars currently lack.  He caught 113 passes in 2018 but then appeared in only seven games over the past two seasons, catching 64 passes.

Round 2: Tyson Campbell, Georgia (Cornerback)

After being torched most of last season in the defensive secondary, the Jaguars need an athletic corner such as Campbell. At 6’ 2” with good agility and talent, Campbell is perfect to add to the team’s limited depth chart.  The team is likely to add a veteran cornerback via free agency at some point, but Campbell is a solid selection for this pick.

Campbell has the size, strength and length to handle an outside receiver, so the Jaguars would likely look for a slot cornerback or allow Tre Herndon a chance to earn that position. Either way, Campbell is too good of a fit for the Jaguars to pass up with this late second round pick.

Round 3: Brevin Jordan, Miami (Tight End)

The tight end position is very thin for the Jaguars and particularly so following Josh Oliver’s injury. Coach Meyer always likes to use the tight end in his passing game, so selecting an athletic, pass catching tight end such as Jordan makes sense.

Jordan has great athleticism and the ability to gain yardage after the catch.  His skill set would fit in nicely with Lawrence, who has shown he can throw into the seams of the defense.  Jordan clearly would be an upgrade over Tyler Eifert and James O’Shaugnessy.