Anallysis:Who are the top three expected picks in the Jacksonville…
Who are the top three expected picks in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 2024 NFL Draft?
A strong regular season came to a crashing halt for the Jacksonville Jaguars. After losing five of their final six games, the Jaguars’ playoff plans ended, despite maintaining the divisional lead for most of the year. The one perk that comes out of the disappointing result is a higher draft pick. This year, the Jaguars can look forward to the 17th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Ahead of the draft, the Jaguars have important decisions to make regarding wide receiver Calvin Ridley. Jacksonville acquired Ridley in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons, giving up a 2023 fifth-rounder and a 2024 conditional pick for the then-suspended receiver.
The conditional pick demands at least a 2024 third-round pick because of Ridley’s playing time. The Jaguars are due a second-round pick by the Falcons should they decide to re-sign Ridley. Despite having a sluggish start, Ridley developed into a valuable player during the season, with 1,016 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 76 grabs.
Whether they decide to keep Ridley or not, the Jaguars will probably go to the draft to find a pass-catcher. In addition to adding a playmaker for the passing game, Jacksonville plans to strengthen the secondary defense and offensive line.
No. 1: Keon Coleman
The Jaguars will more than likely use one of their top picks on a wide receiver. With a talented receiving group entering the 2024 draft, Jacksonville could have plenty of options to choose from with the 17th overall pick.
Coleman wouldn’t have to go far if he’s drafted by Doug Pederson and Co. The Florida State receiver was a standout during his time with the Seminoles, collecting 658 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in 12 outings. With a 6-foot-4 build, Coleman would be an asset in making contested catches deep downfield. The wideout is known to have an impressive yards-after-catch ability that would boost the Jaguars’ offense.
Round 2: Javon Bullard
*If the Jaguars still have this pick, it would mean that they opted not to bring back Ridley, which is a further reason to select a receiver in the first round.
With their second selection, the Jaguars could address secondary defense issues by picking up University of Georgia safety Javon Bullard. The safety was a splash player for the Bulldogs, earning the defensive MVP in the 2022 Peach Bowl and CFP National Championship Game.
Trevor Lawrence going down with three straight injuries to end the season was enough proof that the Jaguars could use help in the trenches. With their third-round selection, the Jaguars could pick up a stud offensive lineman, like Georgia’s Sedrick Van Pran. The 6-4, 310-pound center was a consistent force for the Bulldogs.
The Jaguars drafted Luke Fortner with the 64th pick in the 2022 draft, but the center hasn’t made the progress that the team had hoped. By bringing in a promising candidate like Van Pran, Jacksonville could solve this problem.