By Clay Witt
Grading and reviewing the Jacksonville Jaguars 2022 draft.
(Through the eyes of a Jaguars fan)
After a disastrous year with Urban Meyer at the helm for 13 games, Shad Khan now has a super bowl winning coach leading his team onto the field. Doug Pederson looks to turn around a franchise whose only bright spot seems to be the number one overall pick from last years draft, Trevor Lawrence.
Trent Baalke is on thin ice as far as the fans are concerned, and many already wanted him gone this off-season. This years draft has to be hit after hit in order for him to keep his job.
The Jaguars spent the most money in free agency ever, shelling out 175 million dollars to players like wide receivers Christian Kirk and Zay Jones, as well as guard Brandon Scherff and line backer Foye Oluokun. Lets just say there was plenty of overpaying going on.
Still, heading into the draft some big needs for Jacksonville were defensive line, linebacker, corner, safety and another big wide receiver.
Now into the picks:
Travon Walker — With the fist overall pick once again in this years draft, the Jaguars went with defensive end Travon Walker out of the University of Georgia. This was the pick most people expected going into the night and after shooting up draft boards since the combine, Walker only has to travel slightly south to find his home in the NFL. His college stats were definitely not off the charts, but he could have the highest ceiling in this years draft. A very boom or bust type pick, at 6-foot-5 272 pounds, Walker will add athleticism and needs to bring a boost to the pass rush for Jacksonville, which has only had 50 sacks over the past two seasons (second worst). Overall he fits the 3–4 scheme the Jaguars run and should pair well with Josh Allen. (Grade: B)
Devin Loyd — The Jaguars traded back into the first round at number 27, giving away their second round pick, along with picks in the fourth and fifth round. It seemed Baalke was jumping up to get another weapon for Lawrence as Georgia wide reicever George Pickens had been linked with the Jaguars for a little bit at the number 33 pick. However, Baalke and the Jaguars went with “best player available” according to multiple draft boards. Loyd, a linebacker out of Utah was a projected top 15–20 pick before the night started, so for the Jaguars to pick him up at 27 is a really nice move. Loyd will look to replace Myles Jack who was released this off-season. A big hitter in the middle of the defense for Jacksonville to go along with another athlete in Walker rounded out a night where Doug Pederson and Trent Baalke looked to sure up the defense for this upcoming season in the first round. (Grade: A)
Luke Fortner — For the first pick on day two of the draft, the Jaguars had to wait until round three, pick 65 to take center Luke Fortner out of Kentucky. The first offensive pick for the Jaguars was a pick of need as long time center Brandon Linder retired after this past season. A first-team All-SEC player this past year will hope to be apart of an improved offensive line that can protect Trevor Lawrence better this upcoming season. Former teammate at Kentucky Josh Allen approved of the pick on twitter tweeting he is “Excited to get to play with him again.” (Grade: B+)
Chad Muma — The Jaguars went back to defense and linebacker again with the 70th overall pick. Muma, from Wyoming adds depth to a defense which already looks a lot stronger than the one that gave up almost 30 points a game last season. A team leader in tackles led him to be a two time first-team All-SWAC selection. There are plenty of other needs for Jacksonville, so this pick is a little confusing as the Jaguars already did take Devin Loyd and there were still decent enough wide receivers on the board that could have helped add depth in that position. The Jaguars like many teams jumped over fellow linebacker Nakobe Dean of Georgia due to some apparent injury concerns. Muma adds size and speed to the Jaguars defense, at 6-foot-3 and 239 pounds he will add reinforcement for run defense and will hope to be apart of a stout front seven for Jacksonville. (Grade: B)
Snoop Conner — After a series of trades with Tampa Bay and Philadelphia, the Jaguars moved up from 157 to 154 in the fifth round and took a running back from Ole Miss. This pick makes sense in that starting running back James Robinson is out for most of, if not all of this upcoming season, and last years 25th overall pick Travis Etienne is coming off an injury that kept him out all of last year. However, Conner is a player who would have been available not just three picks later but probably a few rounds later. A power runner who could help on short yardage downs and can ease the load on Etienne and Ryquell Armstead until Robinson is back to 100%. Also an added bonus he might have the coolest first name in the draft. (Grade: C)
Gregory Junior — After a few trades which will give the Jaguars some more picks next year, Jacksonville’s next pick was at 197. Again going defense, Junior is a corner from Ouachita Basptist. I can confidently say I know nothing about this player, so I will reserve judgment on him personally. The Jaguars could use help and depth at corner, as teams torched them deep last year. A big jump in competition could be tough for Junior though, so he will have to settle in and learn quickly. Justyn Ross seemed to be the consensus pick by the fans and all the twitter GM’s, a Clemson wide receiver who has surprisingly slid down draft boards. Junior will for sure be a development project, but thats what late sixth round draft picks usually are. (Grade: C)
Montaric Brown — With its last pick in the draft at number 222, Jacksonville went defense again and grabbed another corner back. This time a more recognizable name in Montaric Brown from Arkansas. A 2021 first-team All-SEC player who had five interceptions last year (T-4 nationally). An interesting pick considering the prior pick of a corner as well, but it is a position which does need favorable depth in the NFL. Brown was a projected a late fifth round pick, so to pick him up in the seventh round is good value for the Jaguars. Still no weapons for Lawrence though. (Grade: B+)
Five of the seven players drafted for Jacksonville were on the defensive side of the ball. These picks will look to fill holes on what was a lousy defense, but lack offensive weapons in what was a wide receiver deep class.
Travon Walker being an athletic freak with real booming potential, along with what looks to be a really good pick in Devin Loyd anchors the overall grade generally high. Those two need to be instant impact this season and get the ball back in Trevor Lawrence’s hands as many times as possible.
Fortner and Muma in the third round can both come in and contribute right away as well, both most likely slotting into starting roles.
The late rounds are always hit or miss and only time will tell if Connor, Junior and Brown will add anything to Pederson’s first season or years to come.
It is once again a new regime and new era for Jacksonville with Pederson at the helm, a championship pedigree head coach and now two back-to-back number one overall picks will have fans down in Duval hoping for an exciting year and more wins than usual to come.
Overall Grade: B
Other Network Grades:
USA Today: A-
NFL.com : B+
Sports Illustrated: B-
ESPN: B-
