No question on quarterback and head coach.  I liked them at the time of acquisition and still like them now.  However, I feel that our GM being considered great is still to be determined.

I didn't like retaining Baalke as I didn't think he had earned it and felt a fresh start would be better for the organization given all the turmoil.  However, once it was obvious that he was going to be retained, I believed in giving him a chance.  I do think that sometimes people can learn from their past mistakes and get better at their jobs.  My hope was that this would be the case with Baalke.

As for his performance, I think it's very still to be determined.  Based upon what we do know, I would characterize Baalke as one who has a high batting average with the soft balls but has yet to show that he can hit a fast ball.  His successes have been early draft picks and high priced free agents.  If Trevor Lawrence wasn't sitting there at pick #1, this team would have had a losing record last year and the attitude towards this team's future would be completely different.  

I see Baalke receiving praise for finding 4 starters in the 2021 draft.  You have to remember that not only was he picking first in each round, but he had an extra first rounder and second rounder that were acquired prior to him being GM.  That's 5 picks in the top 65.  No, he didn't blow them, but finding starters there doesn't make him GM of the century either.  In the draft re-do in another thread that was made shortly after the 2021 draft, I selected 5 players who ended up starting in week one of their rookie years.  With early draft picks, you should expect good results.

His 2022 draft remains very questionable, even with the early picks.  Walker was the first overall pick and he wasn't even in the conversation for defensive rookie of the year.  They used another first round pick on Lloyd who lost his starting job mid-season.  Fortner started, but there are mixed reviews on his performance.  Some are highly critical.    PFF gave him a score below 50 and consider center to still be on the of the Jaguars biggest needs.  Muma was a questionable pick considering the Jaguars spent huge money on Oluokun in free agency and drafted a player at the same position in round 1.  If Lloyd does develop, does Muma go back to primarily being a special teams player?

Now, let's talk about Baalke's day 3 picks.  Again, it's early.  Maybe they all develop into great players and I hope so, but up to this point, they have generated almost no production for the Jaguars.  Over the two years, he drafted 4 defensive players on Day 3.  They have combined for 15 tackles and that's it.  They've had no interceptions, no sacks, no forced fumbles, no fumble recoveries, no tackles for a loss, etc.  Baalke also drafted 3 offensive players - a wide receiver, a tight end and a running back.  They have combined for 96 receiving yards, 42 rushing yards and 1 touchdown.  To me, a great GM occasionally hits on the mid to late picks.  Hopefully Baalke becomes a great GM, but I don't feel he has proven it yet.

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