(10-12-2023, 11:15 AM)jaglou53 Wrote:

(10-11-2023, 03:51 PM)flsprtsgod Wrote: I'm totally not simping for Baalke and would be really glad if they got rid of him. I don't mind the Strange pick because Pederson is really good at integrating those guys into the offense and I trust him to pick a good one.

Generally speaking, I don't like to criticize draft picks until after their 2nd full season. Strange and Bigsby are both good players, BUT they were bad picks in rounds 2 and 3. I watched every game Strange played due to being a PSU alumnus and believe strongly that this pick was a reach. The Jaguars basically were given O'Cyrus Torrence on a silver platter in round 2 yet they passed on him. Torrence would have immediately been our starting guard as he has with the Bills- where he has performed well to this point. Strange is a very good blocker and also excelled at RAC at Penn State, but he is not a number 1 tight end who can become a receiving weapon like Engram, Kelce, etc. I have to believe Pederson's affinity for tight ends lead to that poor decision. Bigsby was another guy I thought would be a very solid NFL player. But why take another running back when they really liked Hasty enough to give him an extension prior to the draft and acquired DeErnest Johnson to provide competition at the position? The only way this turns out to be a good pick is if Etienne goes down for an extended period of time since Bigsby is capable of being a number 1 back if he learns to hold onto the ball. Nickel back was a glaring need going into the draft and Clark Phillips was surprisingly available for the Jaguars in round 3. Like Torrence, he was originally considered to be a  late 1st round-early 2nd round pick due to his great instincts. He fell due to his less than ideal size, but would have been a steal in round 3. Before suffering a mild injury, he had impressed the Falcons enough to consider him the likely starter at nickel. To sum up, the Jaguars could have had an amazing draft class with Harrison, Torrence and Phillips becoming valuable long-term starters at positions of need. Instead, they wound up with two good players who did not play at positions of great need and still have a gaping hole on the interior offensive line and at nickel despite Herndon having his best season. I really like his effort, but he is a liability in coverage.

I agree with you and would've preferred our top three picks to be linemen. Both sides of the ball need help and I think we have our DB issue under control with the picks they did make. Having said that, I can see how Bigsby is here to be the supplement and contingency plan as you said with an eye to him being the starter after next season.

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