(11-20-2024, 07:50 PM)The_Franchise_QB Wrote: (11-20-2024, 12:12 AM)JagFan81 Wrote: I think everyone agrees that we need to find players in the draft that are our building blocks. We have so many high picks and may be adding a 3rd #1 pick to the roster soon so there's no reason we can't find those guys. The problem we have is developing those players to become elite, game changing and game winning players. We can argue it's the coaching, schemes, players not taking those steps but we have a long list of guys that should have been stars but haven't. That's the biggest thing this franchise needs to improve on going forwards.
Now you list a lot of Lions players and they've done a great job. They've identified guys that fit the system but also the culture they are building. That's the magic formula. The problem is that's a multi year approach. You can't fix all your problems in one draft and not every pick will work out. Will fans accept a 3-4 year rebuild through the draft at this point?
I agree FA isn't the answer to all our problems but it does give you a second avenue to improve your roster. I'm not saying we go on a spending spree but to just ignore as we've got our fingers burnt seems a route that makes your life harder (and we have had some FA successes)
1st bold- C'mon man, how many top 10 picks have we had in the last 20 years? There is plenty of reason to believe we will NOT find those guys. There is certainly a development aspect, but you gotta pick ballers man. We simply pick anti-ballers.
2nd bold- As it should be. We wouldn't be where we are in terms of overall talent if we draft at least average. We are expansion team level talent bad. Which is why when you look of the example of the Lions, who drafted amazingly, it's possible but it's going to take time.
Let's go back starting at 2008, let's look at some top picks.... sort of see if we have hit ... on anything? In my opinion a top 10 pick should be a multiyear probowler at minimum.
2008- Rd1 Pick8- Derrick Harvey
2009- Rd 1 Pick 8- Eugene Monroe
2010- Rd 1 pick 10- Tyson Alualu
2011- Rd 1 pick 10- Blaine Gabbert
2012- Rd 1 pick 5- Justin Blackmon (unfortunate, would of been great)
2013- Rd 1 pick 2- Luke Joeckel
2014- Rd 1 pick 3- Blake Bortles
2015- Rd 1 pick 3- Dante Fowler
2016- Rd 1 pick 5- Jalen Ramsey
2017- Rd 1 pick 4- Lenny Fournette
2018- Rd 1 pick 29- Taven Bryant
2019- Rd 1 pick 7- JHA
2020- Rd 1 pick 9- CJ Henderson Rd 1 pick 20- Chaisson
2021- Rd 1 pick 1- TLAW Rd 1 pick 25- ETN
2022- RD 1 pick 1- Travon Walker
2023/2024- Anton/BTJ too early to tell, but BTJ looks like an absolute smash
Bolded are elite talents, maybe Tlaw can get there.. let's hope..
All these top 10 picks... anybody even getting into the pride? Was Jalen here long enough to warrant that? I don't think so. These are just the round 1's , the list goes crazy when you include the early round 2 and round 3 picks. We've fundamentally failed at the draft, and that is what needs to change... multiple years of it, to turn this around. Not some spare cap that we get some trash from other teams they don't want to pay for.
Looking at this list is enough to make any Jaguars fan sick. I counted 18 players on your list. I would categorize these as follows:
Excellent Picks:
Josh Hines-Allen
Brian Thomas Jr.- Unless he gets a serious injury, I expect him to be a perennial pro-bowler and difference-maker
No brainer picks:
Trevor Lawrence
Luke Joeckel: Yes, he was a total bust, but the team needed a left tackle and basically everyone thought he'd be a very good pro.
O.K. Picks:
Tyson Alualu
Eugene Monroe
Blaine Gabbert: Another bust, but he had good size and a very good arm. Who really knew that he lacked leadership skills and would cower when faced with a pass rush?
Travis Etienne
Bad Picks:
Blake Bortles: Not worthy of where he was selected, but was very tough and should have taken them to the Super Bowl if not for terrible call by ref.
Dante Fowler: He underachieved for the Jaguars. Best known for witnessing "cat fight" and allowing it to go on. Leonard Williams should have been the pick.
Leonard Fournette: Could have had Mahomes, McCaffrey or Dalvin Cook. Enough said.
Terrible Picks:
Derrick Harvey- They gave up several picks to take a below average player in the first round.
Justin Blackmon- Talent wise, he had it all. Other teams had taken him off their board, due to issues with alcohol. Not our Jaguars.
Taven Bryan, Chaisson and Henderson- No explanation necessary
Trevon Walker: He is a good player who will likely make a few pro bowls. But, 31 other G.M.'s would have taken Aiden Hutchinson who may end up in the NFL HOF.
To be determined:
Anton Harrison: Believe he can be a good/very good left tackle once he gets more experience.
Category of it's own:
Jalen Ramsay: Most talented draft pick whose bad attitude caused divisiveness on the team forcing his trade to the Rams. I can assure you that he'll never make The Pride, but is a candidate for the Wall of Shame!
By my count, that makes only 4 of 18 picks that were either good or excellent. Is there any wonder why they have been so bad for so long?
