Jaguars GM describes difference in this offseason and the last few
The Jacksonville Jaguars are doing something this offseason that they haven’t done in a while, but it isn’t necessarily a bad thing
Let's face it. We have to be honest with ourselves – the Jacksonville Jaguars have been a laughingstock of the NFL for a little while. Well, they were. I think it's safe to say after a playoff appearance, and barely losing to the team that won the Super Bowl, they aren't the same franchise they once were.
But, that also means some things are different this offseason – things they haven't experienced in a while. For example, they now are a place free agents will want to play, factoring in winning, money, and location, of course.
But there is one other thing, the draft. The Jaguars have to take a completely different approach this time around.
"Well, if we have the first pick three years in a row, you'd be seeing someone else standing here, right," general manager Trent Baalke said at the NFL Combine. "So, you know, there's a transition, you know, obviously, picking one, there's an advantage to picking one. There's obviously, as we know, a disadvantage to picking one, now we're sitting at 24, we've got to stack the board appropriately and, you know, look at what's available and the decisions don't get any different right? You're just picking a little later in the draft."
The Jaguars are used to picking at the top of the first round, as they have the last few years with both picks being the number one pick. Which, if you're an optimist like me, having the worst record in the NFL the last two years, and then making the playoffs means something special.
Baalke is going to be new to this as well, with the Jaguars that is. He was the general manager for the San Francisco 49ers during their 2013 Super Bowl run, but he has only been the general manager of the Jaguars since 2021, which was the year Trevor Lawrence was drafted number one. Since then he has drafted Trevon Walker at number one as well.
So, not getting to pick whoever he wants will be a bit of a change, or shall I say, out of routine.
Featured Image Via Bob Self/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK
