Jaguars Draft: Expert offers wildcard answer for team's best Day 3 pick
When it's all said and done, there's a chance the Jacksonville Jaguars' 2023 NFL Draft class isn't remembered just for what offensive tackle Anton Harrison's career ends up looking like. Instead, it might be the ten selections that took place on Day 3 that make or break this year's rookie class.After multiple trade backs, the […]
When it's all said and done, there's a chance the Jacksonville Jaguars' 2023 NFL Draft class isn't remembered just for what offensive tackle Anton Harrison's career ends up looking like. Instead, it might be the ten selections that took place on Day 3 that make or break this year's rookie class.
After multiple trade backs, the Jaguars came away with quite the collection of players that many would consider steals on the defensive side of the ball. They came away with LB Yasir Abdullah (Louisville) and S Antonio Johnson (Texas A&M). Both of them were expected to be picked earlier in the Draft.
The Athletic's Dane Brugler listed a "Day 3 pick who could surprise" for each and every NFL team. And while many Jaguars fans might be quick to assume it's one of the two defenders mentioned above, Brugler actually had a wildcard answer for us: WR Parker Washington out of Penn State. Here's his breakdown:
"The Jaguars had 10 selections on Day 3 so plenty of intriguing options here, including Yasir Abdullah and Antonio Johnson. But Washington is the most interesting of the bunch. Due to a late-season injury, he missed the entire draft process, but might have been a top-100 pick had he been fully healthy. For Jaguars fans curious about Washington’s potential, throw on the Ohio State game from this past season and watch him cook."
– Dane Brugler, The Athletic
Washington's production doesn't particularly jump off the page. For 2022, his final year at Penn State, he caught 46 passes for 611 yards. But while the total isn't a crazy number, he led the team before missing the team's final three games due to a left ankle injury. That production came primarily from the slot, which is where he's expected to play in the NFL as well.
But as Brugler outlines in the article, Washington's injury could've been what made him drop so much during the draft process. Without being able to properly test, he could've gone a lot higher. Having used only a sixth-round draft pick on him, the Jaguars made a savvy, low-risk high-reward bet on him.
I'd expect Washington to make the team's 53-man roster and who knows, he could end up being one of the most impactful players of this class down the road. Trevor Lawrence would love to see that happen.
But patience will be the key here. Christian Kirk runs the slot in Jacksonville nowadays with 75% of his 2022 snaps happening there. Playing time should be limited for the Day 3 pick. Think of him as more of a long-term play.
