Jaguars: Trent Baalke discusses method when picking late in first round
With the Jacksonville Jaguars starting their 2023 offseason in a different place than they are used to, the approach to the draft must change
The Jaguars are gearing up for the 2023 NFL Draft, but they aren't going through the same approach they have the last two seasons.
In 2020 and 2021 the Jaguars finished with the worst record in football, which means they get the number one pick in the draft. Obviously, those guys turned out to be Trevor Lawrence and Trevon Walker, which look to be solid picks so far.
But now they don't have the luxury of having anyone on the board to choose from. This time they are picking toward the end of the first round, which kind of requires a different approach.
"Well, you just got to assess the board and, kind of where you're at," general manager Trent Baalke said during the NFL Combine. "You got 23 picks that are going to come off the board and you start getting a feel for where you're gonna be around pick 18, 19 and who might be available and how many guys you got at that point.
"You know, I don't know that we're going to be big movers and trying to trade way up in the draft when we move a little bit, we could, you know, it really depends on how the board gets stacked and right now it's way too early to tell what we're gonna do exactly in terms of move up, move back."
The Jaguars will now have to take the approach of either best available, or if they have a guy they like available to help fit their needs, instead of getting to pick anyone, including the consensus number one pick.
The thing is though, the Jaguars have done well through the draft the last few years.. I wouldn't be worried about Baalke making the wrong selection at any point. In fact, I'm still confident they will have a good draft, despite the differences.
Featured Image Via Bob Self/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK
