With an abundance of picks, the Jaguars are positioned to make a major move, signaling potential first-round aggression.
As the NFL draft approaches, the Jacksonville Jaguars are narrowing in on their top targets, aiming to maximize their eleven selections in the upcoming draft.
On Wednesday, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that early indications from NFL decision makers is that this draft will be one of the more "trade-heavy" drafts in recent memory.
"Several executives I’ve spoken with believe we’re likely to see a flurry of activity in the first half of Round 1," Schultz wrote. "Additionally, because this specific draft lacks depth in the later rounds, many teams plan to pursue extra Day 2 and early Day 3 picks, per league sources."
For Jacksonville, who doesn't have a first round pick, this in intriguing news, as the Jags own the No. 56 overall pick, along with multiple selections in the third, fifth and seventh rounds.
General Manager James Gladstone took the stand Thursday afternoon, where he talked about the Jags' flexibility and late-round draft capital, giving a cryptic message regarding the team's first-round standing.
"We have two weeks one day 'til our pick, for now..." Gladstone said. "You're always going to stay agile."
The Jags are not afraid to make blockbuster moves in the draft, as they displayed by trading up to the No. 2 selection for the reigning Heisman winner, Travis Hunter, last season.
Jacksonville has also shown the ability to exchange additional draft capital for big-time production, trading for Tim Patrick just before the season and Jakobi Meyers in November. The fleecing of Meyers from the Las Vegas Raiders, might have been the deal of the season.
“You think about training camp a year ago and using a Day 3 pick to acquire a wide receiver in Tim Patrick. You think about ahead of the trade deadline and being able to use two picks on Day 3 to acquire a wide receiver in Jakobi Meyers," Gladstone said in mid-March. "Without that draft capital at your disposal, you may not be as willing or able to relinquish some of those future picks."
Gladstone has talked about his strategy for acquiring additional picks throughout this offseason, talking about how key exits could prove beneficial down the line.
Both Devin Lloyd and Travis Etienne Jr., two players who had become staples of Jags football, departed in free agency, but Gladstone says that these losses are not as bad as it may seem.
“We’re at a stage now where a higher volume of draft capital is what we’re hunting, and those compensatory picks,” Gladstone said.
The Jaguars are currently in line to receive three compensatory picks for 2027, a fourth, fifth and sixth round selection. The fourth and fifth round picks are courtesy of Lloyd and Etienne's departures with the sixth coming from cornerback Greg Newsome II, who signed a 1-year, $10 million contract with the New York Giants.
Should Jacksonville decide to go after a premier first-round talent, these picks and the past aggressiveness from the front office provides the Jags a path to do so.
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