2022 NFL DRAFT DEEP DIVE: JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
By Tres Valenzuela
The NFL Draft is over, and we cannot head into the three-month abyss that is the offseason without looking at what all 262 selections mean for each franchise. Whilst too early to judge just how successful a draft class each team’s was, we can look at how rookies fit within schemes, where they stand on depth charts, and who we can expect to make an impact in 2022. We continue our team by team series with the Jacksonville Jaguars:
Draft Haul
RND | PICK | PROSPECT | POS | SCHOOL |
1 | 1 | Travon Walker | EDGE | Georgia |
1 | 27 | Devin Lloyd | LB | Utah |
3 | 65 | Luke Fortner | IOL | Kentucky |
3 | 70 | Chad Muma | LB | Wyoming |
5 | 154 | Snoop Conner | RB | Ole Miss |
6 | 197 | Gregory Junior | CB | Ouachita Baptist |
7 | 222 | Montaric Brown | CB | Arkansas |
Day One
After being in a position that they are all too familiar with the Jaguars went against the grain and chose Georgia DE Travon Walker. Because he only showed flashes of greatness in college many prospects were viewed ahead of Walker in the draft process, he will need to display dominance on a consistent basis to validate being selected first overall.
Jacksonville then elected to improve their defense again by taking Utah standout Devin Lloyd. A true modern day linebacker, Lloyd can do it all. He has the range to go sideline to sideline, can disrupt the run game and rush the passer, and most importantly he always finds the ball. He had an unbelievable 2021 season racking up over 110 tackles, over 20 tackles for loss, 7 sacks and 4 picks all in a 6’3 240lb frame. If he tested a little better at the combine he could have possibly jumped into the top 10. With the departure of Myles Jack do not be surprised to see Lloyd lead all rookies in tackles this season.
Day Two
After failing to protect Trevor Lawrence properly in his rookie season Jacksonville used their first offensive selection to improve their line by selecting Kentucky guard Luke Fortner. Fortner has tons of experience starting over 30 games and playing 6, yes 6 years in college. If it goes according to plan in Jacksonville he will be starting at RG in week 1.
It did not take long for the Jags to pivot back to defense and give Devin Lloyd a partner in the middle. Chad Muma was a tackling machine at Wyoming finishing second in the country with 142 tackles. He doesn’t quite posses the all around skill that Lloyd has but should be able to fill in on run downs when needed.
Day Three
It appears that Jacksonville is going to rely heavily on their run game this year, because they chose to add Ole Miss RB Snoop Connor to a backfield that already features James Robinson and Travis Etienne. Aside from having one of the best names in the draft, Connor is a touchdown machine, tallying 13 touchdowns last year in the almighty SEC. Connor is a no-nonsense back who will look to get downhill immediately and fight for those tough yards in the middle.
The Jags decided to jump outside the FBS with the selection Ouachita Baptist corner Gregory Junior. Although his stats nor stature will impress you, Juniors play earned him a trip to the senior bowl where showcased enough to convince Jacksonville he was worthy of a 6th round selection. Gregory will likely be buried on the depth chart at the start camp and will need to impress not only on defense but special teams as well if he wants to make the final roster.
Jacksonville decided to double down on corner for their last pick and took Arkansas’ Montaric Brown. Brown is my favourite value pick for the Jags, Brown had a stellar career at Arkansas and concluded it by racking up 1st team all-SEC honors along with 5 ints. Brown did run a 4.55 which could be the reason he fell to the 7th round, but his play on the field was much better than your average 7th rounder.
Brown has a wirey frame at 6’0 190, but that doesn’t stop him from getting his nose into the run game, but Brown’s best quality is his anticipation. It is easy to see from his play that he watches a lot of film because he is constantly jumping routes in both man and zone, despite lacking top end speed. I could very easily see Brown climbing the depth chart and starting at some point this year.
One To Watch: Travon Walker
All eyes will be on the big boy come this fall and rightfully so. I do not remember a time when a player with Walker’s stats and impact on the game was selected first overall. That’s not to say the potential isn’t there, but there is a valid argument to be made that Walker wasn’t a top 5 player on his own defense.
What Walker did do well is test at the combine, he was one of the athletic freaks we see every year sky rocket their stock after their performance in Indy. Walker tested above the 70th in every major category aside from weight (chart shown below), something very few players can claim. Walker is still a very raw prospect and will likely need time to develop before we see him disrupting offenses.
While the Myles Garrett athletic comp works as well, I think Rashan Gary is the closest in terms of what you're working with for Travon Walker. A whole lot of incredible upside, with much of that potential untapped from college. #Jaguars #RAS pic.twitter.com/0PXHE4xy7s
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 29, 2022
UDFA Tracker
Nick Ford | OT | Utah |
Kevin Austin | WR | Notre Dame |
Grant Morgan | LB | Arkansas |
Andrew Mevis | K | Iowa State |
Sean Mahone | S | West Virginia |
Gerrit Prince | TE | UAB |
Israel Antwine | IDL | Oklahoma State |
De’Shaan Dixon | LB | Norfolk State |
Shabari Davis | CB | Southeast Missouri State |
Benjie Franklin | CB | Tarleton State |
Grayson Gunter | TE | Southern Miss |
Denzel Okafor | IOL | Texas |
Marcus Tatum | IOL | UCF |
Lujuan Winningham | WR | Central Arkansas |
Conclusion
With a roster in need of a significant overhaul, every selection will have a chance to make an impact this upcoming season. Like most drafts, this one will be viewed as a failure or success depending on the outcome of the early selections, specifically first overall pick Travon Walker. Personally, I was not a fan of the pick and don’t see him being the game-breaker that validates being the first pick. That being said, Jacksonville is obviously very high on him and believe along with Josh Allen an elite pass rush can be formed.
Devin Lloyd should step right in and fill the void left by Myles Jack, giving the defense a much needed spark. As stated before the rest of the picks along with the UDFA’s will get real looks from the coaching staff to earn playing time, but the reality is unless Trevor Lawerence takes a major step the Jaguars could be looking at another top 5 draft selection next year.
TRES VALENZUELA
NFL ANALYST
A FORMER COLLEGIATE WIDE RECEIVER AND CURRENT TEXAN, TRES LIVES STATESIDE AND HAS AN AFFINITY FOR BAKER MAYFIELD. IN ADDITION TO WRITING FOR THE TOUCHDOWN, TRES ALSO WORKS AS AN NCAA ANALYST FOR PRO FOOTBALL FOCUS.