A Series of Less Unfortunate Events: A History of the Jaguars 1st Round Draft Picks, Part 3 (10-6)2/15/2016
10. Tyson Alualu. DE/DT. California. (2010) - Most would consider Tyson Alualu a bust and they wouldn't be entirely wrong. Alualu was drafted with the tenth overall pick in the 2010 draft which was certainly a major reach, but he hasn't been a bad player at all — in fact he’s been a good one. Drafted as a defensive tackle, Alualu hasn't had the typical production (only 15 career sacks) that you would expect out of a defensive lineman selected in the top 10, which is why so many consider him a bust. He certainly isn't a pure pass rusher. While he does show some ability to get to the passer he also has been decent in run defense. Alualu hasn't been what you expect out of a top ten draft pick, but that isn't his fault. Gene Smith overdrafted him, plain and simple. Alualu won’t ever be considered a Jaguar great, in fact most will remember him as a bust, but he has been a serviceable player for the team and can definitely be considered an asset moving forward.
9. Dante Fowler. DE/LEO. Florida (2015) - Despite being drafted third overall in the 2015 draft, Fowler still hasn't played a down in the NFL due a torn ACL suffered in his first practice with the team. Prior to being drafted Fowler was considered the best pass rusher in the class and showed unique athleticism at the NFL Scouting Combine. In addition to his excellent athleticism, Fowler possesses a motor that is non stop, evidenced by his days at Florida. The reason Fowler is so ranked is because we really don't know what he will be as a pro. He hasn't been good, bad, or indifferent because he hasn't made it on the field yet. With his combination of skill and will, it is unlikely that he won’t at the very least be a productive pro. So, we see him moving up on this list, but for now he hasn't done anything on the field to indicate that he was a great pick or a terrible one.
8. Eugene Monroe. LT. Virginia (2009) - Monroe was drafted with the eighth pick in the 2009 draft by the Jaguars. He was chosen to be the book end left tackle for the team. Monroe started from the get go and earned 62 starts with the team in just over 4 seasons in Duval. In his four years in Jacksonville Monroe was a serviceable left tackle. He was fairly reliable, but never became the dominant force on the left side of the line that many thought he could be. He was traded to the Ravens 4 games into the 2013 season for a pair of 2014 draft picks. At the time he was traded, the team had just drafted Luke Joeckel with a top pick and were looking to get something out of Eugene Monroe instead of just letting him walk in the future, with no compensation. It probably wasn't wise to draft Joeckel with an average to above average left tackle already on the team in Monroe, but that is the direction that then newly appointed General Manager, David Caldwell, elected to go. To this point the decision to trade Monroe certainly hasn't paid off, as he is still a quality starter in Baltimore, while Joeckel is trying to find consistency in the NFL.
7. Marcedes Lewis. TE. UCLA (2006) - Marcedes was drafted with the twenty-eighth overall pick in the 2006 draft. Lewis hasn't been what you would consider a dominant receiving tight end for the Jaguars by any stretch of the imagination, but he was the most dominant blocking tight end in the NFL for most of his career. He also has had some legitimate impact on the team as a receiver. Lewis has started virtually his entire career in Jax and has reached the end zone 27 times, including the 2010 season in which he recorded 10 receiving touchdowns, tying a then Jaguars record for touchdown catches in a season. He has 331 catches for 4,015 yards in his career. By no means has he been a slouch as a receiver, but his biggest impact for the Jags was his ability to anchor the Jaguars run game for nearly a decade. Marcedes will likely re-sign with the team this offseason and retire as a Jaguar in the coming years. Marcedes will be remembered fondly by many, but some will always be disappointed in him for not developing into a dominant receiver. Despite the critics, he truly had a positive impact on this team and organization and for that he should be considered a decent first round draft pick, especially since he was drafted so late in the round. He may never have been considered one of the top tight ends in the NFL, but he was a gifted blocker, adequate receiver, and great leader.
6. Kevin Hardy. LB. Illinois (1996) - Hardy was the second overall pick in the 1996 draft and the second first round pick that the Jaguars ever made. He may be long forgotten by many Jaguars fans, but when he was with the team he was dominant. Hardy started nearly every game for the Jaguars from 1996 to 2001 and when he was on the field he made a huge impact. He was part of some of the best Jaguar defenses in the teams history and helped get the team to two AFC title games. In 1999 Hardy recored a ridiculous 10.5 sacks, 98 tackles, and 2 forced fumbles on his way to earning first team All-Pro honors and helping lead the Jaguars to a 14-2 regular season record. Hardy may not have had the longevity that you would hope for out of a first round pick, but when you look back at what he did while he was with the team, his numbers are impressive. In total with the Jaguars, Hardy racked up 506 tackles, 28.5 sacks, 8 forced fumbles, and 6 fumble recoveries. Hardy likely shouldn't have been a number two overall selection, but he was a damn good football player and despite only being with the team for six seasons, he still ranks sixth in total tackles, fourth in sacks, and third in forced fumbles in Jaguars team history.
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