JAGS LOOKING TO TRADE DOWN FROM NINE? SHOULD THEY?

Ceedee Lamb (Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire)

Will the Jags be on the move in round one?

BY JORDAN DE LUGO

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According to Albert Breer, in his latest MMQB column, the Jaguars have "kicked around the idea of moving down." Based on the placement of this anecdote in Breer's column, he appears to be referring to the ninth overall pick. 

There's a lot to unpack here, so let's dive in!

If Breer is correct, the Jaguars could be looking to collect more draft capital in 2020 and/or 2021 by moving down from the ninth overall pick. The Jaguars have never traded up or down in the first round during Dave Caldwell's tenure as the general manager. But they have been very active in trades after round one. Could this be the year the Jaguars finally move up or down in the first? Because of the obscene amount of draft capital the Jaguars have in 2020 and 2021, they could undoubtedly leverage that to be movers, one way or another. 

The team's most significant need BY FAR is cornerback, and several prospects could make sense for them in the first round. Jeff Okudah is the consensus number one player at the position, but it appears unlikely he'll get to number nine. If he falls past five, I wouldn't be surprised if the Jaguars moved up to nab him. But if Okudah goes in the top three or four picks, as many are expecting, the Jaguars could look to trade down a few spots or more, giving them even more draft picks. Dave Caldwell and company could then strike on CJ Henderson, Jeff Gladney, Kristian Fulton, or another cornerback. 

In doing so, they'd give themselves even more flexibility later in the first round — they still have the twentieth pick — and beyond. They'd also be able to get a highly skilled cornerback to compete for a starting job with Rashaan Melvin and Tre Herndon. 

Henderson and Gladney both fit the mold for what the Jaguars look for in a cornerback. Long, speedy athletes with great one-on-one coverage ability. Henderson struggled as a tackler in 2019 but was battling through injuries for much of the season. Gladney had a strong 2019 campaign, and his only potential red flag is his weight, although he went toe-to-toe with plenty of big-time receivers during his time at TCU. 

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The Jaguars could also target one of the top receiving threats in this year's draft. If they trade down to the mid-teens, one or all ofJerry Jeudy, CeeDee Lamb, or Henry Ruggs, could be available. With the extreme depth of this wide receiver class, teams may pass on taking a wideout in the top half of the first round. 

There's a real possibility for the Jaguars and other teams to trade away 2020 draft picks in favor of picks the following year. With the lack of in-person interviews and pro days this year, many scouting reports are incomplete, which could make teams wary of individual prospects. In 2021, life is expected to go back to usual, which would allow teams to complete their scouting process uninterrupted. 

The most vital idea to come away from Breer's report with, is this: the Jaguars have a ton of draft capital over the next two years, 21 picks in total, and that gives them loads of flexibility in the first round of 2020 and beyond. If Jeff Okudah or another player they value slides just a bit, they have the ammo to go up and get their guy. If the team feels comfortable with the prospects that line up to be there in the teens, they could surely trade down and still land a top talent. There are plenty of ways this thing can go. One thing I'll guarantee: the Jaguars are going to trade up or down at least once in the upcoming draft.

Don't forget: Yannick Ngakoue could be on the move before the draft too. That would potentially give Jacksonville extra premium picks in the upcoming draft. 

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