JAGUARS DRAFT DAY TWO PREVIEW

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A fast start for the Jaguars on offense. What will they do on day two?

BY JORDAN DE LUGO

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The first night of the 2021 NFL Draft was a spectacle, especially for the team with the top overall pick. The Jaguars landed Trevor Lawrence, a quarterback prospect widely considered to be the best since Andrew Luck. 

As giddy as Jaguars fans are, Lawrence is just as excited.

"First of all how excited I am to be coming down to Jacksonville," Lawrence told the media. "I couldn't be more excited; I think it's a great fit. Me and my family, we are just so excited to get down there. Thank you guys for all the support already. We're not even there yet, and we definitely feel the love and support. Really excited just to bring some energy to the city and do everything in my power to get us back to where we want to be. Thank you guys so much. This is going to be a really fun year and just know that once I get there, all my focus, all my attention is to making us the best we can be, so thank you guys."

But the Jags didn't stop there. They also held the 25th pick, and with it, they added a running back with blazing speed who scored 78 touchdowns, averaging over seven yards per carry during his college career — Clemson running back Travis Etienne. 

Two former Tigers in one night? That's right. Etienne was hoping for the chance to reunite with Trevor. 

"When that 24th pick was there I was nervous, I didn't know where they were going to go with it, I was kind of nervous," said Etienne. "I'm definitely very humbled and excited to be down there in Jacksonville, can't wait to get there. I've never been to Jacksonville, honestly, but I'm so excited and happy for the opportunity I have to get out there and to have Trevor there. I feel like he's going to make that transition much easier, and we're going to help each other a lot. I'm just really excited and can't wait to get there, honestly. I was secretly rooting for Jacksonville."

With a franchise quarterback and a playmaking runner in the fold, the Jaguars appear to be working towards a potential offensive juggernaut. 

But there is still work to do. Day two of the NFL Draft begins Friday at 7 pm. Rounds two and three will be completed Friday evening and rounds 4-7 will take place on Saturday starting at noon. The Jaguars hold the top pick in the second round at 33 overall and two more picks on day two with 45 and 65. On day three, the Jags hold pick 106, 130, 145, 170, and 249. The roster has plenty of needs, including tight end, defensive line, safety, and offensive tackle. 

A New Hope Tee

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Jaguars' GM Trent Baalke expects there to be some interest from other teams about the top pick in the second round. 

"I think you can always expect some calls for 33 because every organization now gets to sit back for a night and look at their board and look at the value they place on different players," Baalke shared. "There's always a player left from day one that you want to go get on day two, so I would expect some calls. How willing will we be to move back? That remains to be seen. We feel very good about the position we're in and very good about a few of the players that are still left on the board at that level. So, we're going to sleep on it, we'll let it breathe, and we'll come back tomorrow, get refocused and go to work."

Some of the top players still on the board, regardless of position, are LB/S Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, S Trevon Moehrig, OT Teven Jenkins, TE Pat Freiermuth, WR Elijah Moore, WR Terrace Marshall, and DT Christian Barmore. 

The Jaguars are favored to take a safety at 33 +145 per Oddschecker. Moehrig would be the logical fit if safety is the pick. He's a free safety with range, ball skills, instincts, who is a quality run defender and assignment sound player. 

When it comes to filling the Jaguars' need at tight end, Freiermuth should be their top target. He played for Jacksonville's tight end coach Tyler Bowen at Penn State and was recruited heavily by Urban Meyer out of high school. He has the soft hands, route running chops, and playmaking ability that will help aid Trevor Lawrence in his transition to the pro game. Other potential day two tight end targets include Tommy Tremble, Brevin Jordan, and Hunter Long. 

But suppose Trent Baalke continues to stay true to his philosophy of letting his value board speak to him. In that case, the Jaguars might not be targeting specific areas of need, instead drafting the highest-rated players on their board.

Could another former Clemson Tiger be headed to Duval? Slot receiver extraordinaire Amari Rodgers would make a ton of sense in the mid to late second round. Urban Meyer told Rodgers he could envision him in a Percy Harvin type role with the Jaguars. 

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