JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars have been mostly inept at drafting wide receivers.

They've repeatedly dropped the ball.

What You Need To Know

  • The Jaguars have not been good at selecting receivers early in the draft

  • Of the nine picked in the first three rounds in team history, only two have had 1,000-yard seasons

  • Cornerback is Jacksonville's biggest need, but it also could use another target for Trevor Lawrence

  • The Jags also need pass rushers and more on the offensive line

They have selected nine wide receivers over the first three rounds of the NFL Draft in three decades of existence, and only two of those players (DJ Chark and Allen Robinson) notched 1,000-yard seasons. Just one, Marqise Lee, signed a second contract with Jacksonville.

It’s a head-scratching stretch of futility that Jags officials say they hope to end in 2024.

General Manager Trent Baalke and coach Doug Pederson are expected to take a shot at changing the franchise’s fortunes at the position during the NFL Draft, which starts Thursday and continues through Saturday.

The Jaguars have five of the first 116 picks, with three of those scheduled for the first two nights of the draft.

Cornerback remains the team’s top need after releasing starter Darious Williams and opting not to re-sign nickelback Tre Herndon. Jacksonville also has fellow starter Tyson Campbell entering the final year of his rookie contract.

Baalke responded by signing journeyman Ronald Darby to a two-year, $8.5 million contract in free agency, but Darby is far from a building block for new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen. Alabama’s Terrion Arnold or Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell would make the most sense with the 17th overall pick.

But no one should be surprised if Jacksonville takes a receiver there, either.

The Jaguars lost Calvin Ridley to the rival Tennessee Titans in free agency. Zay Jones is entering the final year of the three-year, $24 million deal he signed in 2022.

Baalke did land Buffalo’s Gabe Davis on a three-year, $39 million deal last month.

Drafting a receiver early appears to be a given, especially as the Jaguars continue building around quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. and Xavier Worthy of Texas could be options at No. 17. Whoever it is, the Jags can only hope he turns out better than all of their other early-round receivers.

They missed on R. Jay Soward in 2000 and have been chasing a winner at the position since then. Their receiver draft list includes Reggie Williams (2004), Matt Jones (2005), Mike Sims-Walker (2007), Justin Blackmon (2012), Allen Robinson (2014) and Lee (2014).

More recent misses are Chark (2018) and Laviska Shenault (2020).

Jaguars' 2024 draft pick

  • First round — 17th overall
  • Second round — 48th overall
  • Third round — 96th overall
  • Fourth round — 114th overall
  • Fourth round — 116th (from New Orleans Saints)
  • Fifth round — 153rd overall
  • Sixth round — 212th overall
  • Seventh round — 236th overall

Other needs

Pass rush and offensive line are other areas of need for the Jaguars, despite addressing both in recent months.

Jacksonville signed outside linebacker Josh Allen last week to a five-year contract worth up to $150 million. Up to $88 million of that deal is guaranteed. The team also re-signed guard Ezra Cleveland (three years, $24 million) and added Buffalo Bills center Mitch Morse (two years, $10.5 million) in free agency.

Although Allen and 2022 No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker are locks to start, the Jags are looking for depth behind them after letting backups K’Lavon Chaisson and Dawuane Smoot leave in free agency.

On the other side of the ball, left tackle Cam Robinson and backup Walker Little are entering the final year of their contracts. So is veteran guard Brandon Scherff.

Don't need

Quarterback is one of the few positions that seems set in Jacksonville. Baalke traded a sixth-round pick to the New England Patriots for 2021 first-rounder Mac Jones. Jones will compete with C.J. Beathard to be Lawrence’s backup in 2024.

 

Third kicker?

Jacksonville’s years-long search for a kicker might end during the final day of the draft.

Baalke thought he signed the Denver Broncos' Wil Lutz to a three-year deal to open free agency. But Lutz changed his mind hours later and ended up re-signing with the Broncos. The Jaguars scrambled and added the Washington Commanders' Joey Slye a week later.

They now have Slye and Riley Patterson on the roster but would consider Arkansas’ Cam Little, Alabama’s Will Reichard or Stanford’s Joshua Karty on Day 3.

The Jaguars have used nine different kickers since 2019, including Brandon McManus last season.