The beginning of a new era is Jacksonville is on the horizon. After making splash signings like CB Shaquill Griffin and WR Marvin Jones Jr., they are ready to finish off a great offseason with the 2021 NFL Draft. The Jags have five picks in the first three rounds and are primed to add premium talent to their roster. Let’s start by taking a look at the current starters.
Quarterback: Gardner Minshew II
Running Back: James Robinson
Wide Receiver 1: D.J. Chark Jr.
Wide Receiver 2: Marvin Jones Jr.
Wide Receiver 3: Laviska Shenault Jr.
Tight End: Chris Manhertz
Left Tackle: Cam Robinson
Left Guard: Andrew Norwell
Center: Brandon Linder
Right Guard: A.J. Cann
Right Tackle: Jawaan Taylor
(Presumed) 3-4 Defense
Left Defensive End: Roy Robertson-Harris
Nose Tackle: Malcom Brown
Right Defensive End: Adam Gotsis
Left Outside Linebacker: Josh Allen
Left Inside Linebacker: Myles Jack
Right Inside Linebacker: Joe Schoebert
Right Outside Linebacker: K’Lavon Chaisson
Left Cornerback: Shaquill Griffin
Right Cornerback: C.J. Henderson
Slot Cornerback: Tre Herndon
Strong Safety: Rayshawn Jenkins
Free Safety: Jarrod Wilson
Urban Meyer’s scheme is all about speed. Play speed, straight line speed, closing speed, all speed and thats the name of the game in Jacksonville. So as we walk through a draft, we need to think about that new aspect in Jacksonville. Quarterback, tight end, defensive end, and free safety are the first glaring needs to me, but wide receiver, and center could stand an upgrade.
Round One, Pick 1: Quarterback Trevor Lawrence
This one is a no brainer. There are three quarterbacks who are all faster than Trevor Lawrence, but that doesn’t matter when there is someone as good as Lawrence available. Trevor Lawrence is the best prospect since Andrew Luck and will be an elite quarterback in the league. No reason to overthink this one.
Pro Comparison: Peyton Manning
Round One, Pick 25: Free Safety Trevon Moehrig
Now this is more in line with Meyer’s brand of speed. Trevon Moehrig plays with great urgency and pursuit from the free safety position. His coverage ability is as good as some of the top cornerbacks in the draft. He can come down from centerfield and lay the boom outside the hashes and can sit in the box and shoot the gaps in the run game. Moehrig will fit in perfectly to Jacksonville’s scheme.
Pro Comparison: Justin Reid
Round Two, Pick 33: Defensive End Levi Onwuzurike
Levi is one of the fastest interior lineman in the draft and plays a quick game. He has great pass rushing upside and opted out in 2020, so his polish should be a little sharper than his 2019 tape. Meyer will fall in love with how quickly he plays the game.
Pro Comparison: Sheldon Richardson
Round Two, Pick 48: Tight End Brevin Jordan
Brevin Jordan is an ultra athletic tight end who has great hands and has great route running ability. He creates great seperation and will win matchups against most linebackers in the league. Jordan also went to college in Florida and the Jags have a track record of taking prospects from colleges in Florida.
Pro Comparison: Jared Cook
Round Three, Pick 65: Wide Receiver D’Wayne Eskridge
Eskridge had a great senior bowl week and solidified himself as one of the best receivers in the class. He plays the game with incredible speed and will be an Amari Rodgers type of receiver from Trevor Lawrence, only Eskridge has a higher ceiling.
Round Four, Pick 106: Nose Tackle Tyler Shelvin
Even though the Jags traded a 2021 seventh round pick to the Saints for Malcom Brown, Shelvin is a younger player and is an upgrade at the position over Brown. He will plug the middle and luckily, plays a position where speed isn’t the name of the game.
Round Four, Pick 130: Running Back Chuba Hubbard
Hubbard will be a great rotational back with James Robinson. He is a bruiser at the running back position and will create a great duo in Duval with Robinson. This is great value for a fourth rounder.
Round Five, Pick 145: Outside Linebacker Daelin Hayes
Hayes will be a developmental pass rusher from the outside linebacker spot who can rotate with K’Lavon Chaisson and Josh Allen.
Round Five, Pick 170: Wide Receiver Anthony Schwartz
Schwartz is a true burner from the receiver position and will bring a desirable brand to Duval in Florida.
Round Seven, Pick 249: Cornerback Thomas Graham Jr.
Graham Jr. is a great depth piece at cornerback and could prove to be a core special teamer.
NEW STARTING LINEUP
Quarterback: Trevor Lawrence
Running Back: James Robinson
Wide Receiver 1: D.J. Chark Jr.
Wide Receiver 2: Marvin Jones Jr.
Wide Receiver 3: Dwayne Eskridge
Tight End: Brevin Jordan
Left Tackle: Cam Robinson
Left Guard: Andrew Norwell
Center: Brandon Linder
Right Guard: Brandon Linder
Right Tackle: Jawaan Taylor
(Presumed) 3-4 Defense
Left Defensive End: Levi Onwuzurike
Nose Tackle: Tyler Shelvin
Right Defensive End: Roy Robertson-Harris
Left Outside Linebacker: Josh Allen
Left Inside Linebacker: Myles Jack
Right Inside Linebacker: Joe Schoebert
Right Outside Linebacker: K’Lavon Chaisson
Left Cornerback: Shaquill Griffin
Right Cornerback: C.J. Henderson
Slot Cornerback: Tre Herndon
Strong Safety: Rayshawn Jenkins
Free Safety: Trevon Moehrig
That would be the most sound lineup possibly ever in Duval county. Brighter days are coming to the Sunshine State.
