NFL Draft 2021: 3 first-round picks teams will regret
3. The Jacksonville Jaguars select Travis Etienne 25th overall
Travis Etienne was the worst first-round pick of the 2021 NFL Draft in my opinion for many reasons. The fit in Jacksonville and the team need of Ettiene might also make the Jaguars eventually regret this pick as well.
Etienne had a great college career at Clemson, winning two national championships and posting incredible stats. Etienne accumulated 4,952 rushing yards, 1155 receiving yards, and 78 total touchdowns. While Etienne had an incredible career at Clemson, going to Jacksonville was quite confusing.
The Jaguars had an awful season last season going 1-15 but one bright spot through it all was rookie running back James Robinson who posted 1,070 rushing yards and seven TDs as an undrafted free agent. With a proven running back on the roster, was drafting another RB in the first round worth it?
Michael David Smith of NBC Sports wrote a piece about Travis Etienne working at wide receiver at Jaguars minicamp.
"Jaguars coach Urban Meyer said today that Etienne is working at wide receiver at the Jaguars’ rookie minicamp. Meyer reasoned that Etienne is going to get a lot of passes thrown his way no matter where he lines up, and the Jaguars want to give Etienne all the experience he can get running pass routes. Michael David Smith, NBC Sports"
The Jaguars took a running back in the first round to use as a gadget player? This becomes a very confusing move as the Jags already have a player who can do this. Laviska Shenault Jr. is fully capable of being the versatile weapon Urban Meyer is searching for. Joe Marino of The Draft Network described Shenault’s versatility as a strength prior to the 2020 NFL Draft.
"Profiles as an X receiver but play in the slot as well. Colorado used him regularly out of the backfield for handoffs and gadget plays. Highly effective weapon to every level of the field. Joe Marino, The Draft Network"
The Travis Etienne pick feels like a disaster in the making no matter what. If he is at RB, he is taking reps away from a good RB on a very cheap deal in James Robinson. If he is at WR, Shenault, or another receiver like Phillip Dorsett II or Collin Johnson starts to lose reps.
Etienne does not feel like a need for this Jaguar team and sadly, the players who were still on the board when Etienne was picked could have had a bigger effect on this franchise’s future.