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Jacksonville Jaguars Secure Top Pick In The 2022 NFL Draft

By Jacob Schyvinck

Sep 19, 2021; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Detailed view of a Jacksonville Jaguars football helmet against the Denver Broncos at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2021; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Detailed view of a Jacksonville Jaguars football helmet against the Denver Broncos at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Despite eliminating the Colts with a win, the Jacksonville Jaguars will have the top selection in the 2022 NFL Draft.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been a mess this season, mostly due to the Urban Meyer hire and lack of talent on the offensive side of the football. Jacksonville stayed in the hunt for the top pick in the 2022 NFL Draft for several weeks, and finally took over the spot after a stunning win for the Lions over Arizona.

Heading into the final week, a loss would clinch the spot for the Jaguars, but they had other ideas, playing spoiler for the Indianapolis Colts, and ultimately eliminating them from playoff contention with a 26-11 win. That opened the door for the Lions, but they played tough and beat the Packers after Green Bay sat starters in the second half, giving the Jaguars the honor of picking first this coming April.

The first pick will bring about an interesting decision for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Many believe that the top two players selected will be Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux and Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson. Both are very good pass rushers who have been productive in their collegiate careers. Thibodeaux might offer up more upside, but Hutchinson more refinement early on. Pairing one of them with Josh Allen would be a great thing, and would follow their trend of investing in the defensive line early in the draft.

However, don’t rule out the possibility of offensive line. Trevor Lawrence needs to enter his second season with a better situation, and getting more pass catchers and offensive linemen would help that. Despite the encouraging play of Walker Little from some, Evan Neal would offer plenty in terms of a franchise left tackle. His athleticism, footwork, and quickness in pass protection is good and he’s quick off the ball and physical as a run blocker. The elite size and upside are tremendous.

With no need for a quarterback, it becomes a fun discussion for next April. The Jacksonville Jaguars are unofficially on the clock for the 2022 NFL Draft.

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