The NFL Draft is filled with ready-now players and others who need time to develop into solid pros. Some prospects come in with all the hype and fail to meet expectations. Others slip through the cracks, only to become the faces of a franchise a few years later. In many ways, the draft is an annual high-stakes game of patience and gut instinct for NFL general managers.
While most teams follow the script, some bold league executives aren’t afraid to throw a curveball and shake up draft boards across the league. The Green Bay Packers selected Jordan Love in 2020 even though Aaron Rodgers was still under center. Rodgers would go on to win league MVP that season.
In 2009, the Las Vegas Raiders turned heads by drafting Darrius Heyward-Bey over Michael Crabtree. Another example was the New York Giants reaching for quarterback Daniel Jones at No. 6 in 2019, when most experts didn’t have him projected in the first round.
Draft picks such as these weren’t just surprising; they set off rounds of debate, many of which are still being argued by fans to this day.
Bold Forecast Has Jaguars Choosing Generational Talent Over Top Defensive Prospect
Bold draft picks that leave experts and fans stunned are the moments we remember the most. PFSN’s Reece Decker recently issued bold predictions for all 32 NFL teams. In Decker’s article, the Jacksonville Jaguars would go away from their obvious need on the defensive line to select an offensive weapon that could change the game.
“Most mocks have pointed to Mason Graham at No. 5,” Decker writes. “While he’s the top interior disruptor in this class, there are only a handful of true blue-chip prospects. Thus, the Jacksonville Jaguars might pivot from need and take the best player available [Boise State star RB Ashton Jeanty] — someone who can help lighten the load on their $275 million quarterback.”
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence inked a five-year extension worth up to $275 million last year, but the franchise still limped to a 4-13 record. Lawrence only played in 10 contests before undergoing shoulder surgery in December. Jacksonville employed a running back-by-committee approach, with Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne combining for 1,224 yards and nine touchdowns.
But neither guy has the raw explosiveness and potential game-changing ability that Jeanty possesses. As a senior, Jeanty rushed for a whopping 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns on the ground. According to the latest PFSN mock draft, Jeanty is projected to go No. 10 to the Chicago Bears to serve as a complementary piece to emerging quarterback Caleb Williams.
Jaguars fans have witnessed great running back play over the years, with Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew combining for over 19,000 rushing yards in Jacksonville. Will the franchise follow Decker’s bold prediction and put additional firepower behind Lawrence, or play it safe by filling a glaring need on the defensive front?