Rather than select the top CB available in the first round, the Jaguars chose to trade down.
The Jacksonville Jaguars were the subject of a great deal of conjecture and doubt prior to the 2024 NFL Draft’s first day of action.
They supposedly considered trading up, but in the end they decided against it. When No. 17 arrived, they made the decision to drop six spaces. After that, they selected Brian Thomas Jr., a wide receiver out of LSU, but a blunder on their social media team may have indicated that the Jags were considering another prospect.
The social media team shared the Thomas pick on Facebook shortly after it was revealed. The caption’s inconsistency with the image is the sole issue. The report stated that Jacksonville had selected Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold at No. 23 while Thomas was still on it. This is the message that was subsequently changed or removed.
To put things in perspective, the Jaguars took Thomas when Arnold was still on the board. It was still confusing that he chose the Detroit Lions with his first pick. On the other hand, you may brush it off as an error.
The social media staff of the squad probably had a few ad hoc posts prepared to go up as soon as the selection was announced. It’s reasonable to presume that they uploaded the correct photo with the incorrect caption because they weren’t paying close attention.
Still, the oversight could have indicated their draft board, or at the very least, their inclination for Arnold. Only two defensive players had been selected by the time Jacksonville was on the clock at No. 17: UCLA Laiatu Latu (No. 15) and Byron Murphy II (No. 16). Even after falling six positions in the draft, there was still a chance the Jaguars would have a chance to select one of the top cornerbacks because none had been selected at that stage in the process. They were accurate.
What’s next for the Jaguars after trading the 17th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft?
This does not exclude the Jaguars from selecting a cornerback in the first round. Maybe they’ll just do it later. It would be a smart idea to add depth and a potential successor for Tyson Campbell, who is coming off an injury-plagued season and approaching his contract year.
Conversely, the Jaguars might target a wide receiver. Adonai Mitche and Malik Nabers are still in the lineup, but Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze are no longer there. The Jaguars might also add players to their pass-rush rotation. With the exception of Laiatu Latu, most of the best prospects are still open.
Whether or not the Jacksonville Jaguars move down won’t matter if they select their player at No. 23.
