The Jacksonville Jaguars were anticipated to strengthen their secondary in Round 2 following their selection of wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. on Day 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft. But at number 48, they selected defensive tackle Maason Smith. Although Smith has the potential to be a game-changer, there have been questions made about his choice to pass on a cornerback, particularly in light of the Indianapolis Colts’ selection of wide receiver Adonai Mitchell with the 52nd pick.
After selecting Thomas in the first round, cornerback was perhaps the Jags’ most pressing need going forward. They had multiple opportunities to move up, but they chose to let other teams select the top prospects instead. Jacksonville decided to hold out until selection No. 48, whether it was Cooper DeJean (Philadelphia Eagles) or Kool-Aid McKinstry (New Orleans Saints).
Perhaps it was always the goal. They chose to focus on other needs once the top three (Terrion Arnold, Nate Wiggins, and Quinyon Mitchell) were eliminated. The problem is, their options are running out soon. They selected Smith, and then just two picks later, Mike Sainristil.
Don’t make a mistake. Although Renardo Green and Andru Phillips are still available and Smith is an alluring addition to the defensive front, the Jaguars lost out on a fantastic chance to address a need.
To their defense, teams are frequently criticized for selecting the greatest player available rather than aiming for a necessity. Maason Smith was undoubtedly rated higher in this instance than any cornerback the Jaguars had on their big board.
The Jaguars will now have to face Adonai Mitchell twice a yearJosh Downs, Alec Pierce, and Michael Pittman Jr., who re-signed with the Colts in free agency, complete the wide receiving group that includes Adonai Mitchell. Although he won’t need to make an impact right away, he should start his career in advantageous situations where his teammates will be deflecting coverage away from him.
Mitchell did not reach the 1,000-yard plateau throughout his undergraduate career, but he did demonstrate playmaking ability in 2023, when he caught 55 passes for 845 yards and 18 touchdowns. Furthermore, he was named to the Second Team of the Big 12 in the previous season.
Despite his talent, Mitchell’s draft ranking fell and he was only selected in the second round for a reason. His character issues turned off several clubs, and he regularly vanished from Texas. It’s easy to see his choice as dangerous when you consider that he didn’t always manage his Type-1 diabetes adequately.
Apart from Mitchell, the draft is still ongoing as of this writing, and the Jaguars could select a cornerback. Next season, they must to be prepared to take on Adonai Mitchell and the Colts’ aerial offense once play gets underway.
