2024 NFL Draft: Which Positions Seem Like Unlikely Targets For the Jaguars at No. 17?
There is a long way to go until the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. 64 days, to be exact.
But even with an entire free agency period set to take place over the coming weeks, there are still some things that are simply too obvious to ignore. And when it comes to the Jacksonville Jaguars and the No. 17 overall pick, that consists of which positions the Jaguars can likely already cross off the board.
From the glaringly obvious to some that can be debated, here are the positions we believe are already unlikely targets for the Jaguars' first round pick.
Tight end
The Jaguars could be enticed by Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers if he falls, but let's be real. The Jaguars have Evan Engram as the most targeted player on the offense of the Doug Pederson era, just spent a second-round pick on Brenton Strange, and have a reliable backup in Luke Farrell. Bowers and Engram would obviously be an elite tight end duo, but it just doesn't seem like an option rooted in reality.
Running back
This one is obvious. Trent Baalke has taken a running back in every single draft and will likely do it again this year to replace D'Ernest Johnson, but the Jaguars have already invested a first-round and a third-round pick into the position. They need to make that pair work before they do anything else.
Linebacker
Can you imagine the reaction if the Jaguars took a linebacker at No. 17? It would be enough to power dams throughout the entire country. The Jaguars have spent three picks on inside linebackers over the last two years in Devin Lloyd, Chad Muma, and Ventrell Miller, so it doesn't make much sense to invest another high pick. This doesn't even take starting linebacker Foyesade Oluokun into account.
Plus, this is a very, very weak off-ball linebacker class. Fewer and fewer quality linebackers are coming out of college football and this year's class doesn't currently have a single linebacker listed in the top-50.
Safety
There are a few reasons why safety finds itself on this list. Even if the Jaguars move on from Rayshawn Jenkins, they still have Antonio Johnson and Andre Cisco in place, making safety a smaller need than several other positions. The Jaguars could use some safety depth, but it doesn't seem like a first-round safety makes sense.
Secondly, there isn't a safety worth taking at No. 17 to begin with. Some have projected Iowa's Cooper DeJean as a safety, but he should get his start at cornerback. Otherwise, the only two safeties in the consensus board's top-50 are Minnesota's Tyler Nubin (No. 45) and Miami's Kamren Kinchens (No. 46).
EDGE
None of the Jaguars moves over the last several offseasons should make anyone think the Jaguars would be willing to invest a first-round pick in an edge rusher -- at least not with Josh Allen and Travon Walker on the roster. Maybe that changes and the Jaguars take one in the first-round as an act of leverage and insurance for Allen, like they did with K'Lavon Chanson and Yannick Ngakoue in 2020. But the odds say otherwise.
Instead, the Jaguars are a team that passed on several pass-rushers last year in both the draft, free-agency, and the trade deadline. The biggest reason they did so was because they had two strong starters already and were instead looking for depth. They aren't in the position right now to draft for that kind of depth at No. 17.
Quarterback
Well, this one is obvious and doesn't require much conversation. The Jaguars are closer to making Trevor Lawrence one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL than they are replacing him via the draft. The more quarterbacks that are drafted in the top-16, though, the better.
