Column: Demotion of Taven Bryan Is Latest Example of Jaguars' Recent First Round Failures
The Jacksonville Jaguars accomplished quite a few things in the 2017 and 2018 drafts.
Unfortunately, hitting on the most important selections in each draft are far from being what one could consider among those accomplishments.
In each of the first rounds, the Tom Coughlin-led front office made questionable decisions that not only didn't pan out but ended up in disastrous fashion. The mistake of drafting running back Leonard Fournette at No. 4 overall in 2017 has been well-documented, especially in this space.
Meanwhile, the selection of defensive tackle Taven Bryan at No. 29 overall in 2018 was a curious one considering Jacksonville's embarrassment of riches at defensive line and lack of playmakers on offense, especially at quarterback. Three picks later, eventual MVP Lamar Jackson was drafted.
Fast forward to 2020, when each Fournette and Bryan should have been cornerstones of the franchise. Instead, Fournette is having a middling season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the Jaguars released him 13 days before the season began. Meanwhile, Bryan has recorded just 0.5 sacks in 2020 and 3.5 in his career.
Teams miss in the first round. It isn't uncommon, and the Jaguars are far from being the first or last team to whiff on the drafts first night. But the 2017 and 2018 first-round selections weren't just misses -- they were failed experiments. Failed evaluations. Failed developments by the coaching staffs.
And there is no better example of the failures of these drafts than Jacksonville's Week 9 lineup. In the 25-27 loss to the Houston Texans, the Jaguars started two undrafted rookies -- running back James Robinson and defensive tackle Doug Costin.
Robinson has started each game at running back this year, replacing Fournette instantly. He has since become arguably Jacksonville's best offensive player, recording 805 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns in eight starts. In Week 9, he rushed for 99 yards and had a rushing touchdown.
Meanwhile, Costin got his first-ever NFL start. The Miami (Ohio) product turned in a strong performance in his debut, sending Bryan to the bench for much of the game.
It was the first game all season Bryan was not a starter in. After averaging 44.8 snaps per game in the first seven games of the season, Bryan played just 23 snaps in Week 9. It was the lowest amount of snaps he has played since Week 5 in 2019. In total, it was a sign the Jaguars were finally realizing they needed to change their lineup to get production from Bryan's position.
"I think that Taven [Bryan], he started off well, but we have to keep that consistency throughout the game to get the type of production and just keep working with him," Jaguars head coach said on Monday when asked about the reduction in Bryan's snaps.
"I think Taven just has to go in and keep working and get that discipline technically, technique-wise with his feet and seeing it. So, we’re not discarding him, we’re going to keep trying to get him better and trying to get those snaps because the one thing at that position, you’re going to have these, especially inside, where a lot of things start off with two."
As Marrone would go on to note, rotations are needed at defensive tackle. Perhaps, in that line of thinking, the Jaguars were asking too much of Bryan as a starter who played 40+ snaps a game.
But the problem is the Jaguars drafted Bryan to be that kind of player. You take a defender in the first round with the hope that he can eventually become an impact player. Instead, 40 games and 16 starts into his career, the Jaguars are still stressing the little things when it comes to his development.
Bryan has a lot of talent and can provide value to a defense in a certain role. It remains to be seen if that kind of role will ever be one that is worth investing a first-round pick in. Add in the fact that an undrafted rookie has outplayed him this season, and the fact that the same has happened at running back with Fournette and Robinson, and Jacksonville's recent failures in the first round were on full display in Week 9.
In fairness to all parties, Costin and Robinson look like legitimate playmakers are their respected positions. While undrafted, they look like they belong in a major way. In the way the Jaguars were hoping both Bryan and Fournette would belong.
It didn't work out for Fournette. Bryan's recent demotion indicates it likely won't work out for him, either. If the Jaguars are to improve from their perineal losing, they will need better return on investments in the first round than they have gotten from these two picks.
